Quick answer: Anti-wrinkle injections (often called “Botox”) relax the muscles that cause expression lines, while dermal fillers add volume to soften static lines, restore lost fullness, or enhance contours like the lips or cheeks. Many clients benefit from a combination of both.

If you’re new to aesthetics, it’s easy to use “Botox” and “filler” interchangeably — but they work in completely different ways, and knowing the difference helps you have a much clearer conversation at your consultation.

What Do Anti-Wrinkle Injections Do?

Anti-wrinkle injections temporarily relax specific muscles, softening the lines caused by repeated expressions like frowning or squinting. They’re most effective on “dynamic” lines — the ones that appear when your face moves — such as forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Results typically last 3–4 months.

What Do Dermal Fillers Do?

Dermal fillers use hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in your skin, to add volume where it’s been lost or to enhance natural contours. They’re used for lines that are visible even when your face is at rest, as well as for lips, cheeks, and restoring facial volume that changes with age.

Which One Do You Need?

It depends entirely on your goals and where you’re noticing changes. Someone in their 20s or 30s might only need a small amount of anti-wrinkle treatment to soften early expression lines, while someone noticing volume loss in their cheeks might benefit more from filler. Many of our clients in Penryn and Falmouth combine both as part of a broader, natural-looking treatment plan built around their face specifically, not a generic package.

How Do You Decide?

The best way to know what’s right for you is a consultation with a qualified nurse who can assess your skin and goals honestly — including telling you if you don’t need treatment yet.