Dermal fillers are often confused with Botox, and though both are delivered by injection, they serve very different purposes. As the name implies, fillers are designed to plump wrinkles, fill in hollowness and enhance lips, while Botox targets and relaxes muscles to prevent new lines from developing. The advantages of fillers outweigh the risks, according to experts such as Dr. Neal Schultz of DermTV.com. Fillers are generally cost-effective (starting at a few hundred dollars), easy to administer and natural looking. Schultz says. The effects generally last four to 12 months. The risks? Fillers can cause occasional bruising, mild pain or discomfort when injected and, in rare circumstances, allergic reactions.

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Allergan, the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Botox, has received the approval from the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) for its JUVÉDERM® XC. JUVÉDERM XC is a new formulation that contains lidocaine to make the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds much more comfortable.

The FDA has recently approved a new injectable treatment for wrinkles, called Dysport. A local doctor said it is less expensive, works faster and could last longer than Botox. “It is a botulism product just like Botox,” said plastic surgeon Brian Heil. Dysport is used to relax scowl lines on the face. It has been in use in Europe for years, but the new FDA approval is opening the door for Dysport in the US.

Latest research conducted by Headache Care Center in Springfield, Missouri has shown that injections of Botox (botulinum toxin) can help in preventing migraines in people suffering from migraine attacks frequently and have not benefited much from oral therapies for prevention. Patients treated with botox had fewer episodes of headache as compared to placebo-treated patients. Also, it fared better in the Headache Impact Test.

In late January, a consumer group called Public Citizen filed a petition with the FDA requesting labeling alterations for botulinum toxins (Botox(R)) or Myobloc(R)) marketed in the U.S. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which is the sole plastic surgery organization devoted completely to the advancement of cosmetic surgery, said that “the safety references in the petition are already satisfactorily addressed in the manufacturer labeling with detailed information and guidance, including approved indications, contraindications, warnings, drug interactions, precautions, and reported adverse event information.”

The ASAPS added that the product is “safe and efficacious,” while recommending its continued use as indicated.