Because you love to be informed, we are often asked, “What’s the difference between…” regarding your laser and injectable options, so here is one instalment from our series of expert-answered Frequently Asked Questions!

Botox vs. Filler

When it comes to injectables, you often hear Botox and dermal fillers mentioned together and the line between the two may seem to blur. In fact, the two are distinct procedures and work in different ways for different means, though they complement one another very well and are often used in combination to bring a smoother, fuller, and more youthful look to one’s appearance. What they do have in common is that they are both:

Extensively studied
In high demand by women and men across Canada
Minimally invasive
Non-permanent
Require minimal downtime
Provide natural-looking results when administered by an experienced injector

Botox

Botox treats dynamic wrinkles— the ones that are really defined by muscle contraction such as when you animate your face to squint your eyes or raise your eyebrows. Botox works by relaxing these underlying muscles, thereby reducing the resulting lines and wrinkles. If you’re looking to soften lines between the brows, across the forehead, near the lips, or bunny lines on the sides of the nose and crow’s feet at the corner of the eyes, you will likely want to consider Botox. An added bonus is that by reducing these contractions, you also prevent the lines from deepening further. Another popular procedure at NCBC Med-Laser is jawline reduction and lower face contouring in which Botox is injected into the masseter muscles which help us to clench and chew. By relaxing these muscles, the jawline is narrowed and the face looks slimmer. For a similar reason, Botox is also used for calf reduction to reduce prominent muscle definition in the lower legs. Botox is even used to relieve excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)! Results typically last four to six months.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the most extensively studied medical aesthetic treatments and is approved for cosmetic use in 78 countries, including Canada. BOTOX® Cosmetic has a record of experience that aesthetic providers know and trust.

Frown lines
Forehead lines
Crow’s feet
Smoke and lip lines
Neck lift
Jawline reduction
Bunny lines
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating on hands, feet, or underarms)
Lower face contouring
Chin relaxation
Facial scars
Calf reduction
Gummy smile

Fillers

he Yin to Botox’s Yang, fillers treat static wrinkles— the ones that can be seen even when the face is not animated such as nose-to-mouth lines and other soft tissue contours. There are many brand name options in the dermal filler world you may hear including Juvederm, Voluma, Revanesse, Restylane, and Radiesse and these products do as their name suggests– they fill in facial volume and soften lines by actually filling in their creases. They are also used toenhance fullness in the lips, cheekbones, nose, brow bone, and undereye area. As such, dermal fillers play an important role in thenon-surgical facelift. Medium-duration fillers (Juvederm Ultra Plus, Revanesse, Restylane) typically last nine to twelve months and long-duration fillers (Radiesse, Voluma) typically last up to eighteen months.

Juvéderm® is the #1 doctor recommended facial filler in Canadaand worldwide. Using hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring sugar found in your body, Juvéderm® combines with the water in your skin to gently restore lost fullness, smooth out lines and wrinkles, and subtly enhance lips, so you can look as young as you feel. The smooth formulation of Juvéderm® provides results that look and feel very natural.

Juvéderm® Ultra and Ultra Plus are smooth-consistency injectable gels with pain-reducing lidocaine to instantly smooth away wrinkles. These facial fillers work to enhance and define lips, cheeks and jawline. These may last up to one year after the initial treatment.

Juvéderm® Voluma delivers a smooth, natural lift that lasts for up to 2 years.