First of all: Both treat the aging face.
As we age, our skin develops fine wrinkles and loses volume, collagen and elasticity.
Some of the fine wrinkles around the eyes, on the forehead and between the eyebrows are due not only to the loss of collagen and elasticity, but also to muscle activity that is now showing through the skin.
When physicians use Botox & Botox-like products
Botulinum products like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin can be helpful in taking care of the dynamic lines created by muscle activity.
Most often, these products are used around and above the eyes, but can also be used on the lower thirds of the face. These botulinum products work by temporarily paralyzing targets muscle groups. It takes about a week for most of the effect to take place, and the results last between 3- 6 months.
When physicians recommend skin resurfacing
Skin resurfacing treats the loss of collagen, elasticity and pigmentary irregularities of the skin. It does not treat the underlying muscle.
Skin resurfacing can be done in several different ways.
- Chemical peels and laser treatment are the most common methods, and dermabrasion can also be used in certain indications.
- Dermabrasion involves removing part of the superficial skin, called the epidermis, and a top layer of the underlying dermis. This forces the skin to produce a new top layer that has less age spots, pigment irregularities, and is tighter with more collagen production in the dermis. The fine wrinkles and texture of the skin is much softer.
Results vary depending on which resurfacing modality is used, the depth of penetration used, and the intensity setting used. Different laser and chemical peels will each have their own unique depth of penetration, which can alter the amount of change produced and the down time required. As with most other things, as the amount of change produced increases, the downtime required also increases.
Key difference between Botulinum and Skin Resurfacing
A big difference between the two is that while botulinum toxin is temporary, the effects of skin resurfacing are much longer lasting.
The clock has been set back. While the results of skin resurfacing can be more dramatic, the downtime needed is also longer.
Botulinum requires almost zero downtime, but skin resurfacing can require 1-2 weeks of downtime, and sometimes longer depending on the type of resurfacing used.
Every patient is different in what they need, and what they are a candidate for. So if you have questions about skin resurfacing or botulinum toxin, or are considering these options, email me directly at info@drundavia.com, or come in for a consultation.