Wrinkle Relaxers or Dermal Fillers

What’s the difference and what is the best option for me?

Facial injectables are on the rise and provide conservative treatment options for patients looking to improve their look in a simple way. To determine the best course of treatment to address your specific concern, let’s look at the differences between these injectable options.

Wrinkle Relaxers (aka Botox® or Xeomin®) are injections of safe, minute concentrations of botulinum toxin into muscles that cause expression on your face … think for example forehead lines, frown lines (between your eyes) and crow’s feet (around your eyes). These lines and wrinkles are not as prominent  when your face is at rest but become more intense when you express emotion. Wrinkle relaxers work by temporarily relaxing the strong contraction of these muscles which contribute to the appearance of the lines and wrinkles caused by your expressions, typicially in the upper third of the face.

Dermal Fillers are best used to treat static wrinkles and creases on the face which are caused by volume loss. As we age, we gradually loose more collagen and elasticity in our face. Consequently, we begin to see more wrinkles at rest. Common areas include lines running from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial folds) and smile lines around the mouth. We often experience volume loss which contributes to less cheek bone support, thinning lips and undereye darkness. Dermal Fillers are a wonderful option to address all of these concerns because they use hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring sugar in our bodies) to fill in these static lines and restore lost volume. As an added benefit, fillers stimulate collagen production when they are appropriately placed.

A simple rule for injectables …

Lines of expression need wrinkle relaxers. Lines at rest need dermal fillers.

Dr. Daub loves meeting with patients to discuss personal facial aesthetic goals and to identify the best suitable treatment for their concerns using both wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers.  She provides in-office complimentary consultations for all interested patients.