Dermal filler and anti-wrinkle treatments are both types of minimally-invasive cosmetic injectable treatments that are performed by registered doctors and nurses to create a desired result in the appearance of the client. While often conflated under the one treatment due to the injectable application, dermal filler and anti-wrinkle treatments use different products to achieve different results.
An easy way to remember the difference between the treatments is to think of ‘filler’ as a treatment that ‘adds’ structure and facial volume areas such as the cheeks, chin and lips. Whereas ‘anti’-wrinkle treatments aim to ‘reduce’ wrinkles by relaxing and softening the muscle to smooth the appearance of the skin.
Regardless of the treatment you are interested in, the information in this article should not replace real medical advice. Please contact a medically-trained Australian Skin Clinics cosmetic injector to discuss the costs, risks and benefits and expectations for any injectable treatment.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are designed to subtly increase fullness and volume when injected into the dermis of the skin. Very simply, it does this by using an aesthetic gel-based product that mimics your body’s sugar molecule and binds to water. The results from a treatment with dermal filler are instant.
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As we age, our facial features can lose their natural, youthful volume due to a decrease in the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin. There can also be a loss of fat, muscle and bone. This is where dermal filler can assist in lifting and plumping those areas – most commonly the lips and cheeks, but also the chin and jawline.
Anti-wrinkle Injections
Anti-wrinkle treatments, also called muscle relaxants, use very tiny amounts of a neuromodulator to temporarily blocks the chemical signal sent from the brain which contracts the muscle of a specific area. The result is a relaxation of the muscle, which in turn softens and reduces the appearance of fine lines and dynamic wrinkles. It can take up to 14 days for the treatment to take full effect.
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At Australian Skin Clinics, anti-wrinkle treatments are most commonly used in areas such as the forehead and frown lines, crow’s feet (around the eyes) and bunny lines (along the nose) but can also be used to minimise excessive sweating under the arms or reduce Bruxism (clenching of the teeth and jaws).
What’s best for you?
Whether you want to enhance volume and hydrate the skin with dermal filler, or smooth and reduce fine lines and wrinkles with anti-wrinkle treatment, a consultation with a medically-trained doctor or registered nurse injector is required to determine your suitability for treatment, along with which treatment and products might be best for you. Because the products used for dermal filler and anti-wrinkle treatments are different, your cosmetic injector may recommend combining these treatments into one appointment.
To learn more about the options available, visit your local Australian Skin Clinics today for a complimentary injectables consultation.
