Botox & hyaluronic acid - what's the difference?

Both Botox and hyaluronic acid are among the products most commonly used in aesthetic treatments. They help to restore volume and smooth out small wrinkles. However, most people probably wonder what the difference is between Botox and hyaluronic acid, or which method is most suitable and when.

Botulinum toxin (Botox)

Botox is a highly effective beauty treatment for reducing expression lines that has been used in aesthetics for decades. We carry out Botox treatments in our practice as an essential method of facial rejuvenation. By this we don't just mean wrinkle treatments, but the targeted rejuvenation of facial areas. At OmniMed, we specialize exclusively in this non-surgical field and are experts in it.

Botulinum toxin is known to be a toxin, which is why some patients have reservations about having Botox injections. However, the product is only used in aesthetics in very small, harmless quantities. It is therefore considered an absolutely safe drug and is not toxic to the body. To become toxic to humans, around 50 ampoules of Botox would have to be injected - so the dose makes the poison, just as with many other drugs used in medicine.

Use of Botox

We mainly use botulinum toxin where there are so-called dynamic wrinkles or expression lines. These occur in areas where the muscles move. Botox is the most effective method for precisely these areas, as it prevents these wrinkles from forming again due to muscle movement. This gives the body the opportunity to repair lines or indentations in the skin.

It may come as a surprise to many, but Botox can also be used effectively to treat migraines, teeth grinding or excessive sweating. In the case of migraines, it is used to specifically relax the muscles that press on the nerve that triggers the headache. To treat involuntary, usually nocturnal teeth grinding, the chewing muscle is dampened with Botox, which relaxes it precisely. To combat excessive sweating, Botox is injected into the affected areas to prevent the transmission of nerve impulses, which leads to the inhibition of sweat production.

Our treatments with botulinum toxin:

  • Frown lines (concentration lines)
  • Forehead wrinkles (worry lines)
  • Crow's feet (lateral eye wrinkles)
  • Mouth area (smoker's lines)
  • Eyebrows (shape change or lifting)
  • Migraine or tension headache
  • Teeth grinding or angular face (masseter hypertrophy)
  • Underarms for excessive sweating
  • Palms for excessive sweating
  • Foot surfaces for excessive sweating

How long is a Botox treatment effective?

Treatment with Botox usually lasts for 3-6 months, depending on the region. Of course, this depends on the level of individual muscle activity and how deep the existing facial wrinkles are. Most of our patients undergo the treatment about 2-3 times a year. If a Botox treatment is carried out in the armpit region, it lasts for around 12 months.

Hyaluronic acid

Also known as a filler, hyaluronic acid is used where volume is required. For this reason, it can also be used to treat wrinkles that are visible at rest(static wrinkles). In our practice, we specialize in wrinkle injections and facial modelling with hyaluronic acid. These treatments are the main field of activity of Dr. Stefan Horwath, who has been performing them in large numbers and with excellent quality since 2012.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural and important component of connective tissue. It occurs as a sugar molecule in the human body. In the course of life, the hyaluronic acid content of the human skin decreases, leading to the formation of wrinkles. Injections of hyaluronic acid can combat and prevent these and their causes, and achieve a rejuvenated, smoother or more sculpted appearance.

Our treatments with hyaluronic acid

  • Lips
  • Dark circles or shadows under the eyes
  • Smoker's lines around the mouth (perioral wrinkles)
  • Raising the corner of the mouth
  • Scars
  • Crow's feet
  • Back of the hand
  • Nasolabial fold
  • Puppet lines
  • Cheek correction or filling
  • Defining the chin line (Jawline Contouring) or chin
  • Improvement and optimization of skin quality

How long is a treatment with hyaluronic acid effective?

It is difficult to give a general answer to this question as it depends on which material is used in which region. Products that are slightly thinner have a lifespan of around 9 months, while more viscous products such as those used for liquid lifting usually last around 18 months. We usually advise our patients to repeat the treatment about once a year to maintain optimal results.

The interaction of Botox and hyaluronic acid

In aesthetic treatments, there is a kind of rule of thumb that says that Botox is used in the upper third of the face and hyaluronic acid below. In our practices, this is true 99% of the time.

Where individual wrinkles used to be simply filled with fillers, or sometimes still are today, there was a change in this area a few years ago. This led to the realization that it makes more sense to treat the respective causes of wrinkles than just the wrinkles themselves. Of course, it is still possible to inject individual wrinkles with hyaluronic acid, but at OmniMed we always focus on combating their individual triggers and always strive for the best results for our patients.

In suitable cases, we use Botox in combination with hyaluronic acid, and we also often use liquid lifting with hyaluronic acid. This is a form of treatment used to restore support to sagging areas of the face.

A detailed analysis of your face enables us to assess which treatment is right for you.

Use our online appointment bookingto make an appointment for a consultation or treatment for a facial treatment with Botox or hyaluronic acid. You are also welcome to call our offices directly to make an appointment: +43 676 4777829 (Mon-Fri from 8h-18h).