Wrinkle reduction treatments have become increasingly popular throughout the world and many people are now looking for longer-lasting options. Botulinum Toxin (Botox / Dysport), as well as Dermal Fillers, are both great, long-lasting options when reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, it is important to understand the difference between them when considering your treatment.
Why have these treatments?
Botulinum Toxin (Botox / Dysport)
Botulinum Toxin, or Botox, is an injectable muscle relaxer and has been around for more than 20 years. Botox helps treat conditions such as migraines, excessive sweating as well as excessive jaw clenching. For wrinkle reduction, its primary use is to treat dynamic wrinkles. These are the wrinkles that form naturally around your eyes, mouth and between your eyebrows. By injecting Botox/Dysport into the muscles around these areas, we can decrease the intensity of the muscle to contract, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal Fillers are substances like Hyaluronic acid and Poly-L-Lactic acid that are injected underneath the skin to add volume/fullness and stimulate your natural ability to make collagen and elastin. Fillers are mostly used to plump up the skin under your eyes, add some volume to lips, and decrease the appearance of smile lines. They can also be used for non-surgical nose enhancements and other enhancement procedures – when done by a properly qualified & experienced Doctor. Dermal Fillers are used to temporarily replace the Collagen lost around the mouth areas and under the eyes as well.
How Long Does it Last?
Botox/Dysport
The results from your Botulinum Toxin treatment will usually start to show a week after the procedure and will generally last between 3 to 4 months.
Dermal Fillers
The results from your Dermal Filler treatment will be most visible 2 weeks after the procedure and usually last between 6 to 18 months (depending on various factors).
In Conclusion
Both Botulinum Toxin and Dermal Fillers are great options when choosing a long-lasting wrinkle reduction treatment. Because they are different substances designed for different uses, it is possible to combine them into one procedure, for example, a patient might need Botox/Dysport to correct fine lines between their eyebrows and a Dermal Filler to add volume to the skin under their eyes. It is also important that a qualified and well-experienced medical provider conduct these procedures and that you ensure you are comfortable with your medical professional's expertise before going ahead with these treatments.
Call us today
Dr Manoj Bagwandeen at the Cape Medical Aesthetics Centre (CapeMAC) is well qualified and has years of experience in the use of ALL the currently available Botulinum Toxins and Fillers. For more information on our Botox/Dysport and Dermal Filler treatments, do not hesitate to give us a call at 021 911 1033 or send us an email to info@capemac.co.za.