Botox or fillers: what do you need?

Both Botox and fillers fall under the umbrella term injectables. Those injectables can change the appearance of your face without effectively requiring plastic surgery.

Many people think that Botox and fillers are the same product, but that is not true at all. There is indeed a difference in the action and use of Botox and fillers.

That said, you're probably now wondering what that difference is and which injectable treatment you need: Botox or fillers. No worries! In this blog, we explain everything to you so you know what Botox and fillers do and which treatment you need right now.

Botox: what is it and how does it work?

Botox or botulinum toxin

Let's start with Botox. Before we break down the workings of Botox or BTX, we'd like to share two important know-it-alls that you definitely need to know about Botox. Ready for it? Let's go.

• The first thing to know is that Botox is not a product name, but a brand name. What does that mean? Well, Botox is a specific brand within the category of muscle relaxants, but is often used to refer to the entire category of muscle relaxants.
• For example, we may say "he had Botox injected," while other brands of muscle relaxants are on the market and used. Examples of other brands include Azzalure® and Bocouture®.
• The second fact is that Botox is short for botulinum toxin, which is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Such a neurotoxin can affect the functioning of our nervous system.

Effect of muscle relaxants

• When your plastic surgeon injects a muscle relaxant into the skin, what happens? When you apply botulinum toxin, you will (partially) block the signal transmission between muscles and nerves.
• The result? The muscles will no longer contract and thus relax. A lot is said about Botox. Therefore, we wrote a blog where we disprove or validate the myths about Botox in a scientific way.

Fillers: what is it and how does it work?

Hyaluronic acid-based fillers

Over to the filler. Like Botox, filler is also an injectable. That is, it is applied into the skin with a fine needle or cannula. In a filler injection, hyaluronic acid is injected into the skin.

• That hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in our bodies. That is, it is also broken down by our body over time. Pure hyaluronic acid is broken down by the body within two days.
• Therefore, we cross-link hyaluronic acid with other substances so that the results are more durable. Eventually, the filler does get broken down by the body after a few months. How quickly that happens depends on the anatomy of your face and your lifestyle.

Effect of hyaluronic acid fillers

• So what does a hyaluronic acid filler do once it is applied to our skin via injections? Hyaluronic acid has a very interesting property: it can hold up to Can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water.
• So because hyaluronic acid attracts moisture, it is able to add volume to the skin. Once injected with hyaluronic acid, it will attract moisture, giving the skin a fuller appearance.

The big difference between fillers and Botox

So what is the big difference between Botox (i.e. muscle relaxants) and fillers? That difference, of course, lies in the different action of hyaluronic acid and botulinum toxin. Botox will in fact slacken the muscles, preventing them from contracting.

That is, Botox has primarily a preventive effect: it counteracts the appearance of wrinkles. You can read more about this below. Fillers are mainly used to add volume to the skin.

Below we explain what you can use both injectable treatments for. So you'll know immediately whether you need fillers or Botox, or both of course! Because yes, even a combination of the two techniques can lead to amazing results.

Use filler treatment

• What can you use fillers for? The filler treatment is mainly used to add extra volume where needed. This can be for two reasons: volume loss or a natural lack of volume.
• Fillers can be applied to different areas of the face. You can use them to eliminate signs of aging for a more youthful appearance or to accentuate certain facial features more.

Use Botox treatment

• We use Botox preventively or curatively. This is because treatment with Botox ensures that the muscles in the treated area no longer contract as often. This makes Botox the ideal remedy for expression wrinkles.
• Those expression wrinkles happen because you contract certain muscles more often than others. For example, if you often raise your eyebrows, it can cause lines on the forehead. The same goes for excessive frowning, resulting in a frown line.
• Botox allows us to treat such wrinkles. Because we partially block the signal transmission between muscle and nerve, we prevent the muscle from contracting and you from frowning, for example, thus preventing frown lines from forming.

You can also use Botox in different areas and for different ailments.

Teeth grinding/bruxism

You can also use muscle relaxants for discomforts that have nothing to do with aging and wrinkles. For example, you can use them to prevent teeth grinding (= bruxism) and thus protect your teeth.

Face slimming

Finally, we can use muscle relaxants for face slimming. This creates a beautiful V-shaped face, conforming to beauty ideals. This involves placing two injections of Botox into the masseter muscle. The result? A less wide and angular lower jaw.

Similarities Botox fillers

• Above, you read about the difference between Botox and fillers. So although fillers and Botox have different effects and therefore different applications, there are also similarities between the two products. One is that they are both a injectable treatment . That is, in treatments we inject the substance into the face.
• In addition, the results of both treatments are visible almost immediately. They also give the opportunity for personalized treatment so that your desired results can be realized.
• Both treatments also offer the possibility of reducing wrinkles with visible natural results.

Botox fillers at Sarasin Clinic

Now that you know the difference between Botox and fillers, you know which of these injectable treatments are right for you. Do Botox or fillers offer a solution to your problem? Then don't hesitate to book an book appointment at our aesthetic clinic.

Sarasin Clinic is one of the most renowned aesthetic institutes in Flanders. Our doctors specialize in treatments with injectables. They create for you a natural or slightly more pronounced result, depending on your wishes and the advice of a specialized aesthetic doctor, and help you make the choice between botox and fillers easier.