Do fillers and botulinum toxin make the face age faster? It is a concern frequently raised by patients. In Medical Magazine’s “Beauty Myths” series, Dr. Kelly Vasileiadou addresses this common misconception from a medical perspective.
The concern is that once someone starts having botulinum toxin or dermal filler treatments, the skin may become “dependent” on them – and that stopping treatment could even cause the face to age faster. Medically speaking, however, there is no basis for this assumption.
What Botulinum Toxin Actually Does
Botulinum toxin works by selectively relaxing certain facial expression muscles. This can reduce wrinkles caused by repeated muscle movement, commonly known as expression lines.
These include frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet. While muscle activity is reduced, the skin is also exposed to less repetitive mechanical strain.
As Dr. Kelly explains in Medical Magazine, studies also indicate that regular use may slow the formation of deeper wrinkles.
What Dermal Fillers Have to Do with Facial Ageing
Dermal fillers, most commonly based on hyaluronic acid, serve a different purpose. They are primarily used to compensate for volume loss and to gently support selected areas of the face.
Visible facial ageing involves much more than the skin alone. As we age, the face naturally loses fatty tissue, collagen and elastin. As a result, facial volume, contours and proportions gradually change.
Dermal fillers can temporarily compensate for some of these structural changes and contribute to a more harmonious appearance.
Natural Results Depend on How Treatment Is Performed
What matters is not only which product is used, but how it is applied. Professional treatment requires restraint, experience and a precise understanding of facial anatomy.
Excessive or unnatural treatment can disturb the natural balance and proportions of the face. This does not, however, mean that fillers and botulinum toxin accelerate the biological ageing process itself.
What Happens When You Stop Fillers or Botulinum Toxin?
When treatment is discontinued, the natural ageing process simply continues its normal course. The face does not suddenly begin to age faster.
The changes that become visible over time are instead part of the natural ageing process that continues independently of aesthetic treatment.
Long-Term Planning Instead of Short-Term Trends
For Dr. Kelly, the essential question is therefore not whether aesthetic treatments are fundamentally good or bad. What matters is the medical indication, individualised planning and a long-term approach.
The aim of responsible aesthetic medicine should be to respect each person’s individual facial structure and preserve natural proportions over time – rather than following short-lived trends or standardised ideals of beauty.
“What matters most is not the treatment itself, but medically sound, individualised planning aimed at respecting and preserving the natural facial structure over the long term.”
READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Discover the full Beauty Myths feature by Dr. Kelly Vasileiadou in Medical Magazine.
NOTE
This article is an editorial summary of Dr. Kelly Vasileiadou’s contribution to Medical Magazine’s “Beauty Myths” series and is intended for informational purposes only.
