Filler Vs Botox: Which Is The Right Treatment For You?

If signs of aging on your face is your main concern, you may be motivated to head on down to your nearest plastic surgeon's office for a series of injectables to turn back the clock. There are two main ultra-popular procedures with millions of yearly receivers out there today that can treat lines and more, and they are commonly referred to as Botox and fillers. While Botox is currently the number one non-surgical treatment (via Byrdie), rates of fillers have been skyrocketing, going from 1.8 million procedures in 2010 to 2.6 million in 2016, according to CNN.

What's all the hype about? Both Botox and fillers have been proven to be very successful when it comes to reducing signs of aging without having to go under the knife, but the benefits for both are very different. If you can't decide which one to get, we're here to help. Keep scrolling to find out whether Botox or filler is a better choice for you.

Botox is a neurotoxin that treats wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles in the injected areas, lessening the appearance or even sometimes completely getting rid of the wrinkles in the targeted location. Results can typically be seen in around 2-10 days, last three-four months, and the average cost was about $466 in 2020 (via American Society of Plastic Surgeons), depending on the doctor and the amount used. One benefit of Botox is that it can be used to prevent wrinkles from forming. Dr. Munique Maia told Byrdie she has patients as young as their mid-20s looking for preventative Botox.

Hyaluronic acid fillers can plump and fill lines, folds, and creases on your face, and last anywhere from five months to two years. The average cost for a Juvederm filler is most recently documented at $684 (via American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

The bottom line is, you should choose between Botox or fillers based on your needs. While Botox is great for wrinkles around areas where your face moves, such as the horizontal lines on the forehead and crow's feet on the eyes, fillers are best for signs of aging on your cheeks, such as sleep wrinkles, and around the mouth, such as laugh lines (via Medical News Today). "Lines of expression need botulinum toxin. Lines at rest need filler," plastic surgeon Matthew Schulman told Byrdie. So whatever you decide to do with your face, just remember to weigh the benefits of both Botox and fillers before choosing.