Are your wrinkles a worry? There are currently two major treatments for wrinkles: Botox and dermal filler. Both of these treatments are safe and effective, but they are used for slightly different things. If you're trying to choose between the two, here's what you need to know.

What's the Difference Between Botox and Dermal Fillers?

There are two primary things that happen when someone gets wrinkles. First, the elasticity of your skin begins to break down, which eventually leads to your skin sagging and creasing. Second, the materials beneath your skin are breaking down, which leads to a sunken look, which also loosens your skin. Both of these are natural parts of the aging process and they can be treated.

When your skin and sub-dermal layers begin to break down, your muscles have a more visible impact on their movement. This leads to things such as crows feet and laugh lines; the underlying muscles contract, and the skin wrinkles. Botox is used to smooth existing wrinkles by reducing the movement of the underlying muscles. The skin never wrinkles because it isn't moved.

Dermal fillers, on the other hand, add material into the areas that would wrinkle, making them plumper and fuller. Instead of making it so that the muscles remain smoothed and flat, they instead make it so that the movement of the muscles underneath aren't as visible.

Choosing Between Botox and a Dermal Filler

As you can see, a Botox Treatment actually causes the mechanism of wrinkling to stop, whereas dermal fillers hide what is happening. A dermal filler is often recommended for patients who have lost a lot of their underlying tissue; this can be seen in someone who looks gaunt in their facial features.

For those who already have plump faces but are just trying to get rid of their wrinkles. a botox treatment may be more effective. Botox may also be a good idea for those who find that their wrinkles are more apparent when they use certain facial expressions.

Of course, there's also no law saying that you cannot use both Botox and a dermal filler, especially because dermal fillers are entirely inert and will not interfere with the Botox treatment. Both of these treatments will need to be repeated periodically, and both of them are minimally invasive with very little down time. Your doctor can tell you more about whether Botox treatment or dermal fillers might be the right option for you.