Botox vs. Juvederm: Which is Better?
It’s not an issue of which cosmetic skin treatment is better; it’s which is more effective in the areas of your face where you would like cosmetic skin improvements. Since Botox and Juvederm work in two entirely different ways – with Botox temporarily relaxing the muscles in your face, and Juvederm plumping and hydrating various skin areas – you doctor will assess your facial features and skin conditions to decide which cosmetic skin treatment is best for your skin’s needs, as well as which will achieve the most natural-looking results and improvements for you.
Simply put, Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles in the first place, giving you a smoother complexion where injected, stopping muscle movements so that you cannot frown. Juvederm is a filler injected into areas that have deeper wrinkles and folds and areas that have lost volume. In some cases, your doctor will decide to use both cosmetic skin treatments for optimal improvement. For instance, after Botox is used to relax the muscles between your brows, your doctor may decide that a filler like Juvederm can complete your transformation by filling out those deep forehead creases from years of frowning. In tandem, Botox and Juvederm can work wonders for your more youthful-looking, smoother appearance.
Muscles are the key consideration here. In areas where muscle movement is needed to help you look natural, such as around your lips, Botox isn’t ideal. You’ll want your muscles to work there, so that you can speak and smile naturally and attractively. Juvederm’s hyaluronic acid filler works well for lip enhancements, and is often used by qualified, experienced physicians to restore lost volume to areas around the mouth, such as the corners of the mouth, chin and jawline.
For crow’s feet, Botox is considered an ideal way to smooth skin. But for under-eye bags, Botox isn’t ideal and in fact is considered a big Don’t for that area of the face. Instead, to restore a more youthful look to your eyes, Juvederm may be used to replenish volume in the areas adjacent to those under-eye bags, which can solve the under-eye bag problem and give you the new look you desire.
Juvederm can plump and thus smooth out deeper wrinkles and folds that Botox wouldn’t improve. For nasolabial folds – the lines between your nose and mouth – it’s Juvederm to the rescue. Again, Botox wouldn’t be ideal in that area, since you’ll need muscle movement for speech and expression.
And since Juvederm hydrates from within, using its hyaluronic acid to restore your skin’s natural ability to retain moisture and thus boost that plump, young, healthy look, your doctor will assess which portions of your face could use that near-instant improvement that Botox doesn’t fulfill.
Your doctor will look at each of your skin issues, each wrinkle’s depth and origin, and assess your facial muscle strength and usage to create an effective plan for solving each skin condition that you’re unhappy with. As a medical professional, he or she can point out where and how an injectable filler like Juvederm can create a more natural contour in your face, and where Botox would be most effective. You’ll then discuss a possible plan to merge the two FDA-approved treatments where needed, and perhaps stagger or coordinate cosmetic treatments of both Botox and Juvederm to create a more beautiful you…with all of your facial features working for you, to show off your youthful, fresher transformation in style.
