Wrinkle relaxers such as BOTOX and dermal fillers are two popular types of injectables to consider at your dermatologist’s office if you’re looking to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and loss of volume in your face. If you’re a first-timer, you might have some questions about how these injectables work and how often you need to return to the office for a repeat procedure.

With the help of board-certified dermatologists, Mohs surgeons and cosmetic surgeons Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger of Schlessinger MD, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about these popular injectables, including:

• What’s the difference between wrinkle relaxers and fillers?

• How long does BOTOX last?

• How often should you get BOTOX?

• How long do fillers last?

• Which lasts longer, BOTOX or fillers?

• What skin care products should I use at home after BOTOX or fillers?

• What can I use at home if I'm not ready for BOTOX or fillers?

What’s the difference between wrinkle relaxers and fillers?

Wrinkle relaxers help improve the appearance of expression lines on your face, such as crow’s feet, forehead lines and frown lines, by preventing the repetitive movements of facial muscles that cause them to form in the first place. Some popular brand names of wrinkle relaxers include BOTOX®, Dysport®, Jeuveau® and Xeomin®.

Dermal fillers help address loss of volume in the face caused by age-related collagen loss. They contain hyaluronic acid that fills fine lines and wrinkles to give the lips or skin a fuller, more youthful appearance. A few popular types of fillers include Juvederm®, Restylane® and Revance RHA®.

Laws about what type of medical professional can inject wrinkle relaxers dermal fillers vary from state to state. In some states, a physician can delegate a registered nurse or physician’s assistant to perform these kinds of injections.

“I always recommend seeing a board-certified dermatologist for cosmetic injections,” says LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “Injections that are done improperly can have lasting negative effects. At our practice, Schlessinger MD, all injections are done personally by myself or Dr. Daniel Schlessinger.”

How long does BOTOX® last?

The skin-smoothing effects of BOTOX® and other injectable wrinkle relaxers are temporary. “Injections of BOTOX® and similar wrinkle relaxers tend to last about three to four months,” says LovelySkin Medical Director Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. “While it can vary a bit from person to person, most of my patients are starting to see some muscle movement return to the injected areas by the twelve-week mark.”

How often should you get BOTOX® ?

When you receive wrinkle relaxer injections at your dermatologist’s office, they will discuss with you when you should plan to return for a follow-up visit. Because your results might last shorter or longer than what is typical, they will make a recommendation accordingly on how often they think you should get BOTOX® or other similar injectable wrinkle relaxers.

How long do fillers last?

As with wrinkle relaxers, the effects of dermal fillers are temporary. “Your body reabsorbs the hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers over time, and your skin will return to its previous state after about six months to a year,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. If you’re wondering how long lip fillers last, the answer is about the same. “How long these types of dermal fillers last depends a lot on the speed of your metabolism, which isn’t something you have much control over.”

Which lasts longer, BOTOX or fillers?

Fillers generally last longer than wrinkle relaxers such as BOTOX. Fillers tend to last about six months to a year, and wrinkle relaxers last about three to four months, according to Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger.

What skin care products should I use at home after BOTOX® or fillers?

Many skin care brands have created post-procedure products intended to be used at home to support the result of your in-office injections of wrinkle relaxers or dermal fillers.

Your skin might look a bit swollen or red post-injection, and a soothing skin care product, like ALASTIN Skincare INhance Post-Injection Serum with TriHex Technology, can help improve your skin’s appearance after leaving the office.

ALASTIN created this face serum specifically to help speed up recovery time after receiving BOTOX® treatments or other wrinkle relaxers or dermal fillers. “ALASTIN’s TriHex Technology works in your body by helping clear out damaged collagen and elastin while also supporting the processes that create new collagen and elastin,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says.

Revision Skincare created its Revox Line Relaxer specifically to be paired with wrinkle relaxers. It contains proprietary LineRelax™ Technology as well as wrinkle-targeting peptides and plumping hyaluronic acid. In a twelve-week study, participants noticed a 100% greater improvement in the appearance of crow’s feet and under-eye fine lines when a injectable wrinkle relaxer was paired with this serum versus a facial serum without these active ingredients.

SkinCeuticals also recently launched two innovative face serums that were physician-tested to complement injectables. To pair with wrinkle relaxers, SkinCeuticals P-TIOX Wrinkle Modulating Peptide Serum helps visibly reduce common contraction lines with an advanced peptide complex as well as a Glass Skin Complex comprised of niacinamide, polyhydroxy acid and laminaria extract.

To pair with dermal fillers, SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan Serum helps maintain essential moisture in the top layers of the skin, improving radiance and amplifying your skin’s hyaluronic acid levels. Both of these serums can also be used on their own as needle-free alternatives to injectables.

At-home alternatives to wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers

Whether you’re needle-averse or not ready for in-office injectables such as wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers, you can make the most of at-home skin care options with potent active ingredients.

To help firm and plump fine lines and wrinkles, we love LovelySkin LUXE HA Peptide Serum. This dermatologist-developed formula contains growth factors to repair cellular damage, hyaluronic acid for smoother skin and rare Swiss apple stem cells to help fill in fine lines.

Obagi ELASTIderm Advanced Filler Concentrate helps diminish the intensity of existing fine lines and wrinkles over time with a combination of water-attracting humectants, such as beta-glycan and glycerin. It also keeps new fine lines from forming with acetyl-hexapeptide-1, a biomimetic peptide that relaxes facial muscles temporarily with every application.

If you’re looking for an alternative that is inspired by the effects of lip filler, you might consider the SkinMedica HA5 Smooth & Plump Lip System. This two-step lip treatment helps plump dehydrated lips with peptides and hyaluronic acid in the first step and then adds definition and color in the second step.

Another favorite is the RescueMD Restorative Lip Treatment, a plumping lip moisturizer that helps target volume loss and soften skin over time.

Are you looking for more dermatologist-recommended beauty and wellness products? You can learn more about ten of our favorite products to help you look good and feel good on the LovelySkin Blog.