Botox involves the injection of a neurotoxin called botulinum into the muscles below areas of wrinkled skin on the body. Once injected, the neurotoxin paralyzes the surrounding muscle tissue, forcing the area to relax. The relaxation of these muscles also forces the skin above the muscle tissue to relax, temporarily relieving the look of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. Botox can be an expensive procedure, and not everyone is comfortable being on the receiving end of a neurotoxin. There are alternatives on the market that allow some of the same results that Botox can provide.
Lipotransfer
Lipotransfers are one common alternative to Botox injections. During a lipotransfer, fat is taken from other areas of the body and injected directly beneath wrinkles and lines on the skin. The injection of fat plumps up the space beneath the wrinkled skin. This causes the indentation to become even with the surrounding tissue, temporarily eliminating or lessening the appearance of wrinkles.
Collagen
Collagen is a dermafiller that is another common alternative to Botox injections. Collagen can come from both bovine-based (Zyplast and Zyderm) and human sources (Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast), and is used to reduce wrinkles in the same way that body fat is during a lipotransfer. Because of issues with allergic reactions to bovine-based collagen injections, a skin allergy test might be done before the procedure to ensure safety. For human-based collagen injections, no allergy test is needed.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid (Restylane and Hylaform) is another dermafiller that can be used as an alternative to Botox injections. Like collagen, hyaluronic acid can be injected under the skin to plump out wrinkles. Hylaform is made from avian sources, so an allergic reaction might be of concern. However, Restylane is not made from an animal-based source and does not require a pretreatment allergy test. Both Restylane and Hylaform have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of wrinkles.
Silicone
Silicone injections are the most controversial alternative for Botox, and have not been approved by the FDA for wrinkle treatment. However, silicone injections are still performed as an off-label use, offering a more permanent alternative to other dermafillers. Most dermafillers (such as collagen) only last three to six months, while the results of silicone lasts for years. Silicone injections also come with higher risks, such as the formation of granulomas scars even years after the procedure has been completed.
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