Are you thinking about having an aesthetic treatment, but not sure what options are available to you? Maybe you’ve heard about Neurotoxin or Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers or dermal fillers, but are not sure what the differences are and want a better understanding?
We asked Dr Alek what in-practice treatments he is enthusiastic about, and he explains he has a great passion for achieving natural results with both botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers.
“One of my biggest passion lies with soft tissue fillers as to achieve natural results not only requires a high level of technical know-how and experience, but also requires an artistic eye as no two faces are the same. Furthermore, every patient I see has their own specific requirements and desired end result.”
Dr Alek Nikolic is a renowned aesthetic medical practitioner and is considered a key opinion leader in the field of aesthetic medicine in South Africa and below he shares the main differences between these two popular treatments.
Botulinum toxin vs. Soft Tissue Fillers
Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers are non-surgical, medical treatments given through injections, usually with an aim to treat wrinkles and rejuvenate the patient’s appearance. There are several differences between the two to consider.
Botulinum toxin contains purified bacteria that relaxes the muscles, by blocking nerve signals. Not allowing the muscles to move reduces the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, caused by your facial expressions. These naturally occur around the eyes, mouth as well as in between the eyebrows and on the forehead.
Soft tissue fillers are substances designed to be injected beneath the surface of the skin to add volume and fullness to areas that have thinned due to ageing, this helps tackle wrinkles and lines and helps to replace lost volume and lift structures of the face. Common treatment areas include the cheeks, lips, jaw line, chin, under the eye, and around the mouth.
What does Botulinum toxin treat?
Botulinum toxin is effective on wrinkles or fine lines caused by muscle movement in the face. These lines are caused by smiling, frowning, squinting, and other facial expressions.
Botulinum toxin helps to correct:
- The “11” between the brows
- Horizontal lines on the forehead
- Crow’s feet around the eyes
What can soft tissue fillers correct?
Fillers are designed to treat varying signs of ageing and may assist with:
- Recreating cheeks, chin, or jaw line
- Increasing the lift of facial structures including the jowls
- Plumping of thinning lips
- Enhance or fill in shallow areas on the face
- Decrease or remove the shadow under the eyes caused by the lower eyelid
- Fill in or soften the look of recessed scars
- Fill in or soften static wrinkles, especially on the lower face
The efficacy of Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers
The effects of Botulinum toxin last about 3 to 4 months and you’ll likely to see noticeable effects within a week of the injection. You will need additional treatments if you want to maintain the results, since Botulinum toxin is not a permanent treatment.
Fillers are also considered effective, and the results last longer than results from Botulinum toxin overall. Still, results differ depending on the exact type of filler, but on average results usually last between 12 and 18 months but some patients can get results for up to two years. Like Botulinum toxin, you’ll need maintenance treatments once the fillers start to wear off.
Risks of Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers
Botulinum toxin and fillers are considered safe but as with all medical procedures, both Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers can come with the risk of side effects. Certain types of fillers can be dissolved by injecting a solution into the filled area so you can reverse the effects. Botulinum toxin can’t be reversed, but the effects of Botulinum toxin wear off within 3 or 4 months. A reminder, both treatments are only temporary.
Which is best for you? Because Botulinum toxin and fillers are different substances designed for different uses, they can be combined in one treatment. For instance, someone may use Botulinum toxin to correct lines between the eyes and a filler to correct smile lines around the mouth. In choosing between Botulinum toxin and soft tissue fillers, you should first identify the area of concern that you’d like treated. At our practice we will analyse your face and recommend the best treatment, to achieve the desired and natural results you want.
