Botox or hyaluronic acid? What to choose and what are the differences?
Botox or hyaluronic acid? What to choose and what are the differences?
Aesthetic medicine today offers many effective methods to improve appearance and stop the signs of aging. Among the most popular treatments are botox and hyaluronic acid. Although often mentioned in the same breath, these two substances work very differently and are used for different purposes. The choice between them should depend not only on the expected effect, but also on the individual facial features, type of wrinkles and lifestyle of the patient.
Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, works by temporarily blocking nerve impulses to the muscles. The effect is their relaxation, which effectively smoothes mimic wrinkles – especially those formed in the upper part of the face: on the forehead, between the eyebrows (the so-called lion’s wrinkle) or around the eyes (crow’s feet). Botox does not “fill” wrinkles – it immobilizes them, which makes the skin look smoother and the face – more rested. The effects usually appear after a few days and last from 3 to 6 months.
Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring polysaccharide in the body that binds water and provides the skin with hydration, volume and firmness. As a preparation used in aesthetic medicine, it is used primarily to model and fill – lips, cheeks, tear troughs, nasolabial folds or fine wrinkles. The effects are visible immediately after the treatment, and their durability depends on the type of preparation used, location and individual predispositions – usually from 6 to 12 months.
The most common question is: what to choose? The answer depends on what we want to achieve. If your main problem is mimic wrinkles that appear when moving your face – e.g. when frowning or squinting – botox will be the best solution. On the other hand, when it comes to restoring volume, moisturizing or gently modeling the contours of the face – hyaluronic acid will definitely work better.
It is also worth noting that both methods can be combined with each other to achieve a comprehensive rejuvenation effect. In this case, the therapy is individually tailored by an aesthetic medicine doctor based on the patient’s history, skin condition and expectations.
Regardless of the choice, it is important that the treatment is performed by an experienced specialist – not only for safety reasons, but also for the aesthetics and naturalness of the effects. Aesthetic medicine is not magic, but precise action based on anatomical knowledge and skilful planning.
To sum up: Botox and hyaluronic acid are two different tools with different uses. Botox smoothes mimic wrinkles by relaxing the muscles, hyaluronic acid fills and shapes, adding volume. The final decision should be made together with your doctor, after carefully discussing the effects you want to achieve.
