20+ Differences Between Botox And Fillers (Explained)

Throughout the entire history of humankind, we have always given great significance to beauty. There are certain unattainable beauty standards created by humans.

And when these standards are not met, we often tend to turn towards numerous skin treatments and surgery.

Two of them include fillers and Botox. Even though both of them carry out the same function of correcting skin issues, there are still some big differences between them. 

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Botox vs. Fillers

Botox

  1. Botox is used for facial line smoothening
  2. Their effects are shown in a few days
  3. They can easily last up to 3-4 months
  4. They are usually used on the upper face

Fillers

  1. Fillers are used to soften fine lines and wrinkles
  2. Their effects are shown instantly
  3. They usually last up to 6-18 months, depending on the fillers used
  4. They are generally used in lower facial parts like the chin, cheeks, and nose
Parameter BotoxFillers
Purpose Relaxing muscles by temporarily freezing or paralyzing the targeted nervesIn facial appearance
Precautions Avoiding exfoliation, putting pressure on the targeted areaAvoiding contact with the sun, rubbing the injected area
Area of injectingUsually at the forehead line or near the eyesGenerally, at the lips, near the nose or chin
The time period they last for6-8 monthsUp to 12 months and more
Risk Headache, watery eyes, bruisingTenderness, rashes, pimples
FDA approval YES, it is FDA approved.NO, it is not FDA approved. 
Prices It is comparatively cheaperIt is comparatively expensive

Major Differences Between Botox And Fillers 

What Exactly Is Botox?

Botulinum Toxin A, commonly known as Botox, is used to prevent wrinkles on your forehead or near your eyes in a non-chemical way. It restricts the flexing of muscles which generally causes wrinkles.

This cosmetic injection can temporarily reduce your laugh lines, crowfeet, or any other wrinkle. Apart from beauty reasons, Botox can also be used for medical treatments. It can treat stiff muscles caused by a neurological condition. 

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Precautions to take before getting Botox

  1. Don’t consume alcohol as it can increase the chances of bruising
  2. Do not rub or touch the injected area for a few days
  3. Do not sleep or put pressure on the injected body part
  4. Avoid exfoliation or scrubs and any facial massage as it takes time to settle in

What Exactly Are Fillers?

Fillers are drugs used for smoothening out wrinkles and skin. They are injected deep beneath the skin to create a “fuller” appearance on your face. Often, they are used for lips, sides of noses, chin, etc.

Fillers can last up to several months, which totally depends upon the volume and quality of the filler. But patients are required to repeat the process again and again if they would like to maintain the desired result. This is because the skin generally absorbs the fillers. 

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Precautions to take before getting fillers

  1. One should try with temporary fillers first. This will help to identify the side effects of the permanent fillers, if any.
  2. Excessive touching on the injected part may cause the spread of fillers. Hence, it is recommended to avoid contact on the treated part for at least 3-4 days. 
  3. Try to avoid direct contact with the sun as much as possible as it can break the skin or cause sunburn.
  4. If you are using lip filler, do not, under any circumstances, use lip balm or lip gloss. It is often advised to refrain from biting or licking lips as well. 

The Contrast Between Botox And Fillers

Purpose

  • Botox – Be it enhancing your financial appearance, relaxing your muscles, or clinical treatment, it’s Botox to the rescue. 
  • Fillers – The early signs of aging can be effectively removed with the help of fillers. It is widely used to fulfill cosmetic purposes along with an increase in the plumpness of your face.

Process of Treatment

  • Botox – Botox blocks the nerve signals temporarily. The targeted muscle gets paralyzed for a while. These unmoving muscles thus cause no more wrinkles and soften the area nearby. 
  • Fillers – They lift up the targeted skin and turn it plump. The old and used-up collagen is then replaced. The capacity of the body to produce new collagen is also increased when these fillers are injected. 

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Top benefits provided

Botox 

  1. Quick and less painful method
  2. Do not need to wait much to continue with the daily routine
  3. It classifies as a non-surgical method
  4. Provides comparatively lesser risks
  5. It can be customized according to your needs

        Fillers

  1. They improve collagen making capacity of the body
  2. They can be used while getting other treatments
  3. They give subtle effects
  4. Provide long terms results
  5. Do not need longer recovery time

Duration of The Desired Result

  • Botox- They usually last up to 3 to 6 months.
  • Fillers- They easily last up to 12 months provided the type of filler used. 

Active as From

  • Botox- They can come into effect within 3-4 days only. 
  • Fillers- generally take a week to completely settle on the face. 

Key Ingredients:

  • Botox- Clostridium botulinum that causes food poisoning is used in a small amount to temporarily smoothen wrinkles.
  • Fillers- Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the human body. It can be easily found in connective tissues.

Different Types Of Botox And Fillers

  • Botox – Dysport, Xeomin, Myobloc, Botox 
  • Fillers – Hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, Poly-L-lactic acid, Bellafill 

Which One Should You Use

  • Botox – If you can’t come to terms with excessive wrinkles or simply want to fix your aging skin, then Botox would work fine for you. Also, if you have medical conditions like lazy eye, frequent migraine, or bladder dysfunction, you can opt for Botox as a treatment. 
  • Fillers – If you desire plump facial features, corrected skin folds, or filled shallow areas of your face, then fillers would work just fine for you. 

Side Effects

  • Botox – Pain or bruising on injected area, headache, watery eyes, drooping eyelids
  • Fillers – rash, tenderness, itching, sometimes bleeding, acne resembling pimples, numbness.

Result when They Wear Off

  • Botox – It further gets turned into tiny particles which do not cause any damage. They easily get removed from your body through the kidneys in the form of waste. However, your wrinkles would start appearing again.
  • Fillers – They slightly stretch your skin. So, when your fillers wear off, it is possible that your skin gets back to its usual form. The body easily breaks down your dermal fillers as it contains hyaluronic acid.  

Areas Where You Can Use Them

  • Botox – forehead wrinkles, lines in between eyebrows, sagging eyebrows, crow’s feet near eyes, neck bands
  • Fillers plump cheeks, volumize lips, reshape chin and nose, reduce scars

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Which one is FDA approved? 

FDA stands for Food and Drugs Administration. It means that data of the particular drug is known and checked. FDA identifies whether the advantages of the said drug are greater than the side effects. 

Botox- yes, it is FDA approved to treat facial problems. 

Fillers- No, FDA does not allow people to inject fillers. There is only one FDA-approved filler. 


FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. When should I start taking Botox?

It’s not mandatory to opt for Botox. However, if it’s necessary, then the legal age is 18 years. 

Q2. Is Botox categorized under filler too?

People often mistake Botox for a filler. But they are not the same. Botox is much gentler and works on “freezing” the muscles to form wrinkles.

Q3. Do side effects of Botox and Fillers include death?

The side effects of both of them are rarely seen unless performed by an inexperienced surgeon. Neither of them includes death as a side effect. 

Q4. Which one of Fillers and Botox is a safer option?

Both of them are approved to be safe. However, you can rely on Botox as it is FDA certified too. 

Q5. Will fillers cause my facial muscles to sag?

No, whenever your facial filler wears off, your skin will recover soon. 

Q6. Are Botox and fillers advised during pregnancy?

That’s a big no! Using these treatments during pregnancy will only lead to a drastic change in your pregnancy hormones. It won’t hurt the baby but can definitely be proven as damage to the mother. 


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