Botox temporarily relaxes muscles by blocking chemical messages from the nerves to the muscles. This results in reduced muscle movement and less pronounced wrinkles.

Dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acids that are used to fill in wrinkles and add volume to areas of the face that have become hollow. This way they create fuller, more youthful looking skin.

Typically, patients visiting a practitioner have a particular area of their face they would like to treat with Botox injections. This might be for example, frown lines, forehead lines or crow’s feet. During a consultation, an experienced practitioner will assess a patient’s entire face. Then (s)he proposes how they would treat the patient’s areas of concern, as well as suggesting other areas of their face that would benefit from treatment. In some cases, this will mean using dermal fillers alongside Botox.

There are many articles that cover the topic ‘Botox vs dermal fillers’ but the two treatments should be seen as complementary, rather than competing.

Botox is used to treat dynamic wrinkles, these are wrinkles that develop when a muscle moves. Botox relaxes these muscles, limiting their movement and therefore the skin overlying the muscle looks smoother.

Dermal fillers are useful to smooth static wrinkles, these are wrinkles that are visible despite no muscle movement.

Dermal fillers can also be used to add structure and volume to areas of the face that have become hollow with age; Botox can’t be used for this purpose as it doesn’t fill out wrinkles or add volume, it simply reduces muscle movement.

Although they are very rare, there are some adverse effects associated with having Botox. After treatment you’ll receive full aftercare instructions, including a list of potential side effects. They include:

Excessive bruising, swelling or redness at injection site

Infection

Nausea, headache or flu-like symptoms

Occasional numbness

Drooping eyebrow or upper eyelid

Red and swollen eyelids

Muscle weakness1

Allergic reactions

Rash and itchiness

Facial swelling

If you experience any of the above after having Botox®, speak to your practitioner immediately.

Botox and Filler is an injectable treatment however the treatment is carried out with a very fine needle, so you should not be in too much discomfort. Following the treatment, you may experience mild redness, pain, itching, discoloration or tenderness at the injection sites but again these symptoms do not last long. You can use a cold pack to reduce any redness or swelling following the aftercare advice of your practitioner. If you have any concerns regarding your treatment these can be discussed in a free consultation.

You can go back to your regular routine immediately after your treatment although we do advise that you avoid exercise for 24 hours, extreme temperatures for 2 days, dental procedure for at least 2 weeks and then no further cosmetic treatment for at least 2 days.

Yes, but depending on the area being treated, your practitioner may suggest waiting for two weeks to see the results of the Botox injections before administering dermal fillers to the same area.

Having Botox and fillers around the same time can actually prolong the effects of fillers, as the more active your facial muscles are, the quicker dermal fillers will break down — Botox temporarily restricts the movement of your facial muscles. Another benefit of having Botox is that as the movement of muscles treated is limited, which can prevent wrinkles in these areas from getting worse. 

An allergic reaction to Botox® is very rare. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, this could be an indication of an allergic reaction and you should seek medical help immediately:

Itching and swelling of the face

A rash

Dizziness

Having trouble breathing

If it’s the injection sites are red and tender this might be a sign that the area has become infected. But don’t worry—this is extremely unlikely to happen if your Botox® was administered by a reputable clinic with qualified staff.

There are certain medications, supplements and vitamins you should stop taking before having Botox® treatment, as they can cause any swelling and bruising to worsen. These include:

Ibuprofen or aspirin—stop at least one week before having treatment

Blood thinning medication

St John’s wort

Gingko biloba

Vitamin E

If a doctor has prescribed you any of these medicines, you must check with them first that it’s safe to stop.

When you come to Health & Aesthetics for your consultation, we will take a full medical history from you, including any current medications and supplements you’re taking.

FREE CONSULTATION

BOTOX 1 AREA - £200

BOTOX 2 AREAS - £250

BOTOX 3 AREAS - £300

FILLERS  FROM £175