Botox VS Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Although esthetic surgery has remained popular since its invention until this day, non-surgical methods of rejuvenation have really risen to the top of cosmetic procedures. Amongst several most known non-surgical ways of rejuvenating, Botox and Hyaluronic acid fillers have most certainly become the favorites. Before deciding to undergo any procedure, you should do your research and talk to your doctor about what is your wanted result, so you can pick the right procedure together. In this blog we will thoroughly explain the difference between Botox and Hyaluronic acid, the procedures, how they work, and what result they give. 

What is Botox?

Botox is the first injectable bacterium toxin, with botulinum toxin as its main ingredient. Given in very small doses, botulinum toxin has proved to be efficient when it comes to reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The quantity of botox is measured in units and different amounts of units are needed for different treatments. 

Botox is injected into the facial muscles with very thin needles. Once the Botox starts working, the muscle which got injected, will temporarily become paralized and will not be able to respond to every single nerve signal. Since the muscle does not move as much, the wrinkles will automatically become smoother and softer. The muscle which cannot contract will also prevent more wrinkles from appearing. 

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that naturally occurs in our body, mostly in the skin, eyes, and joints. About half of the hyaluronic acid within our body can be found in the skin. It binds itself to water molecules, keeping the skin hydrated and fresh-looking, which implies that its main function is skin hydration. Therefore, people use hyaluronic acid to promote skin health and anti-aging.

Hyaluronic acid is available in a variety of forms, from dietary supplements to creams, serums, fillers, and injections. Besides cosmetic uses, hyaluronic acid can be beneficial for wound healing, relieving joint pain and arthritis, and keeping the eyes moist.

Botox VS Hyaluronic Acid 

Now, that we have made it clear what Botox and Hyaluronic acid are, in the rest of the blog we are going to compare them in some of the most important categories and talk about their similarities and differences. 

Wrinkle Treatments

Both Botox and hyaluronic acid are great and very effective procedures when it comes to wrinkles. However, they do treat the wrinkles differently, therefore different results occur. You should not mistake hyaluronic acid and Botox for the same thing. 

Botox is primarily focused on dynamic wrinkles, caused by movements of the facial muscles. When botox starts working, the muscle will temporarily stop contracting, therefore it will not cause any more wrinkles, it will smooth the existing ones and give you a younger look. Botox is mostly used as one of the following procedures: forehead wrinkles, brow lift, neck lift, crow’s feet, jawline, droopy mouth, turkey neck, etc.

Hyaluronic acid fillers focus on the other part of causing wrinkles. There are two main reasons we get wrinkles as we age: exposure to UV rays and movement of facial muscles. The movement of facial muscles cannot be changed by hyaluronic acid fillers, but what can be changed is the amount of collagen in your skin. Collagen is naturally existent in your body and it starts reducing its production after the age of 25. Hyaluronic acid fillers focus on giving skin its volume back and make it look fuller, more beautiful, and smoother. Some of the most popular anti-wrinkle procedures are frown line smoothing, forehead wrinkles, chin augmentation, eyebrow lift, cheek fillers, lip augmentation, nose correction, etc. 

Procedure

The procedures are very similar, the only difference might be the part of your face you chose for cosmetic intervention and its specific way of injecting. Both procedures do not require a stay in the hospital, they last about 10 minutes and you are free to go home right after it is finished. Your doctor will tell you which position to sit or lay in, slowly and carefully inject a certain amount of Botox or hyaluronic acid units and you will not even need anesthesia, because the procedures are both painless. You should rest for the rest of the day to avoid sweating and causing infections, but the following day you can run a marathon if you want!

Results 

The results you are looking for are the key to choosing the right treatment. Although some people confuse Botox and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers for the same thing, they treat different types of wrinkles. 

Botox is focusing on the contraction of the muscles, which is the main reason wrinkles appear in the first place, and the injection stops the contractions of the muscle, causing wrinkles to be smoother and less visible. The results appear in the first few days after the procedure, are fully visible after 2 weeks maximum, and last for about 3-4 months. Have in mind that if it is your first Botox injection, the results might last less than 3 months, but the more you get them, the more the results will last, even up to 6 months. 

On the other hand, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers focus on giving skin more volume and hydration, which the body loses due to the process of aging. Hyaluronic acid will stimulate the production of collagen and fulfill the skin with volume. The results might last differently, depending on the type of filler you use, the quantity of it, and the condition of your skin, but it is safe to say that they will last from 3-6 months, up to 1 year, give or take. Same as Botox, the results will start to appear within days after the procedure, while you can see full results 2 weeks after the procedure. 

Cost

The cost of Botox injections cannot be specified. It depends on the number of units you need, considering the fact that each part of the face needs a different amount of units in order to show some results. The price per unit is approximately $12-15. Also, each doctor has their own charge for every procedure, so it is hard to say a price. My Esthetic offers you an amazing price for Botox treatments, so make sure you schedule an appointment here. 

Hyaluronic acid fillers are also impossible to specify when it comes to price. It depends on the number of syringes used for the procedure, and that depends on the type of procedure you choose to undergo. Make sure to check our treatments and choose one of the hyaluronic acid fillers procedures here! 

Preparation

Preparation is the same for both Botox and hyaluronic acid. All you need to do is try to live as healthy as possible, hydrate yourself, eat green leafy vegetables, and do your regular skincare routine. You should avoid all blood-thinning medication, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. All the preparation is done so that you can reduce the risk of bruising, but you should always ask your doctor for advice and check your allergies before undergoing any procedure. 

Aftercare 

Aftercare is also very similar and does not require hospitalization in both cases. All you need to do is try to be healthy, eat healthy food, you are free to exercise the following day of the procedure and you will be fine. You can consult with your doctor about your skincare routine and ask which products are recommended to use. If you swell, you can always put some ice on it and massage the injected place. 

Products

Botox does not actually have any products, other than botox units themselves. All the creams and serums you could possibly find are probably a botox alternative. The results of the cream as an alternative for sure will not give you the same results as Botox injections. 

On the other hand, hyaluronic acid has many different products containing it, amongst which the most popular are hyaluronic acid serum and cleanser. Both serum and cleanser are used in almost every single skincare routine and it is fair to say that they are a necessary part of it. There are many different hyaluronic acid serums and cleansers and you can feel free to pick any of them. If you need a recommendation, we will definitely recommend a Dermastir Tsunami Deep Cleanser.

Other Treatments

Botox is mainly used for stopping the contraction of a certain muscle, in order to make wrinkles appear smoother and give a person a younger look. Other than that, it can be used to treat many different things such as migraines, headaches, migraines, teeth grinding, depression, excessive swelling, overactive bladder, and face slimming. 

Hyaluronic acid also has benefits in other fields other than giving more volume and freshness to the skin. It can speed up wound healing, relieve joint pain, reduce having dry eyes and prevent bladder pain.

Conclusion 

To sum it all up, if you are looking for a temporary solution for your wrinkles, both Botox and Hyaluronic acid give amazing results. Although they are both considered very safe, you should always consult with your doctor before undergoing any procedure that might endanger your health. Check your expectations and the results you should expect, so pick the right procedure and be pleased with your look!