Botox vs. Juvederm: What’s The Difference?

The rapid growth of non-surgical cosmetic procedures continued in 2017, where over 15.7 million minimally invasive procedures were performed in the United States (a 2% increase from 2016). The increase was primarily driven by injectable treatments like Botox and Juvederm. The popularity of these procedures is well deserved: both treatments are able to quickly reverse the signs of aging. Additionally, Juvederm and Botox are fast and relatively painless, requiring little to no recovery time.

Botox and Juvederm are two products manufactured by the same company, Allergan. While they are both ideal options for treating signs of facial aging, they are very different in what problems each treatment addresses as well as how they work.

Here are the major differences between Botox and Juvederm:

How They Work

Botox works by temporarily relaxing facial muscles that cause persistent lines and wrinkles as they contract. When injected into the targeted muscle, Botox blocks neuron signals to the muscle allowing patients to conduct various facial expressions (smile, frown, etc.) without the unwanted wrinkles and creases.

Juvederm, like other dermal fillers, adds temporary volume under the skin in order to fill in wrinkles and add volume to plump the skin. In addition to addressing creases and wrinkles, Juvederm can also address sunken or hollowing areas of the face stemming from volume loss.

Treatment Areas

Botox is mainly used for cosmetic purposes in the upper face, around the eyes and forehead. It is used to eradicate wrinkles that stem from repeated facial expressions like frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead creases.

Juvederm is primarily used to correct lines and wrinkles around the mouth, including nasolabial folds (lines that extend from the corners of the nose to the outer corner of the mouth) and marionette lines (vertical lines from the corners of the mouth down to the chin). Various Juvederm formulas can also be used to plump the lips, increase the volume of the cheeks and upper face, and smooth lip lines.

Formulation

Botox is a neurotoxin that is a diluted form of Clostridium botulinum, a botulism toxin that is largely inactive and non-toxic. While sounding scary, botulism toxins have been medically used in various applications for the last 35 years.

Juvederm is formulated from hyaluronic acid (HA) which is a naturally occurring protein found in the skin. Hyaluronic acid works to plump or firm the skin by attracting and holding water. In fact, each molecule of HA can hold 1,000 times its weight in water.

Longevity

Botox typically lasts 3-4 months while Juvederm often lasts 6-9 months (or longer depending on where it is injected). It is possible, however, to maintain results of both treatments for longer periods if the patient undergoes periodic “touch up” treatments. Patients can also follow these tips for making their injectable treatment last longer.

Reversibility

While both treatments are temporary, there is a difference when it comes to reversibility: the practice of using an antidote to undo results. There is no antidote to reverse Botox so patients must wait for their effects to fade. Juvederm, however, can be reversed using hyaluronidase if needed.  Either way, it is always recommended that you seek out an experienced injector for treatment to avoid the need for changing or waiting for the result to fade.

Leslie Robbins, MPAS, PA-C, earned her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from the Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Midland. She specializes in Dermatology and has had extensive experience with surgical procedures since earning her Masters. Leslie is board certified by the National Commission of Certification of PAs and is licensed by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.