BOTOX and fillers such as JUVÉDERM® are the go-to anti-aging treatments for patients at our Rochester, NY, practice. In the hands of our expert injectors, both BOTOX and dermal fillers create remarkable results and shave years off your appearance. While they share the goal of erasing fine lines and wrinkles, that’s about where the similarities end. One of the main differences is how long the results last after your treatment.
In this blog post, we’ll look at the longevity of the results following BOTOX and filler injections and why combining the procedures is often an excellent solution for many patients.
What Do BOTOX and Dermal Fillers Have in Common?
Before exploring how long the different treatments last, it’s helpful to understand what they have in common. As mentioned earlier, both treatments minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. BOTOX and alternatives to BOTOX accomplish this by limiting the movement of muscles targeted by the injections. On the other hand, dermal fillers add volume where aging has started to deplete fat, creating a more youthful look.
BOTOX and fillers are also safe for most skin types and approved by the FDA for facial rejuvenation. The typical recovery time after either treatment is a few days.
How Long Does BOTOX Last?
BOTOX and alternative neuromodulators such as XEOMIN® and Dysport® produce results that last about 3 to 4 months. The rate at which your body metabolizes the product is the most significant factor determining how long your results last. People with higher metabolism rates (such as physically fit patients) often see less longevity in their results.
Other factors that influence the duration of effects include age and the treatment area—injections into larger facial muscles typically produce shorter results than injections in tiny muscles. Younger patients experience longer-lasting results because they usually have less severe wrinkling and more collagen in their skin.
A relative newcomer to the field of BOTOX alternatives, called DAXXIFY®, produces the longest-lasting results. DAXXIFY patients often see their faces remain relatively smooth for 6 to 9 months after treatments. That’s because DAXXIFY combines the neurotoxin used by BOTOX and the other products with a unique protein that binds more readily to the nerve endings, lengthening the effects of the injections.
How Long Do Dermal Filler Results Last?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question because specialized fillers treat specific areas of the face, and their durability differs. For example, JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® lip filler usually lasts 6 to 12 months. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA, which the FDA approves for restoring volume to the cheeks, can last from 18 months to as many as 2 years.
The longevity of Restylane® products is similar to JUVÉDERM fillers. The active ingredient for both Restylane and JUVÉDERM fillers (in addition to other alternatives) is hyaluronic acid (HA). The body naturally produces this substance, binding with water molecules to hydrate and add volume to the skin.
Another family of HA fillers we offer at Dermatology Associates of Rochester is Revance® TEOXANE RHA. RHA filler treatments produce results that usually last between 9 and 18 months, depending on the treatment area. BELOTERO BALANCE® is another HA filler we use, with results lasting 6 months or more.
Not all fillers are HA fillers (volumizing fillers). Other fillers, called bio stimulators, use active ingredients that gradually restore volume by stimulating the production of new collagen. One of these is Sculptra® Aesthetic, which is formulated using poly-L-lactic acid. The treatment area absorbs the PLLA microparticles and triggers new collagen production. Even though the results emerge more slowly than what you see with HA fillers, they last longer. Sculptra results can last up to 2 years.
Can You Extend the Results of Injectables?
There are a few ways to make the results of both BOTOX and filler injections last as long as possible. The most important thing to do is avoid what causes most wrinkles in the first place—extensive sun exposure. Other lifestyle choices that can help preserve your results are following a daily skincare regimen using high-quality products, staying hydrated, and not smoking.
You can also get touch-up treatments periodically while you’re still seeing the results of initial treatments. These maintenance treatments use smaller amounts of filler or BOTOX.
What Type of Wrinkles Does BOTOX Improve?
BOTOX improves expression lines on your face caused by repeated facial muscle movements such as frowning, squinting, or smiling. Expression lines, also called dynamic wrinkles, get deeper over time due to dwindling collagen and elastin production in our bodies.
Examples of expression lines include:
- Frown lines between the eyebrows,
- Forehead lines
- Crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes
- Lines around the lips
- Neck bands
- Bunny lines on the nose
BOTOX and alternatives temporarily relax facial muscles so that existing wrinkles look softer and smoother. It also delays the onset of new lines. Although BOTOX can’t permanently erase dynamic wrinkles, it can give your skin a more rejuvenated appearance so you look younger and more rested.
What Facial Concerns Do Dermal Fillers Address?
Dermal fillers address static lines on your face—the wrinkles, creases, and folds that are visible even when your facial muscles are at rest. You can lose volume in your face due to the natural aging process (which causes your skin to get thinner) and damage caused by sun or smoking. Once you lose facial volume, improving those areas with topical treatments is challenging.
Examples of folds, hollows, and wrinkles include:
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Chin dimples
- Sunken temples
- Under-eye hollows
Using fillers to improve facial lines, hollows, or creases, adds volume underneath the skin to plump up these areas and create natural-looking volume. Additionally, fillers can enhance your facial contours and define your jawline and other features more.
Because they address different signs of aging, combining BOTOX and dermal fillers can give you the glowing, radiant skin you want. This combination of injectables is often called a liquid facelift because it creates comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
Refresh Your Look
To talk to our team about your goals and the areas you’re looking to improve, request a consultation or call us at (585) 272-0700 to schedule an appointment.
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