There was a time when injectables were very taboo. There was so much stigma around who was getting “work done.” People would make up elaborate stories to conceal the fact that maybe they didn’t just age with incredible ease and oh, right, backward.
Now, Botox is not a dirty word. Girls as young as their early to mid-20s are getting a little prick here and there, preserving and preventing, plumping and enhancing. But Botox is not the sole producer of all these changes. Oh, no. There are many fillers on the market, and they are not to be confused with Botox, let alone with each other, much of the time. Here’s the scoop.
We chatted with Dr. Jason Diamond of the Diamond Face Institute, who informed us that Botox and dermal fillers are completely different entities. “Botox is used to relax muscle movements, whereas fillers are designed to add more volume, restructure, sculpt, and contour the face,” he explains.
He asserts that both have significant cosmetic benefits and are often used in tandem, but are certainly “not interchangeable” and are used to address entirely different concerns. Speaking of concerns, some people are deterred by the process, simply by the suffix of the word.
By nature, Botox is a toxin. This is confusing because while it’s technically a neurotoxin, it’s mainly inactive and therefore nontoxic. And while there are risks involved in any procedure, Dr. Diamond assures us that if done with the right credentials and “proper knowledge, experience, and skill, Botox and filler are both very safe.” Essentially, do your homework, don’t jump on the next Groupon deal you come across, and invest in your face if you’re going this route. Someone who knows what they are doing will give you beautiful results.
Botox and fillers are both typically used to preserve youthfulness and address sagging and loss of fat as we age. Dr. Diamond clarifies that “as we age, our bone density, collagen production, and skin elasticity become weaker, so more fillers are typically required,” but Botox is what is used to address fine lines and wrinkles. To make that crystal clear, “Botox and collagen-producing treatments (i.e. the Diamond InstaFacial) are used for preserving, whereas filler is used for enhancement. This is a common misconception, and patients will come in wanting Botox to restructure their cheekbones or under-eyes. It is imperative to be treated with the right products in the right places.”
The low-down on fillers is that there are many, many brands and formulas on the market, they come in varying consistencies, and they can be injected very differently. “Different areas of the face call for different viscosities—i.e. the substance used in the lip isn’t necessarily appropriate for the cheekbones, and the substance in the cheekbone isn’t appropriate for the tear troughs (under-eyes) because our skin is different with different underlying muscles in each facial region.” So if you’re in search of a nonsurgical nose job, a plumper pout, or wanting to eradicate your 11s (the two vertical worry lines that form between your eyes), you might need a different syringe of juice for each spot.
Of course, it’s all personal preference, and everyone’s skin ages so different based on factors like environment, diet, habits, and genetics. But knowing your options definitely doesn’t hurt, and getting your facts straight before taking the (needle) plunge is the most important step.