Are Fillers Better Than Botox? Dr. Lucie’s Perspective
As someone who has been in the aesthetics industry for 25 years—starting as an esthetician and now a nurse injector for 15 years—I often get asked, are fillers better than Botox? The short answer? They aren’t comparable! Botox and fillers serve completely different purposes, and one is not necessarily ‘better’ than the other. In fact, I like to think of them as the icing and cherry on top of a beautifully baked cake—but you have to start with the right recipe first!
The Foundation: Healthy Skin & a Healthy Body
Before we even talk about Botox or fillers, we need to focus on your skin health. Without a great foundation, injectable treatments won’t give you the results you’re truly looking for. That’s why at Luminate Clinic, we always start with the fundamentals:
- Functional Nutrition – A healthy gut and balanced hormones are essential for glowing, youthful skin.
- Skin Tone & Texture – If your skin is full of inflammation, pigmentation, or rough texture, Botox and filler won’t magically fix it.
- Tightening & Volume Loss – Skin laxity and volume loss happen naturally with age, but we need to address them with the right treatments before thinking about injectables.
Once we have that strong foundation in place, then Botox and filler become the icing and cherry on top—enhancing and refining your appearance, but not doing all the heavy lifting alone.
Botox: A Muscle Relaxer, Not a Skin Treatment
Botox is a neuromodulator that works by temporarily relaxing muscles that cause wrinkles. When injected into areas like the forehead or crow’s feet, it gives the skin a break from movement, preventing dynamic wrinkles from forming or deepening. However, it does not improve skin quality, tone, or collagen production—it simply relaxes muscle activity.
The only exception? Daxxify! Unlike Botox, Daxxify contains peptides that actually stimulate collagen production—making it not only a wrinkle relaxer but also a treatment that improves skin health. Read more about Daxxify here: https://luminateclinic.com/2024/01/12/what-is-daxxify-discovering-the-daxxify-difference-at-luminate-clinic-tulsa/
If your goal is to slow down the appearance of wrinkles and give your face a smoother, fresher look, Botox (or Daxxify) is a great option. However, if you’re dealing with hollowing, volume loss, or deep-set wrinkles, Botox alone won’t help—you need filler.
Filler: Restoring Volume & Stimulating Collagen
Fillers are injectable gels designed to restore volume and smooth out lines. Unlike Botox, which only affects muscle movement, fillers physically replace lost structure and volume in the face.
There are many different types of fillers with varying thickness, duration, and capabilities. Some fillers simply fill and add volume, while others stimulate collagen production for longer-lasting results. My personal favorites are Sculptra, Bellafill, and Cellenis Derma, which provide a double benefit:
- Immediate Volume Enhancement – They plump up areas like cheeks, jawline, and temples right away.
- Collagen Stimulation – Over time, they help your body rebuild stronger, smoother, and glowier skin from within.
These biostimulating fillers offer more bang for your buck because they continue working long after the initial injection. If I had to choose between Botox and filler? I’d choose a bio-stimulating filler all day long!
Which One Do You Need? Botox vs. Filler
To put it simply:
- Use Botox if you want to prevent wrinkles and soften expression lines.
- Use Filler if you need to restore lost volume, smooth out deeper wrinkles, or sculpt features like cheeks and jawline.
- For the best results, combine both!
I personally love a little tox, and yes, I have Daxxify in my face right now! It gives me a fresh, youthful glow while preventing new lines from forming. But filler is where the magic happens when it comes to truly rejuvenating and reshaping the face.
Why Functional Nutrition & Skin Health Come First
At Luminate Clinic, we don’t just inject Botox and filler—we help guide you on your entire skin health journey. That means addressing:
- Inflammation & Gut Health – Your skin is a reflection of your internal health.
- Hormone Imbalances – Hormones impact skin texture, elasticity, and collagen levels.
- Volume Loss & Skin Laxity – We use a combination of fillers, lasers, and skincare to rebuild youthful, healthy skin.
Botox might be our most requested service, but it’s not our primary goal—we want to help you achieve long-term skin health and beauty. Come in for a consultation, and let’s create a customized plan to help you look and feel your absolute best!