Botulinum toxin and fillers are the most sought-after restorative treatments in aesthetic medicine. Their purpose is to correct an aesthetic flaw and/or restore volumes lost over the years. The choice between Botulinum toxin and fillers depends on the purpose. Simply put, fillers are filling agents, generally based on hyaluronic acid, “the purpose of which is to correct wrinkles and create volume. These treatments have a duration from 6 months to a year,” says Dr. Antonella Franceschelli, aesthetic doctor owner of the Studio Franceschelli in Rome, doctor tutor in the aesthetic medicine clinics of the Fatebenefratelli isola Tiberina Hospital, and Uniderm consultant. Botulinum toxin relaxes wrinkles for a “more rested” skin effect but does not work on volumes, unlike fillers. Uncertain about which treatment to choose? Here’s a detailed explanation of the differences between botulinum toxin and filler.
Botulinum toxin: what is it, what is it used for, how long does it last?
Let’s start with the botulinum toxin that, as the expert reminds us, enables the release of the expressive muscles of the upper third of the face and thus erases expression lines and enhances the look. “Botulinum toxin,” Franceschelli points out, “is a neurotoxin produced in nature by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Its action disrupts communication between the nerve fiber and the muscle cell; this action involves a reduction in the activity of the muscles with which it comes into contact, making them relax”. The botulinum relaxes the muscles correcting both the wrinkle and exerting a preventive action of the wrinkles themselves because it works directly on the causes that trigger their appearance. In aesthetic medicine, botulinum toxin treatment is recommended to correct facial wrinkles and give a more youthful appearance to the skin.
Botulinum toxin: how long it lasts
The treatment’s effectiveness lasts about 6 months (but it greatly differs from person to person). However, not all areas of the face, however, can be treated with botulinum toxin. As of today, only the wrinkles of the upper third of the face are allowed to be treated with botulinum toxin, then the horizontal wrinkles of the forehead, those vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows (they are called glabellar) and, finally, the wrinkles of the eye area, better known as “crow’s feet”.
Botulinum toxin: treatment and results
During the session, the aesthetic doctor injects tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into specific points on the face, inhibiting the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, causing the facial muscles to relax. The needle used is very thin. To treat the forehead and periocular wrinkles, generally, 16 microinjections are applied (but the quantity also depends on the effect you want to achieve). Everything happens in about 10 to 15 minutes, and, as a rule, it is not necessary to apply anesthetics or use ice before or after the injections. The results are not immediate: it will take at least a week to see the effects of the treatment and the results are always reversible. After about five months, the muscle returns to the previous condition.
How to lengthen the effect of botulinum toxin
To extend the effect of botulinum toxin, it is necessary to devote a lot of attention to skincare. It is important to choose a serum and a face cream that “mimic” the action of the botulinum toxin by inhibiting muscle contraction. Liftensive 24H by Collagenil is the right solution because it slows down the premature aging phenomena and increases deep skin hydration, stimulating all the processes essential for proper epidermal reconstruction, with a lifting action on the skin of the face. It acts particularly on the lower part of the face and chin that, more than others, show early signs of skin sagging and an undefined contour. Used regularly morning and evening, this treatment restores a more harmonious and defined look to the face and enhances the features in a more youthful and toned V-shape.
Filler: what it is and when to choose it
The term filler comes from the English term “to fill” or “to replenish.” By “filler treatment” in aesthetic medicine, we mean the insertion of a material that serves to fill a wrinkle or create volume. Franceschelli clarifies: “The most widely used filler in aesthetic medicine is hyaluronic acid.There are different types used for different treatments ranging from filling small perioral wrinkles to restoring facial volumes, such as those of the cheekbones or lips. The filler helps to restore volumes in case of hollows and irregularities, to fill the nasolabial wrinkles, for a plumping effect of the cheekbones and lips, and, finally, also to correct imperfections and asymmetries as in the rhino-filler.”
How long does the filler last?
The duration of the fillers can be up to 12 months, especially in the less mobile areas of the face. It is not a very painful treatment, but the needle could be uncomfortable and that is why there is also a small dose of local anesthetic in the fillers.
How to prolong the effect of a filler?
Also in this case, in addition to some habits and lifestyles, it is useful to use skincare products designed precisely for these situations. The best post filler allies are cosmeceuticals which, unlike normal cosmetics, contain highly concentrated active ingredients capable of acting in depth with a corrective function and not just an aesthetic one. The recommended products are those of the Collagenil Re-Pulp collection that plump and volumize thanks to hyaluronic acid, present in different weights and concentrations. The products in this line are able to reshape facial features, contrasting the typical appearance of a face that is no longer young or that shows a visible loss of tone.
