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Dermal Fillers vs Anti-Wrinkle Injections: What’s the Difference? By Dr Frank

Dermal filler and anti-wrinkle injections are two of the most popular non-invasive cosmetic treatments. Both procedures can help you to reverse visible signs of ageing and improve or enhance your appearance. But there are significant differences in how the treatments work and the concerns they are used to treat. When it comes to your skin and health, it’s important to know the facts about any treatment you are considering. 

Keep reading to understand the difference between these two treatments. 

What Are Dermal Fillers?

The dermal fillers products that are now commonly and widely used in aesthetic medicine are non-permanent HA fillers. HA stands for Hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the body and plays an important role in the skin’s suppleness and hydration.

Premium non-permanent HA fillers are now favoured over permanent fillers. They are safer and highly effective in creating natural-looking contours and adding definition and volume. 

As the body ages, it produces less collagen and elastin. These proteins are integral to the skin’s ability to repair and form connective tissue. The skin can appear thinner and dehydrated. Wrinkles and folds begin to appear as the body produces less of these proteins. Dermal fillers restore the lost volume where collagen and elastin have broken down. 

An injection of dermal filler can reverse visible signs of ageing around the eyes, cheeks, jawline and increase the volume of the lips to create a more hydrated & youthful appearance.  

What Are Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

Anti-wrinkle injections or muscle relaxants consist of a purified version of a protein. We use small amounts of product to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and prevent new lines from forming.

This treatment is commonly known as an effective rejuvenation treatment for crow’s feet, frown lines, forehead lines, and many more areas.

There are a few well-known brands of anti-wrinkles products worldwide. 

At b clinic, we have been using a premium brand of muscle relaxant for over the last 20 years and has been proven to be safe and highly effective for achieving natural and long-lasting results for our clients.

 As the body ages, the skin’s consistent muscle movements begin to cause fine lines and wrinkles on the surface. Anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscles, allowing the skin to move into a more natural position and appear smoother and more youthful. 

Do Dermal Fillers Hurt?

A local anaesthetic is usually injected into the area before a dermal filler treatment. You may experience the sensation of pressure, but the injection itself is fairly painless. After the procedure, you might encounter mild swelling or bruising around the injection site for up to 48 hours, but there is no significant downtime.

Do Anti-Wrinkle Injections Hurt?

The majority of my clients don’t feel any significant pain during the procedure. Some areas are more sensitive than others, and some people are more susceptible to pain. You may experience slight discomfort for a few minutes during the treatment. There is a slight possibility of minimal bruising. Still, usually, there is no downtime with anti-wrinkle injections, and many clients return to work in the afternoon after receiving treatment during their lunch hour. 

How Long Do the Results Last?

The longevity of results for both procedures depends on the area being treated and the metabolism, age, and lifestyle of the individual. 

Generally, anti-wrinkle injections last from 3 to 4 months. For deeper lines, you may require more than one treatment in the clinic. At b clinic, we offer our clients a free treatment review 2 weeks following their initial muscle relaxant treatment. If required, we offer a free top-up to further treat any unwanted movement in the treated area. 

Dermal fillers typically last longer than anti-wrinkle injections, but the results’ longevity depends on the type of filler product and the area being treated. The hyaluronic acid is naturally absorbed over time, with areas that have a greater movement, such as the lips, mouth, and eyes, breaking the filler down faster than areas like the cheeks and chin. In general dermal fillers last from 6 to 18 months before another dermal filler treatment is required.

Differences Between Dermal Fillers and Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Both anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers counteract visible signs of ageing and help you achieve a younger and fresher look. However, the procedures have a different effect on treated areas and are used to improve different concerns’ appearance. 

Anti-wrinkle injections help to eliminate and soften fine lines and wrinkles. Relaxing the muscles beneath the skin stops the aggressive contraction that causes wrinkles to appear. The procedure can help you achieve a more youthful appearance and prevent wrinkles and fine lines from becoming more profound and noticeable. 

Dermal fillers restore lost volume to areas showing signs of ageing through elastin and collagen loss. It can be used to fill hollows under the eyes, to smooth lines and wrinkles to enhance definition and symmetry to the facial structure. Lip fillers are an increasingly popular treatment for achieving a more kissable pout with natural results. 

Different Applications for Different Medical Circumstances

The right treatment for you depends on the result you wish to achieve.  Dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are used to treat different areas of the face and to treat different concerns.

Anti-wrinkle injections are typically known for treating the upper face, as these are the areas where over-active muscle contraction is most visible. Forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines appear in the areas where the muscles are used to convey animated facial expressions. However, we can also effectively treat the lower face to achieve a more pleasing and fresher appearance for the client. 

Many people think that dermal fillers are generally only used to enhance facial features, such as lips and cheeks. However, dermal fillers are a highly effective treatment for correcting and rejuvenating the appearance. As we age, there are many internal and external changes occurring that affect our appearance. The outward appearance of lines and wrinkles does not just depend on the skin but the internal structural components. Dermal fillers can help restore the depletion of facial fat layers and rejuvenate where there has been a visible loss of facial volume. Without this deep structure, the skin begins to sag, causing unwanted lines, folds and hollows.  

Common Applications for Anti-Wrinkle Injections

The majority of my clients request anti-wrinkle injections to treat worry lines (frown lines), forehead lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. But this non-invasive cosmetic procedure can be an effective treatment to achieve better contours and definition of jawline as well as the following concerns:

  • Forehead lines
  • Frown lines
  • Crow’s feet
  • Facial slimming (jaw slimming)
  • Oral commissures (around the mouth)
  • Platysmal bands (neckbands) also known as ”Nefertiti Neck Lift.”
  • Overexposed gums (gummy smile)
  • Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
  • Nasal scrunch is known as ”Bunny scrunch.”
  • The nose tip to improve the downward movement of the tip
  • Chin dimpling 

Common Applications for Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a versatile non-surgical treatment to add volume and enhance or improve the appearance and visible signs of ageing, including:

  • Restore lost volume to under eyes, temples and brow 
  • Fill in hollows and shallow contours.
  • Add volume to midface.
  • Enhance cheekbones 
  • Correcting/ enhancing nose (non-surgical rhinoplasty) 
  • Enhance the jawline
  • Add definition to the chin
  • Lift the corners of the mouth
  • Rejuvenate lips 
  • Enhance lip volume
  • Smooth deep lines in crow’s feet, frown lines or forehead lines

Both anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers can be combined with other non-surgical treatments for a full facial rejuvenation. The treatments are often used together and combined with skin treatments such as laser resurfacing for a healthier glow and smoother complexion. 

How to Choose the Right Treatment for Your Skin

One of the primary considerations for anti-wrinkle injections is the appearance of “static lines”. If your wrinkles are visible even when you have a neutral facial expression, you may benefit most from anti-wrinkle injections.  Clients are also looking for preventive treatments, and muscle relaxants are highly beneficial to delay or prevent unwanted lines or wrinkles from forming. 

For clients that desire to freshen up their appearance or are seeing signs of unwanted hollows or areas of sagging skin due to loss of volume, dermal fillers may be more suitable for helping you achieve your treatment goals.  

During the consultation, I will listen to your concerns than assess your face and your natural features whilst observing your facial expressions, the ones that make you special and unique. I will then discuss with you the treatment options and clearly explain to you the whole process until you feel comfortable. To achieve a natural result, it is important that I tailor a treatment plan that does not interfere with or mask your unique and beautiful characteristics.  

Cosmetic Injectables at b clinic 

Whether you want to smooth the appearance of fine lines and crow’s feet with anti-wrinkle injections or restore volume and definition with dermal fillers, you’ll need to come in for a free consultation to determine which treatment is the best option for you. 

We help our clients enhance their individual beauty to achieve balanced and natural-looking results. 

Book a free consultation, and we will guide you through your options and advise you on the best treatment to help you look as youthful and vibrant on the outside as you feel on the inside.