Botox or Fillers? That’s the Question.

• Posted on: Oct 15 2019
• By: Snodgrass
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Since we’re in the midst of our Fall Filler Special at Snodgrass and Robinson Plastic Surgery Specialists, now’s as good a time as any to help you know whether Botox or fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm are what you need.

Here’s the difference.

Botox for dynamic wrinkles

It seems wrong to describe wrinkles as “dynamic.” Actually that’s a type of wrinkle that forms atop a muscle when it contracts. As this happens thousands and thousands of times, a wrinkle begins to form over the muscle, showing itself when the muscle is contracted. This is the case when we form expressions such as frowning, showing surprise, or smiling. Go ahead, make an expression and feel the muscles around your eyes, between your brows, and on your forehead engage. Over time, these contractions lead to crow’s feet, the 11s between the brows, and forehead lines. These are the targets of Botox.

Botox works by blocking nerve messages sent from a muscle to the brain. When Botox is injected into a muscle forming a dynamic wrinkle, it blocks the messages to contract the muscle so the brain never receives them. Without the message, the muscle stays relaxed and the wrinkle doesn’t form on the surface skin.

So, if the wrinkles you want to address are on the upper third of your face, Botox is probably the way to go.

Fillers for static wrinkles

There is another type of wrinkle, static wrinkles. Unlike dynamic wrinkles that form due to muscle contractions under the skin, static wrinkles are the result of sun damage, declining collagen production, personal habits such as smoking, and environmental factors. Static wrinkles show themselves at all times. Declining collagen production that is a part of aging also causes areas of volume loss, such as the cheeks and areas under the eyes.

Static wrinkles are the domain of dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm. The fillers we use at Snodgrass and Robinson are “natural” fillers made predominantly from hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body whose job is to plump and firm the skin. It does this by binding with nearby water molecules. When a natural filler is injected beneath a crease or area of volume loss, the hyaluronic acid instantly binds with water molecules and provides volume, pushing the depressed skin back up and erasing the wrinkle or filling in the area.

Fillers are meant for the lower two thirds of the face. Smile lines, marionette lines, barcode lines, parentheses lines, sunken cheeks, and under eye hollows — these are the targets for dermal fillers.

Now you’re an expert on injectables. Call us to take advantage of our Fall Filler Special, (706) 378-0200, just in time for the upcoming holiday party season.

Posted in: Injectables