Injectables (cosmetic)

What are injectables?

Botulinum toxin is a muscle relaxant used to temporarily relax the facial muscles. Fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (or other materials) and are injected into the skin to restore volume and improve skin firmness.

The differences

Muscle relaxants are mostly used to reduce dynamic wrinkles, such as frown lines, crow's feet and forehead wrinkles. These are caused by repeated muscle movements in the face. Muscle relaxants reduce muscle activity, preventing the muscles from contracting and forming wrinkles.

Fillers are used to treat static wrinkles such as the folds running from the nose to the corners of the mouth, the lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin and lip lines. Fillers are also used to enhance facial contours, such as enlarging the lips or defining the cheekbones.

How does it work

Injectables are administered into the skin with a fine needle. Muscle relaxants work by preventing the muscles from contracting and forming wrinkles. Fillers work by adding volume to the skin and underlying tissues, making the skin smoother and reducing the visibility of wrinkles.

Result

The effect of muscle relaxants usually becomes visible after three to five days, with the maximum effect after about two weeks. The results last for about three months. 

Fillers generally provide immediate results, lasting up to twelve months or longer, depending on the type used. 

Possible complications

After treatment with injectables, temporary bruising may occur, which usually disappears within a few days. A possible risk with muscle relaxants is asymmetry or muscle weakness in the treated area. These effects wear off after about three months. If a filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, this cause necrosis (death) of a part of the skin.