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Botox vs. Filler: Which Is Right for Me?

June 29, 2023

Looking to reduce wrinkles, smooth your skin and delay signs of aging? Botox is probably the first thing that came to mind, and it’s a great option.

But there’s a new injectable in town: filler.

“Botox has been on the scene for a long time. It first became popular in the early 90s, but today, filler is all the rage,” says Elizabeth Stirling Craig, MD, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

Not sure what the difference is? We asked Dr. Craig to explain Botox and filler, and how to tell which is right for you.

When it comes to reducing wrinkles, Botox is king.

From crow’s feet to frown lines, Botox is great for minimizing wrinkles.

“That’s because Botox weakens the muscles that causes those wrinkles. If you can’t move your forehead up and down you’re not going to get those creases, and the wrinkles will start to go away,” Dr. Craig says.

Botox is a shallow injection, and works best in muscular areas. These include:

• Forehead
• Frown lines
• Crow’s feet
• Bunny lines (on the side of your nose)
• Lip lines

“You might also use Botox very slightly in the chin or top of the lip, to perform a lip flip and add some volume,” says Dr. Craig.

Just steer clear of the cheeks, she cautions. “There are no muscles you’d want to weaken in the cheek. All your facial expressions are there, so it’s important to keep that intact.”

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Botox injections won’t last forever.

Not sure how long the injections will last? Ultimately, it’s different for each person.

“If you talk a lot with your hands instead of relying on facial expressions, you won’t go through it as quickly. But if you communicate largely through facial expressions, you’ll chew through it faster.”

Craig warns that a lip flip might only last up to six weeks, while injections in the forehead could last anywhere from four to six months.

If you’re looking to restore volume, filler is your best bet.

Filler has a different way of keeping skin youthful.

“Filler doesn’t affect the muscle at all, it doesn’t change the movement of anything. Instead it restores volume to the face, which helps with rejuvenation.”

Filler is a deeper injection, commonly found in the:

• Cheeks
• Temples
• Chin
• Lips
• Nose

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Filler lasts longer than Botox.

Filler isn’t permanent, but lasts slightly longer than Botox – generally between eight months and a year.

“Filler can also have a contouring effect. For example, people in Hollywood might not want an actual rhinoplasty where they have six months of swelling, so they’ll do a liquid rhinoplasty instead,” Dr. Craig adds.

Performed by a plastic surgeon, a liquid rhinoplasty uses filler to shade in and fill out certain areas of the face. Dr. Craig warns that while it is an option, it tends to be quite risky.

So how do I know which injection to choose?

If you’re like most of Dr. Craig’s patients, you shouldn’t be trying to choose between Botox and filler.

“These are two different products, with two different goals,” says Dr. Craig. “For the best results, they’re used together – not in place of each other.”

With the help of an expert, you’ll be able to find the perfect mix of Botox and filler to keep your skin looking as youthful as ever.