Question: Because Botox and injectables like Juvederm or Radiesse work differently, I wonder about the differences and effectiveness. What differences in outcome should I expect between these two injections?
Answer: Well, you are right that they work differently as Botox is a neuromodulator, which prevents the muscle from contracting, and fillers are simply volumizing areas in that they improve volume wherever the filler is placed. Botox does not volumize but rather relaxes muscle that the Botox is injected into and this, therefore, softens the dynamic lines that that muscle creates. Expectations after these injections would be that, a week after the Botox injection, the muscle that was injected should be relaxed and unable to fully contract. The expectations after any filler injection would be immediate improved volume and, if we are filling a depression, then the depression should essentially be gone. The only exception to this would be Sculptra that does take six to eight weeks to provide its volumization due to the fact that we are relying on the body’s response to the injection to provide the actual volume.