If you’re exploring nonsurgical ways to refresh your appearance, you’ve probably heard of both BOTOX and dermal fillers. These injectable treatments are among the most popular aesthetic procedures in the world, offering patients a chance to soften lines, restore volume, and achieve a more youthful look without going under the knife. At Weber Facial Plastic Surgery, double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Stephen Weber specializes in personalized, natural-looking results that respect and enhance your unique facial features.
While BOTOX and fillers are often mentioned in the same breath, they serve distinctly different purposes. Understanding what each can (and can’t) do is essential when choosing the right solution for your aesthetic goals. Let’s explore the key differences.
What BOTOX Does
BOTOX temporarily relaxes specific facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles, the fine lines and creases that appear with repeated expressions like smiling, frowning, or squinting. It’s most effective in treating:
- Forehead lines: Caused by raising the eyebrows.
- Glabellar lines (“11s”): Found between the brows from frowning or squinting.
- Crow’s feet: Wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes from smiling or laughing.
In the hands of an expert like Dr. Weber, BOTOX can also enhance facial harmony by refining symmetry, lifting the corners of the mouth, slimming the lower face, and improving neck laxity.
What BOTOX Doesn’t Do
- Add volume or plump facial features
- Fill in deep static lines or folds
- Correct sagging skin or facial laxity
- Treat age-related volume loss
For those concerns, dermal fillers—or a combination treatment plan—may offer more effective and lasting improvements.
What Fillers Do
Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that add volume beneath the skin. They are ideal for restoring facial contours, smoothing deep wrinkles, and enhancing areas of natural volume loss due to aging. Fillers are often used to:
- Plump thin lips
- Fill nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Restore volume in hollow cheeks or temples
- Correct facial asymmetry
- Improve the appearance of the hands
Dr. Weber takes a meticulous approach to filler placement, carefully restoring youthful balance and definition while avoiding the overfilled or artificial look.
What Fillers Don’t Do
- Relax overactive facial muscles
- Soften expression-related wrinkles
- Prevent new dynamic wrinkles from forming
- Substitute for neuromodulators in the upper face
If you’re hoping to smooth lines caused by facial movement—like crow’s feet or forehead creases—BOTOX is likely the better option, or may be recommended alongside fillers as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Longevity, Safety, and What to Expect
- BOTOX: Results typically last 3 to 4 months and require regular upkeep.
- Fillers: Depending on the product and treatment area, results can last anywhere from 9 to 24 months.
Both treatments are minimally invasive, involve little to no downtime, and are generally well-tolerated. While side effects for either are typically minor, fillers carry a slightly higher risk of bruising, lumps, or rare vascular complications. Choosing an experienced injector like Dr. Weber minimizes these risks significantly.
Your Personalized Plan Starts Here
Whether you’re concerned about dynamic wrinkles, volume loss, or both, Dr. Stephen Weber offers a customized approach tailored to your facial anatomy and goals. BOTOX smooths lines caused by movement, while fillers restore youthful contour in areas affected by aging.
With double board certification, global training, and a national reputation as a clinical educator, Dr. Weber delivers results that are precise, natural, and refined. Contact Weber Facial Plastic Surgery today to schedule your consultation in Denver or Lone Tree.