One of the most common questions Dr Edwin receives for the treatment of wrinkles is – what is the best skincare ingredient to stimulate collagen to improve wrinkles? 

What are the differences between Botox vs Collagen Boosting treatments like Rejuran Healer or Profhilo? 

Which treatment is superior? 

Can they be done together? 

And finally, what one is right for you? This article will answer these questions and more.

What is the Difference Between Botox and Collagen Boosting Treatments?

Collagen is an essential component of the skin. It contributes to the skin’s elasticity, thickness, and texture. Simply put, the higher the levels of collagen in the skin, the younger the skin looks and the quicker the skin can bounce back after facial movement.

An example is a fresh rubber band. When you stretch and release it the first few times, it will return to its original shape. However, the more it is stretched, the looser the rubber band becomes and after a while, it is no longer able to retain its shape.

Hence, in babies and young children who have high levels of collagen in their skin, you will not see them having wrinkles even though they may scrunch up their faces when crying. However, it is common to observe facial wrinkles in those in their 50s and older because of the lower levels of collagen in their skin due to the aging process. Furthermore, repetitive facial movements accumulated over the years will worsen the appearance of wrinkles. 

As such, collagen boosting treatments serve to increase the amount of collagen in the skin to increase elasticity and improve the signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, skin thinning and skin laxity.

Although Botox does not stimulate collagen production, Botox helps to improve wrinkles by blocking the transmission of nerve signals in the muscles. The decrease in muscle activity results in the improvement of wrinkles and fine lines in the face.

How does the Rejuran Healer Collagen Boosting Treatment work?

Rejuran Healer is made of Polynucleotides which are derived from salmon DNA. Polynucleotides are DNA fragments that help to repair damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen production by increasing the proliferation of fibroblasts. 

Studies have shown that Polynucleotides extracted from salmon DNA are very safe and compatible with human skin.

It is injected in a series of precise micro injections into the skin, covering the entire face. It can also be targeted at specific areas such as the undereye area for example. 

Rejuran healer treatments are recommended to be done once a month for three consecutive months for best results.

Learn more about Rejuran healer here https://edwinlimclinic.sg/aesthetic-treatments/rejuran-healer

Profhilo – Another Collagen Boosting Treatment

For patients who wish to stimulate collagen production and increase the skin’s hydration concurrently, Profhilo injections are highly recommended for such an indication. This is especially useful for people who have both wrinkles and fine lines because of dry aging skin.

Known as 逆時針 or “Time Reversing Injection”, Profhilo is the latest multi-purpose injectable treatment for skin rejuvenation, hydration and collagen stimulation.

Profhilo’s selling point is that it has one of the highest concentrations of Hyaluronic acid (HA) on the market - 64 mg in 2 mls. 

Each treatment only requires 5 injection points in each cheek, 10 points in total. Compared to Rejuran Healer which may have more than 30 injections, Profhilo is very well received by those who are not keen on too many injections.

Learn more about Profhilo at https://edwinlimclinic.sg/aesthetic-treatments/profhilo-treatment-singapore/

Should Botox or Collagen Boosting Treatments be done first?

Patients who desire quick results will find that Botox delivers faster wrinkle improvement for areas such as the forehead, frown lines, and crow's feet area.

Hence, for those on a short timeline, for example - brides getting married in 2 weeks would benefit more from Botox treatments to address those wrinkles mentioned above.

However, for wrinkles in areas such as the cheeks or jowls where botox is not recommended due to the risk of weakening important muscles of facial expression, collagen boosting treatments such as Rejuran Healer and Profhilo will be the treatment of choice. 

Conclusion

So which one is better? Botox or collagen boosting injections? In my opinion, both are crucial when it comes to anti-aging benefits and both treatments should be done together for the best anti-wrinkles results. 

In summary, increasing collagen levels in the skin whilst reducing facial muscle movement with Botox will be the most effective way in improving the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. 

Before making a decision about whether to undergo Botox or collagen-boosting treatments, it's important to consult with a doctor who can help you determine if either option would be best for you.

Nowadays, many celebrities are turning to both fillers and Botox to enhance their features and keep their skin looking young. However, what are the differences between botox and fillers?
How do you choose between them? It can sometimes be challenging and confusing because of the wealth of information online when it comes to botox and fillers.
If you're wondering which one of these popular cosmetic procedures is the best for you, the answer might be – doing both concurrently. After all, botox and filler treatments are actually very different with little to no overlap in terms of their aesthetic benefits. In fact, when injected in a targeted area, both treatments produce very specific effects.

For example, forehead botox helps to improve forehead lines and wrinkles whereas forehead fillers help to smoothen out and enhance the contour of the forehead.

Find out in this article what each procedure entails and how they can help beautify your features and improve your appearance.

What are Botox and Fillers?

Botox (botulinum toxin) is an injectable treatment that improves wrinkles and fine lines by reducing the activity of the facial muscles. Muscular activity is reduced by inhibiting the transmission of impulses along the facial nerves. Botox can also give a slimming effect when injected into the jaw, shoulders, or calves.

Fillers (also known as injectables or injectable fillers) are substances that are injected into the skin to give volume to enhance facial features, fill up creases, skinfolds as well as areas that are hollow or sunke. There are many different types of fillers, with hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly caprolactone (PCL) fillers being the most common and popular types in Singapore.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Fillers: This is a popular filler because it is very versatile and can be injected in almost all the areas of the face, even delicate areas such as the undereye tear trough or lips. Different “hardness” of hyaluronic acid fillers can even be injected together for best results. Side effects may include minor bruising, swelling, and redness.
Poly Caprolactone (PCL) Fillers: PCL fillers such as Ellanse have recently gained popularity because it has an added benefit of stimulating collagen when compared to HA fillers. Hence, Ellanse can not only volumise the face, it can help with anti aging by simtulating collagen in the injected area.
How does Botox work?
Botox is a neurotoxin that works by impairing the conduction of nerve signals in the facial muscles. This decreases the activity of the underlying facial muscles. Simply put, lesser muscular contractions equate to lesser wrinkles.

How do Fillers work?

Regardless of the type of fillers, they work by occupying space, thereby giving a volumnising effect.
For example, chin fillers help to augment and enhance the appearance of the chin by adding volume to create a longer or more projected chin.
The famous “apple cheeks” can be achieved by injected fillers into the cheeks to increase its
volume, thereby enhancing the appearance of the cheek bones for the sought after apple cheeks.

 

What are the benefits of Botox?

The main benefit of botox is to improve the appearance of facial wrinkles. Common areas of
wrinkles that are targeted include forehead wrinkles, frown lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
Botox can also be used for jaw slimming for a more V shaped face, should contouring as well as
slimming of bulky calf muscles.
In rare cases, Botox can also help to relieve muscle spasms such as eyelid twitching.

What are the benefits of Fillers?

Fillers on the other hand, are not very useful for wrinkles. They are injections that are used to improve the appearance of facial features.

Common areas for filler injections include:

Forehead filler for a smoother, rounder, fuller forehead

Temple fillers for those with sunken temples either due to weight loss or aging

Cheek fillers to achieve the sought after “apple cheeks” or to enhance the definition of the cheek bone for the “high cheekbone model look”

Nasolabial fold (laughline) fillers for those with sagging cheeks that lead to the formation of deep laughline creases on the sides of the nose

Nose Fillers for a higher, sharper nose

Chin Fillers for a longer, more defined chin

Which is the best brand of Botox or Fillers?

Types of Botox brands available in Singapore include Botox, Dysport and Xeomin.
Some of the most popular filler brands include: Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero and Teosyal.
It is important to choose the correct “hardness” of filler for specific areas. For example, a chin filler should be “hard” whereas a lip fillers should be “soft”. Injecting a soft filler in the chin would cause poor results and injecting a hard filler into the lips would lead to the formation of lumps which is not ideal.

Conclusion

All the different brands of botox and fillers have their own advantages and disadvantages.
An experienced doctor will be able to advise you on which brand of botox or fillers is ideal for your skin type, and which would be best in helping to address your primary concerns to achieve your desired resul