Fillers vs. Botox

Time stops for no one, and with that time comes wrinkles, creases, lost volume, and loose skin on your face. Ugh. Dr. Kronberg offers a variety of injectables to counter this onslaught of time. There are a variety of options, enough to actually confuse some of our patients. Everyone’s heard of Botox, but there are a host of fillers that also do great work turning back the clock.

The difference is the method

Injectables all have the same goal — to make you look younger. They just do it in different ways. Botox is called a neuormodulator. When injected into a muscle it causes the muscle to relax and not contract for a period of three to six months. When these muscles are used in facial expressions such as frown lines or squinting, by Botox stopping their contractions, the wrinkles they form also go away. This type of wrinkle is called a dynamic wrinkle, because it is formed by muscle contraction.

The other kind of injectables are dermal fillers. They have the same goal, to erase wrinkles and lines, and even to restore volume. But, unlike Botox, they don’t relax the facial muscles, they instead fill crease and plump the skin. They do this by “filling” in the area beneath the wrinkle or crease, pushing the skin back up. They treat the other kind of wrinkles, static wrinkles. These wrinkles show themselves at all times.

A tale of five fillers

Here are five fillers Dr. Kronberg uses and their characteristics.

• Restylane® — Restylane is made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body that is responsible for plumping the skin. Once injected, the hyaluronic acid molecules bind to water molecules in the skin, pushing the skin up and making it smooth and more youthful. Restylane is very effective at improving wrinkles and creases around the mouth and lips, as well as those under the eyes. It is best on areas with thinner skin.
• Juvederm® — Juvederm is also a hyaluronic acid-based filler. Juvederm can be used to restore volume and address deeper wrinkles, especially those around the mouth and nose and on the forehead. We offer three types of Juvederm: Juvederm XC, Juvederm Voluma XC, and Juvederm Ultra Plus. Each has different characteristics that target different issues such as volume vs. wrinkles.
• Perlane® — This hyaluronic acid-based filler is a sister product of Restylane, but its consistency is much thicker, making it best for improving large nasolabial folds and worry lines on the forehead. It can also enhance the volume and size of the lips. Perlane, due to its thicker consistency, needs to be injected in areas where there is underlying fat to hide it.
• Sculptra® — Sculptra is one of the longest-lasting fillers, providing results for up to two years. Sculptra is made from poly-L-lactic acid, which encourages the body to produce new collagen. Why is this important? Collagen is the skin’s basic support structure, making it firm and taut. As we age collagen production drops one percent each year after the age of 20. Since Sculptra encourages new collagen production, its results are more gradual. Sculptra is effective for nasolabial lines, marionette lines, and lines on the forehead.
• Artefill® — Artefill is the first “permanent filler” approved by the FDA. Made from a combination of plymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and purified bovine collagen, Artefill is only used on nasolabial folds. Artefill is permanent, but as you continue to age, you will likely need additional Artefill in five to 10 years.

If you’re tired of the wrinkles, lines, and lost volume, call Dr. Kronberg at 713-771-8941 and let’s talk about your injectable options.