What’s the Difference Between Botox and Fillers?

The world sees your face first and, during the Holidays, many people are looking for a “quick fix” to help look younger and more refreshed. Botox, fillers, and laser treatments are a popular way to splurge on “self-care” during the holiday season, and they’re extremely popular with quick and relatively pain-free, lasting rejuvenation for the face, neck, and décolleté.

There are many differences between Botox, fillers, and laser treatments, and many points to consider before booking any injectable or laser therapy for the face.

Botox Basics

1. How much does Botox cost? In general, Botox is priced on a “per unit” basis. The national average for Botox “per unit” tends to range from $12 to $16 depending on the geographic location of the clinic or the experience level of who’s performing the Botox treatment. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2018, the average Botox cost of a botulinum toxin treatment was $397. At CARE Plastic Surgery and skinCARE Med Spa, Botox is priced at $10 per unit for your first visit and all visits include a comprehensive skincare analysis with a detailed treatment plan to achieve your individual goals.

2. Is Botox painful? We so often are asked, does it hurt to get Botox? In short, the answer is no. However, that’s for the majority of people. Some may be highly sensitive to certain areas of the face, and this is thoroughly discussed and reviewed with your expert Botox nurse injector, board-certified plastic surgeon, or PA injector before receiving treatment.

3. What does Botox do? Botox is so popular because it’s an anti-aging treatment that works. Botox is a protein that softens lines and wrinkles by blocking the signals from the nerves to the facial muscles. Once injected, the muscle can no longer contract.

4. What areas of the face are good for Botox? The most popular areas we find our clients request for Botox include forehead lines, crow’s feet, wrinkles between the eyebrows (also called the 11’s), small vertical lines above the lips (aka smoker’s lines), or to gently lift the eyebrows to give a soft and temporary mini brow lift. Botox may also be used to slightly augment the lips, slim a wide lower jaw, help treat TMJ, or even prevent “bunny lines” by the nose. Botox may also be used to treat excessive sweating of the underarms  

5. Who is best qualified to perform Botox? At CARE Plastic Surgery, our plastic surgeon, nurse, and PA injectors are trained directly by a double board-certified plastic surgeon and some of the best Botox educators in the country. Aesthetic Injectors at CARE must have worked at least two years in a plastic surgery aesthetic office before injecting and exhibiting diligence in the aesthetic profession. The CARE office requires our injectors to engage in rigorous training and continuing education. CARE does not incentivize or compensate Botox or filler injectors on commission to ensure the highest level of quality and service for each of our patients. First-time appointments are booked at 30 or 60 minutes so that all aesthetic questions may be answered. Our patients are always given a price estimate before treatment so there are no surprises!

Facts on Fillers

1. What are Fillers? Fillers are different than Botox in that, as their name indicates, they work to replace or “fill” back the youthful-looking volume in areas of the face that have lost volume due to aging or heredity.

2. Is it painful to get fillers? The majority of patients report very little discomfort or pain when receiving fillers. However, depending on the patient’s pain tolerance, this can differ on a case-by-case basis.

3. How long do fillers last? Most fillers last between 12 to 24 months.

4. Are there any side effects? It’s easy to confuse side effects with reactions, so it’s extremely important to understand what side effects can be expected. Normal side effects after facial fillers include swelling, redness, and tenderness. It is also completely normal to experience mild discomfort and bruising after your treatment.

5. How much do fillers cost? The cost for facial fillers ranges depending on how much you have done, which type of fillers you need, and who may be administering them. Fillers are priced “per syringe” and here at CARE Plastic Surgery and skinCARE Med Spa in the Raleigh, NC area, the syringes can range in price from $450-$999 each. Depending on the amount needed during treatment, more than one syringe may be used.

Dermal fillers include several brands of injectables typically made with hyaluronic acid. While fillers can add volume to the lips or other areas of the face, they are also used to address wrinkles. Some wrinkles and fine lines, especially those in the midface or around the mouth, are caused by volume loss, which occurs naturally through the aging process. The hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers binds to water, creating a plumper appearance that “fills” fine lines and wrinkles.

Choosing Between Botox and Fillers or Using them Together:

Choosing between these two types of products depends on the cause of your fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re unsure, a consultation with CARE Plastic Surgery and skinCARE Med Spa can help you weigh your options and choose the treatment that will yield the best results. Sometimes, it might be a combination of Botox and dermal fillers that will give you a youthful but natural-looking appearance. Results from filler treatments are generally instantaneous and have a very high satisfaction rate. For Botox, the results may take up to 5 days to two weeks. If you’re looking to refresh your appearance for the holiday season, schedule your consultation sooner rather than later. Request your appointment online or call (919) 335-9298.

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