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Dr. Heck describes the difference between BOTOX® and facial fillers and shares how a woman can locate a dermatologist who offers those treatments. She also shares the risks associated with BOTOX® injections.
Dr. Heck:
BOTOX® is used to treat upper face wrinkles. The frown lines or “the elevens” that a lot of people talk about, that’s the most frequent area for BOTOX®, but the forehead wrinkles, the crow’s feet or wrinkles around the eyes, those are all great places for BOTOX®.
Fillers are volumizers. They are better used for lower face wrinkles and these are generalizations. Sometimes BOTOX® is used for lower face and fillers are used for upper face but in general, fillers help the nasolabial folds and the marionette lines and those are the most common areas. A new area that fillers are frequently used for are cheeks, to rejuvenate and volumize the cheeks again, giving the face a more youthful appearance.
All dermatologists know about BOTOX® and fillers such as Restylane® and Juvederm®, some will know more than others and if you have a dermatologist that doesn’t inject, they will be able to refer you to somebody that does.
BOTOX® is a very safe product. It’s been around for a very long time. The biggest risk factor of BOTOX® is a bruise at the injection site. There is also a one-half of a one percent risk of a slight eyelid droop that can happen when injecting the frown area and that is a very rare risk and it does resolve itself in two to three weeks. That’s the bad and the good about BOTOX®. BOTOX® wears off, but then you have to repeat the treatment about every three to four months.
About Dr. Shannon Heck, M.D.:
Shannon Heck, M.D., F.A.A.D., is a board certified dermatologist and a partner in a large, thriving dermatologic practice in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. She specializes in general and cosmetic dermatology.