As we age, wrinkles and fine lines inevitably appear on our faces. These signs of aging can make us look tired, stressed, or older than we feel. For many people, minimally invasive cosmetic treatments like Botox or dermal fillers offer an appealing way to smooth wrinkles and restore a youthful appearance.
Botox and Restylane are two of the most popular injectable treatments for facial rejuvenation. But what exactly sets these wrinkle-fighting injectables apart?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Botox and Restylane, from how they work to their cost, longevity, and potential side effects.
We’ll also offer guidance on deciding which injectable will likely give you the desired results. By the end, you’ll understand the key differences between these two leading wrinkle reducers to determine which suits your needs.
Botox vs. Restylane: Key Differences at a Glance
Let’s look at some of the basics of Botox and Restylane. Here are some of the main differences between these two wrinkle-fighting injectables:
| Feature | Botox | Restylane |
| Type | Neurotoxin (Botulinum toxin type A) | Dermal filler (Hyaluronic acid) |
| Primary Use | Relaxes muscles under wrinkles | Fills wrinkles and adds volume |
| Treatment Areas | Forehead lines, crow’s feet, glabella (between eyebrows), and more | Nasolabial folds, marionette lines, lip enhancement, and more |
| How It Works | Temporarily relaxes muscles | Adds volume to skin layers |
| Ideal Candidates | Adults with dynamic wrinkles, not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or those with certain neurological conditions | Adults with static wrinkles or volume loss, not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals |
| Risks and Side Effects | Drooping eyelids or eyebrows, muscle weakness | Swelling, bruising at the injection site |
| Duration of Effects | 3-6 months | 6-18 months, depending on the product used |
| Cost | Priced per unit | Priced per syringe |
| Maintenance | Requires repeat treatments to maintain results | Requires repeat treatments for prolonged effect |
A Quick Primer on Injectables
Before diving into the details of Botox vs. Restylane, let’s quickly cover some injectable basics. Botox and Restylane are the two most popular types of cosmetic injectable treatments. Botox is made from a purified protein, while Restylane consists of hyaluronic acid gel.
Both Botox and Restylane injections use very fine needles to introduce the wrinkle-relaxing or plumping substance under your skin. Treatment sessions are relatively quick, lasting around 15 to 30 minutes.
The medications themselves are strategically injected in very small doses into specific facial muscles or skin layers to achieve smooth, natural-looking improvements in your appearance.
What is Botox
Botox is the brand name of the botulinum toxin type A injectable made by biopharmaceutical company Allergan. It’s by far the most well-known and frequently used cosmetic injectable treatment worldwide.
Botox injections contain tiny amounts of botulinum toxin. This temporarily blocks nerve signals to the muscles where it’s injected.
Botox softens and smooths overlying wrinkles caused by facial expressions by paralyzing or relaxing specific muscles under the skin. Common targets for Botox include frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines.
What is Restylane
The Restylane line of cosmetic dermal fillers is produced by the medical aesthetics company Galderma. Rather than muscle-paralyzing properties, Restylane injections add subtle volume under wrinkles, folds, and hollows using hyaluronic acid gel.
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin that helps retain moisture and structure. Injected under facial wrinkles, hyaluronic acid plumps out creases and enhances lips, cheeks, or temples.
Several Restylane formulas are designed to treat wrinkles on different parts of the face and shape and enhance lips.
Who is a Good Candidate for Botox or Restylane
The ideal candidate for Botox or a Restylane filler is someone in overall good health without any circulation, bleeding, or active skin issues. You’ll get the best cosmetic results from injectables if you:
- Have mild to moderate dynamic wrinkles on your upper face, including frown lines, crow’s feet, or forehead creases
- Want to plump up wrinkles and folds around your mouth, nose, cheeks, or chin
- Are looking for temporary improvements without prolonged downtime
- Are willing to commit to maintenance sessions every few months
- Both men and women can be great candidates for Botox or soft tissue fillers like Restylane.
Your provider will evaluate your anatomy, skin quality, and treatment goals to decide if you will benefit from these injections.
Who Should Avoid Treatment with Botox or Restylane
While considered very safe cosmetic treatments, Botox and Restylane may not be right for every patient. You may want to avoid these wrinkle reducers if you:
- Have significant skin laxity
- Have bleeding disorders or take blood-thinning medications
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant
- Have certain neurological or autoimmune conditions
- Are allergic to ingredients in Botox or hyaluronic acid fillers
Your provider will review your health history and examine you to determine if you can safely receive Botox, Restylane, or other injectables. Make sure to disclose any medical issues and all supplements and medications you currently take.
Target Zones for Botox and Fillers
Your doctor will customize your injections based on where you want wrinkle reduction and which areas contribute most to an aging appearance. However, Botox and Restylane are each better suited for improving some parts of the face over others.
Botox works best on wrinkles associated with repetitive muscle movements over time. Common treatment areas for Botox include:
| Area | Description |
| Forehead | Horizontal lines and “elevens” between brows |
| Frown | Vertical lines between brows above nose |
| Crow’s Feet | Outer corner under-eye wrinkles |
| Bunny Lines | Wrinkles on upper nose |
Restylane fillers add subtle volume to wrinkles, folds, and hollows for smoother skin and contours. The FDA has approved several Restylane formulas for specific facial zones:
| Product | Target Areas |
| Restylane | Mid-face wrinkles around mouth, nose, and cheeks |
| Restylane Lyft | Cheeks, laugh lines, chin wrinkling |
| Restylane Refyne/Defyne | Laugh lines around mouth and nose |
| Restylane Silk | Lips, mouth corners, under-eye hollows |
Breaking Down the Costs: Botox vs. Restylane
As non-invasive injectable treatments, both Botox and Restylane are considered elective cosmetic procedures that insurance usually does not cover.
It means you’ll be paying out-of-pocket for your injections and maintenance visits. However, the overall cost for these treatments is comparable to many other beauty services.
Some general cost considerations when budgeting for Botox or Restylane include:
- Botox: The cost is charged per unit injected, with the FDA-recommended treatment for the upper face being 54 units per session
- Restylane: Charged per syringe injected
Since everyone’s facial anatomy and treatment goals differ, your exact costs for injections will vary based on factors like:
- Number of injection sites being treated
- Amount of product recommended by your provider
- Frequency of repeat treatment sessions
- Many practices offer package pricing for patients signing up for a series of Botox or filler appointments to help save on overall costs. Be sure to find out what payment plans may be available, too.
Weighing the Risks: Potential Side Effects
As medical aesthetic treatments, both Botox and Restylane injections carry a small risk of side effects. However, significant complications are very rare when an experienced, licensed provider administers these wrinkle reducers properly.
Common temporary side effects of Botox may include:
- Mild swelling, redness, or bruising at injection sites
- Minor headache
- Brief asymmetry until Botox settles
- Slight muscle weakness near treatment areas
Potential short-term side effects of Restylane fillers can include:
- Mild swelling, tenderness, or redness when injected
- Small bruises at injection sites
- Rarely, bluish discoloration under the skin
To help avoid complications, make sure you choose an established, reputable provider for your Botox or Restylane injections. Carefully following all pre and post-treatment instructions can also reduce your risk of side effects.
Comparing Longevity: Botox Vs Restylane Results
One of the most common questions about Botox and Restylane is: how long do results last from these anti-aging injections? In general, you can expect visible improvements in wrinkles and volume to last:
Botox: approximately 3 to 4 months
Restylane fillers: 6 months to 2 years
Botox requires more frequent maintenance sessions because the purified botulinum toxin gradually wears off over time. However, some patients see smoother skin for up to 6 months from Botox injections.
With Restylane results, most patients opt for touch-up filler injections every 9 to 18 months. However, in certain areas, clinical studies found some patients had satisfactory wrinkle reduction for over 2 years after Restylane treatment.
Ultimately, how long your Botox or Restylane injections last comes down to several individual factors:
- Your natural metabolism
- Thickness and quality of your skin
- Extent of your muscle movements or facial expressions
- Overall volume loss in your face
During your consultation, Dr. Lauren Nawrocki at Green Relief Health Med Spa will assess your facial anatomy, skin quality, and treatment objectives to provide realistic guidance on the longevity you can expect from Botox or hyaluronic acid fillers.
Seeing is Believing: Botox and Restylane Results
While information is crucial for deciding between injectables, seeing patient results can give you the clearest picture of the potential improvements Botox or Restylane can offer.
Here are examples of common treatment areas and the visible smoothing patients achieved with these popular facial rejuvenation injections:
From these before-and-after photos, it’s evident that both Botox and Restylane can provide significant yet natural-looking wrinkle reduction when administered with skill.
Now that we’ve explored how these injectables work and the results you can anticipate, let’s decide whether Botox or Restylane suits your needs better.
Determining the Best Option: Botox or Restylane
With Botox and Restylane having many similarities, how do you decide which facial injectable is right for you? Key factors can help you choose between muscle-freezing Botox or a plumping dermal filler.
Reasons to select Botox include:
You have moderate dynamic wrinkles on your upper face – Botox excels in treating expression lines rather than static creases and folds. Botox may offer the smoothing you seek for horizontal frowns or forehead lines, vertical glabellar creases between the brows, or crow’s feet.
You desire temporary results with minimal downtime – Botox acts quicker with subtler initial effects than many dermal fillers. Botox might fit your schedule better if you can’t afford much time away from work or social events for treatment and recovery.
Your budget is tighter – Generally, Botox costs less per session than hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane. Botox is a more affordable option for moderate wrinkle relaxation if you’re concerned about upfront costs.
Choosing a Restylane filler might be better if:
You wish to fill facial wrinkles and restore volume – For static creases around your mouth, cheeks, chin, or lips, Restylane smooths wrinkles through direct filling and augmentation, not muscle paralysis.
You prefer longer-lasting results from your injections – though still temporary, Restylane’s effects can last more than twice as long as Botox for some patients. If extending the time between maintenance sessions is important, Restylane could be the better choice.
Initial swelling or bruising doesn’t deter you – as a thicker substance is injected in multiple layers under your skin, short-term swelling, tenderness, and minor bruising are more common with Restylane than Botox.
Carefully evaluating your cosmetic goals, lifestyle needs, and budget can guide you in choosing the right anti-aging injections.
Dr. Lauren Nawrocki also advises new and returning patients on selecting the best facial rejuvenation treatments for their desires and needs.
Choosing the Right Provider for Successful Treatment
Ultimately, the injectable solution you pick, like Botox or Restylane, is just one piece of satisfying your results. Finding a reputable, skilled aesthetic practice and certified provider for your wrinkle-relaxing or filling injections is equally vital.
Here’s what to consider when selecting Botox and Restylane providers:
Advanced training & specialization: Opt for a licensed doctor like Dr. Lauren Nawrocki, who has specialized training in injectables. Steer clear of med spas that use less experienced practitioners for injections.
Customized treatment plans: Your provider should offer a personalized injectable treatment plan after a thorough consultation, considering your unique facial anatomy, skin condition, previous procedures, and cosmetic aspirations.
Emphasis on safety: Your injector should consistently employ sterile techniques and advanced injection methods, like cannulas, to enhance results while minimizing risks such as infection or incorrect placement.
Doing your homework on practices and providers before booking your Botox or Restylane appointments increases your chances of receiving the safest, most effective administration of facial injectables for optimal rejuvenation.
The Final Takeaway on Botox & Restylane
Botox and Restylane remain globally trusted non-surgical solutions for smoothing wrinkles and enhancing facial contours thanks to their excellent safety profiles, minimal downtime, and customizable results. While no anti-aging treatment stops the clock completely, strategic use of these injectables can help turn back time by 5, 10, or even 15 years for many patients.
Both Botox and Restylane require occasional maintenance for sustained improvements as the purified botulinum toxin or hyaluronic acid gel gradually wears off.
But when properly administered by experienced aesthetic providers like Dr. Lauren Nawrocki at Green Relief Health Med Spa, you can expect beautiful, natural-looking wrinkle reductions and restore facial volume with these injections.
And since results keep improving with each round of maintenance of Botox or Restylane injections, your face may look better than it did originally after just a few years of routine care! See what these renowned facial rejuvenation injectables can do to restore your most confident, vibrant self.
