Myths Surrounding Botox And Dermal Fillers!

Myth #1 – Botox and dermal fillers are the same treatment

Although both are injectable, the similarity ends there. Botox is a muscle relaxant that reduces wrinkles and can soften and prevent lines, aesthetically lift or drop facial structures. Whereas, dermal fillers restore volume and lift facial tissues, giving you a youthful look. They can also stabilise, reshape and contour facial structures. Dermal Fillers also last longer than Botox.

Myth #2 – They result in an unnatural look

Fillers are products used to replace the volume we lose in our faces as we age. If done carefully and with a good aesthetic sense, you will look rejuvenated and natural.

It is true that over correction with too much filler can result in an overly plumped out face. Carla Bruni, Madonna and Lindsay Lohan have been papped by the press with excessive cheek volume and an overly inflated appearance. As a cosmetic doctor, it is not unusual to hear“I don’t want my lips to end up looking like Anushka Sharma’s!” Many people have been put off lip filler injections because of a few disastrous procedures.

It is important to keep a sense of proportion and not to overdo it. However, when these treatments are carried out by a properly trained practitioner with an astute eye this should not happen. It is better to under-treat and add more product at a later date rather than create a false fat looking face. For best results, it is recommended that you seek out a specialist who has expertise in using fillers in the face.

Myth # 3 – It is a painful procedure

Many filler products are packaged with numbing solution mixed into them, resulting in nearly painless injections. Topical numbing ointments provide additional relief. Additionally, micro-cannulas which are blunt tipped - not sharp, like needles, can be used to enhance patient comfort.

Myth # 4 – There will be a lot of bruising or downtime

Although bruising and swelling can occur with filler injections, particularly around the eyes or mouth, it is infrequent or minimal in the hands of experienced doctors. The chances can be reduced by using cool compresses, arnica montana tablets and cream, and elevating the head of the bed.

Most of the time, bruising and/or swelling can be concealed with make-up and is not very noticeable. As a safeguard against the occasions when it may be more noticeable, we recommend that you don’t have your filler treatments performed within a week to 10 days of a major event such as a wedding

Myth # 5 – Once you get Botox or fillers, you must continue to have them forever

Many people believe that once you start having Botox injections or dermal fillers, your skin will sag and wrinkle more than ever before if you stop the treatments. This is not true. When the effects of Botox or fillers wear off, your skin will look exactly the same as it did before the treatment and no worse. It’s simply that most people are so happy with the results of their treatments that they continue to have them for many years to come!

Also, the frequency of maintenance is not as long as most people think. It depends on such factors as the filler being used, where it is placed, and the activity level of the person receiving the filler. Consequently, fillers may only need to be repeated every 6-8 months or as infrequently as once every 2 years depending on the above factors.

Myth # 6 – Fillers can replace a surgical facelift

While fillers add volume and can give the appearance of “looking lifted,” they cannot ever replace the results of surgery, which lifts and tightens the deeper tissues while removing excess and sagging skin. Often, in older patients with substantial drooping, a combination of surgery plus volume replacement with filler will provide optimal rejuvenation results.

Myth #7 – It is okay to shop around for the cheapest price.. It’s just a few standard injections…ANYONE can do them..

The most important aspect of these treatments the skill, talent, aesthetic sense, and expertise of the practitioner administering the filler. There are many physicians, nurses, and dentists that will offer fillers to their patients, often at very low costs, as a source of extra income. Many have little training, sometimes just having taken a weekend course.

This process is similar to commissioning a beautiful piece of art. The type of paint or clay being used is secondary. What is paramount is the skill and vision of the artist. So rather than shop for prices, one should look for an experienced injector who has expertise and training in facial aesthetics and a vision attuned to one’s own aesthetic sense.

Myth # 8 – Any filler can be placed anywhere – they are all the same

Not all fillers are the same, nor can they be placed in any location. Certain fillers should be avoided around the eyes and lips. Juvederm®, for example, attracts water, and therefore is not ideal to use close to the eyes where the skin is thin.

Myth # 9 – Botox and Filler treatments are just for women

Although cosmetic injectables are more commonly requested by females, there has been a significant increase amongst men in recent times. The most commonly requested female procedures are brow lifts, cheek and lip enhancement, whilst in gents, hyperhidrosis, frown lines and chin re-shaping rank amongst the top few. Interestingly, male customers often advertise it more than their female counterparts, with studies showing only 12% of women confessing to having treatments, compared to a whopping 74% of men!

Myth # 10 – Botox treatments are toxic and dangerous

With nearly 20 years of use for a range of different conditions, Botox has a long and well-established safety history. More than 16 million treatments have been performed since it was first introduced in the marketplace. No long term side effects have ever been seen in users of the treatments even in studies that followed people who received thirty or more injections over a period of 9 years. It would take a dose of more than 100 times the average dose given for cosmetic use for cosmetic Botox treatments to be fatal.