Hi, I'm Dr. Amy from Boulder Canyon Dental. I get a lot of questions about what the difference is between Botox and filler. So today I wanted to take some time to go over what the difference is and what they both can accomplish to give you a better understanding of how you can meet your own personal goals.
What is the difference between Botox and fillers?
The biggest difference between Botox and fillers is what they're going to treat. Botox is a great tool to prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles from active movement, whereas filler is what we utilize if we've lost volume over time. Say you've heard of that sunken or fallen face look; that would be a filler treatment. Botox is a great tool to prevent signs of aging, while filler is a great tool to turn back the clock. I like that line: Botox is a great tool to prevent the signs of aging, whereas filler is a great tool to turn back the clock.
Will I look different when I get it?
A lot of patients ask, "Will I look different after I get Botox or fillers?" and the answer is really: do you want to look different? In general, Botox prevents a lot of facial expression, so patients don't typically look different after we complete that treatment. Whereas with a filler, if you come in and you want to restore volume that has been lost, we can make you look more like you did, say, 5 years ago. Whereas if you come in and say, "I've never had full lips; I want them to be huge and plump," you absolutely will look different after that treatment.
If you're sick of staring at those lines or crow's feet, then Botox will not change the look of your face or the appearance of those lines.
How much do I need?
How much Botox and filler you need is dependent on the goals of the patient. That's something that we would discuss whenever you're in the chair. Do you want to freeze your face and completely make all these lines disappear, or do you want to just slow that aging process so they're not as noticeable? I'm happy to give you a comprehensive understanding of exactly what we can and can't do and then dial that down to what your specific goals are. Personally, I hate lines, so I like to completely freeze my face.
I think I want filler, but I'm not sure.
If you've been toying with the idea of filler but aren't sure if you want to commit, we offer ABC biologic filler in our office. What that means is I'm utilizing your own cells to create that filler. You don't have to worry about things like filler migration or bad side effects because it's your body reacting to its own cells that were already there; we're just adjusting where we're placing it. It also has a shorter-lasting effect, so if you think, "I want these full lips, I want these big cheeks that I've never had," we can do that for you, give you that one to two-month trial run, and then you can decide if you want to stick with that kind of natural low investment or if you want to move on to something a little bit longer-lasting, such as a Juvederm filler.
For anyone who has utilized filler in the past and likes to continue their treatment, we use the full range of Juvederm products here in our office, which typically last 9 to 12 months. These have been proven safe for decades.
Here at Boulder Canyon Dental, we utilize the Allergan line of products because that benefits our patients with the Allē Rewards program. That means every time you come in to get any treatment, you're earning points, which you can trade in directly for cash with our office. There are no coupons to print out, no things to sign up for; it's a quick QR code. Come and tell us, "I'm going to use my points today," and we discount your treatment.
If you'd like to learn more about what Botox and fillers can do specifically for your needs, please give us a call at (970) 514-0662. We're happy to complete a free consultation so you can figure out what your options are.