Is lip filler Botox?

After overhearing this more than once on my travels, I realised I should probably address it! – I’ve noticed that people often use the term ‘botox’ as a cover-all term for injectables including lip fillers. For example ‘how much botox has she got in those lips?!’ and similar comments.

Not everyone does know the difference – even though it is obvious to me, but that’s only because I work in aesthetics and offer injectable treatments!  But in all honesty, if you don’t know, you don’t know!

Before we start, we need to clarify that ‘Botox’ is a brand name for Botulinum toxin (or often just called ‘toxin’) and there are several other brands licensed for use in the UK – including Azzalure and Boccoture. It has been used in the medical arena for many years, starting in the Opthalmology world. Once its anti-ageing and more importantly its wrinkle relaxing properties became known, it started to be used in aesthetics and it is now the most common treatment offered in the industry. 

So, what is lip filler then?

Well, it’s not botox! Lip fillers and dermal fillers are a completely different substance. Generally, fillers from most brands (we only use those of exceptional quality, including Kysense and Juvederm) are a formulation of Hyaluronic Acid (HA), ‘cross-linked’ to be able to be put somewhere in the skin and stay in place for several months.

This HA is injected using different methods, mainly (and most safely) using very fine needles or cannulae (like a needle but longer and not sharp!) into the lips for plumping, adding volume and hydration, and giving them more shape and definition. They can also be used to replace lost volume in cheeks, smooth out the deep lines by the nose and mouth, soften mouth wrinkles, and even reshape chins and jawlines. The training is completely different, and the results are very different too! While fillers can help with lines and wrinkles, actually they are used for definition and plumping, and you do not lose any ‘movement’ with fillers like you would with botox. Lip fillers are a great way to highlight your smile, replace volume lost during menopause, correct any asymmetry, or add some fullness to thin lips.

So, is lip filler botox? 

In short – no! Both most definitely have their place in the aesthetics world, with many clinics offering variations on both of these treatments – but whichever you choose, please remember they are most definitely not the same thing! Ensure your clinic discusses your expectations, ideal results, and which type of treatment would be best to get the results that you want.