In aesthetic medicine, botox and hyaluronic acid fillers are the two most widely used injectable treatments. Yet they work differently, target different types of wrinkles, and do not last the same length of time. Confusion between the two is common. This guide will help you understand which is right for your situation — or why combining both often delivers the best result.
Botox: A Muscle Relaxant for Dynamic Wrinkles
Botulinum toxin (commonly known as botox) is injected in micro-doses into the muscles responsible for expression lines. It temporarily blocks neuromuscular transmission, relaxing the muscle and smoothing the overlying wrinkle.
Areas treated with botox
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines / "11 lines")
- Crow's feet (lateral peri-ocular lines)
- Bunny lines (nose wrinkles)
- Chin dimpling (peau d'orange texture)
- Platysma (vertical neck bands)
Duration: 4 to 6 months on average. Muscles gradually regain their mobility. Regular maintenance every 4 to 6 months sustains the benefits long-term.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Volumising Static Wrinkles
Hyaluronic acid is a biocompatible gel injected beneath the skin to fill wrinkles visible at rest and to restore volume lost through ageing. It attracts and retains water, creating a naturally plumped and hydrated appearance.
Areas treated with fillers
- Nasolabial folds (nose-to-mouth lines)
- Marionette lines
- Lips (volume and contour definition)
- Cheekbones (volume restoration)
- Temples and forehead (contour restoration)
- Tear troughs (hollow under-eyes)
Duration: 12 to 18 months depending on the area and product used. Lips metabolise faster (6–9 months) than cheekbones or the chin (12–18 months).
Complementary, Not Competing: The Combined Approach
The question "botox or fillers?" is often misframed. These two treatments do not address the same targets and are not interchangeable. The most complete and most natural approach combines both:
- Botox to relax overactive muscles and prevent dynamic wrinkles from deepening
- Hyaluronic acid fillers to fill established wrinkles and restore volume
The result of a combined approach is more natural, more comprehensive, and more harmonious than either treatment alone. This is the preferred strategy during aesthetic medicine consultations with Dr. de Clermont-Tonnerre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between botox and hyaluronic acid fillers?+
Botox (botulinum toxin) is a muscle relaxant: it temporarily blocks the contraction of the muscles responsible for expression lines. Hyaluronic acid is a volumising gel: it is injected beneath the skin to fill wrinkles and restore lost volume. One acts on movement; the other on volume.
Which wrinkles are treated with botox, and which with fillers?+
Botox is ideal for dynamic expression lines — wrinkles that appear or deepen during facial animation: forehead lines, frown lines (glabellar lines), and crow's feet. Hyaluronic acid fillers treat static wrinkles present at rest (nasolabial folds, marionette lines), volume loss (lips, cheekbones, temples), and hollow under-eye areas (tear troughs).
Can botox and fillers be combined?+
Yes, and this is actually the most comprehensive approach. Botox and fillers are complementary, not competing treatments. By addressing dynamic wrinkles (botox) and volume loss (fillers) simultaneously, the result is more natural and harmonious than with either technique alone. This is the preferred approach during consultations at the practice.
How long do the results of each treatment last?+
Botox lasts an average of 4 to 6 months. Hyaluronic acid fillers last longer: 12 to 18 months depending on the area injected and the product used (lips metabolise faster than cheekbones). Regular maintenance treatments maintain the benefit over time.
What are the risks of botox and hyaluronic acid injections?+
When performed by a qualified practitioner, these injections carry few complications. For botox: transient bruising, very rarely a ptosis (drooping eyelid) that resolves spontaneously. For fillers: haematoma, overfilling effect if overdosed. The most serious risk with fillers is vascular (compression or intravascular injection) — which underlines the importance of choosing an experienced physician with thorough knowledge of facial vasculature.
Book an Injectable Consultation
Unsure whether botox or fillers are right for you? Dr. de Clermont-Tonnerre analyses your face and proposes the treatment best suited to your wrinkles, facial structure, and goals. Practice at 56 avenue Victor Hugo, Paris 16th.