Monday, April 18, 2016

Botox vs. Belotero: Which One Is Right For You?

We see a lot of patients with questions about both Belotero and Botox. They’re not actually the same thing, though it’s easy to see how they both fall under a similar umbrella of solutions for reducing the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. People have many different treatment options, and Botox and Belotero are two of them. We offer both Belotero and Botox injections here at our Los Angeles clinic.

Both of these treatments help to smooth out those “marionette” lines around the mouth, rings in the neck and laugh lines. So what’s the difference between them?

Belotero

Belotero is a dermal filler—a substance placed under the skin to add volume.

With Belotero, the substance is a perfectly natural chemical called hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a compound that our skin possesses naturally to help it keep its elasticity. However, as time goes on, a person’s store of hyaluronic acid begins to diminish, as does the youthful juiciness found in the skin. Belotero remedies this by using fine needles to return hyaluronic acid to the layers of the skin.

Belotero is made in a way that allows it to mesh with the structure of the patient’s skin. Because it is a flexible gel, it doesn’t interfere with normal facial expressions or the movement of the skin or muscles of the face. The area where the Belotero was injected feels perfectly natural without telltale lumps or bumps.

Botox

On the other hand, Botox is made out of a toxin that paralyzes the muscles beneath a wrinkle by interfering with the action of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine. When muscles are paralyzed after the injection, the wrinkles above them smooth out.

The results can last for results can last up to 3 months. We recommend each patient also come back regularly for touch-ups and maintenance sessions.

If you have any questions, please feel free to make an appointment for a free consultation!Contact Dr. Berkley Skin + Body in Los Angeles today.