1. Botox and Dermal Fillers Are the Same
One of the more common dermal filler myths is that fillers do the same job as another injectable anti-aging treatment: Botox. You know Botox and dermal fillers both reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but these products don’t treat the same type of wrinkles. Botox is injected into areas where your face appears wrinkled due to frequent muscle movement, such as the area between your eyebrows or your crow’s feet that crinkle on the sides of your eyes when you smile. Botox essentially paralyzes the muscles, which can make your face appear less wrinkled and more relaxed.
Fillers represent a variety of products used to ease wrinkles, make acne scars seem less noticeable, plump lips or make your cheekbones appear less sunken. Fillers do exactly as they sound: they fill in crevices or even larger, sunken areas you may have accumulated on your face as you age.
When it comes to choosing between Botox and fillers, you don’t have to choose one or the other. Your overall appearance goals may mean that both Botox and fillers are a good option to rejuvenate your face.
“The first thing I do when determining the best filler is to sit with a patient and have them look in the mirror, and I ask them what they’re trying to accomplish,” says Fernando Colon, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and Medical Director of The Skin Center Medical Spa located in Gahana, Ohio. “If I can accomplish their goals with Botox and fillers, I give them options.”
2. Dermal Fillers Last Forever
While it would be great if you paid for fillers one time and they lasted the rest of your life, but unfortunate this is another dermal filler myth. Some fillers, such as hyaluronic acid or collagen, are made from materials that naturally occur in your body. Just like your body uses and breaks down these materials over time, your fillers will break down as well. How fast this happens depends upon your individual skin condition and health. For example, some hyaluronic acid injections, such as Restylane, can last up to 18 months while other injections last a few months. Remember this is the amount of time it takes for the fillers to leave your system entirely. You’ll likely want to visit your physician to get a repeat injection or touch up in less time than this because you won’t want your filler results to flatten over time.
“When you consider a filler, try to figure out the costs to you right now versus costs over time,” says Dominic Brandy, MD, cosmetic surgeon and Founding Medical Director of The Skin Center Medical Spa in Pittsburgh, Penn. “Try to think of the amount of physician visits, costs and results you are hoping for over time when selecting the best filler for you.”
3. All Physicians Make Dermal Fillers Work Equally
Don’t fall victim to this dangerous dermal filler myth, lest you risk unsatisfactory results from an unqualified injector. Fernando Colon, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and medical director of The Skin Center Medical Spa located in Gahana, Ohio, has a unique perspective on dermal fillers and the physicians who inject them.
“You can give different chefs the same recipe and come out with different results,” Dr. Colon says. “When you look for a physician, you want someone who can take all the filler options and apply them to your face for the best possible results.”
In addition to reviewing credentials and training, Dr. Brandy recommends asking to review before and after photos of patients who have received similar procedures to the one you are considering undergoing. This helps you determine the physician’s artistry in administering the fillers.