Under-eye lines: Botox or filler?
Under the eye, it all depends on the type of line: there at rest, or only when you smile. A mirror test is often enough to tell.
A neuromodulator temporarily relaxes a specific muscle, which softens lines carved by movement. It doesn’t restore volume, and when it’s dosed well, it doesn’t freeze the face.
Few treatments are as well known, and as misunderstood, as Botox. Between the frozen faces in movies and the promises of eternal youth, it’s normal to arrive with doubts. We explain how the product works and what it can’t do for you.
How a neuromodulator works
"Botox" is a brand name. The category is called neuromodulators. The principle is to temporarily relax a specific muscle by interrupting the nerve signal that tells it to contract.
The expression lines in the upper face (forehead, the frown lines between the brows, crow’s feet) are carved by these repeated contractions, year after year. By relaxing the muscle, you let the skin smooth out and keep the line from deepening.
The effect fades over a few months, and the muscle goes back to work if you don’t renew the treatment.
Botox or Dysport: what's the difference
They’re two neuromodulators from the same family, with small differences in formulation and diffusion. Is one better than the other? Not in general. Both can give a good result when they’re well administered and properly dosed. Several things come into play: the strength of your muscles, the area treated, your anatomy, how you’ve responded in the past and the experience of the nurse injecting. Those same factors guide the choice between the two. And as with any treatment, no result is guaranteed.
Our neuromodulator pricing is by the unit:
- Botox: $12 a unit.
- Dysport: $11.50 a unit.
- Member pricing: $8.50 a unit.
Taxes extra. We bill by the unit actually used, not by package.
Prevention or correction: when to start
Is there an age to start? No. The right time depends on your skin and your goals.
- For prevention, we use small doses to slow expression lines from settling in before they turn permanent.
- For correction, we relax lines that are already there to soften them.
A line that’s still "dynamic", only showing when you move, responds better than one already etched in at rest. That’s one of the reasons starting early, sparingly, often gives the most natural result.
Our DC-Tox program is made for anyone who wants steady, predictable upkeep at a controlled price.
What Botox doesn't correct
A lot of disappointment comes from a poorly targeted treatment, so this part matters.
The neuromodulator works on lines caused by muscle movement. It doesn’t fill lost volume and it doesn’t rebuild a structure. For lost volume (cheeks, hollow under-eyes, jawline, lips), that’s where fillers come in.
Often the nicest result comes from a thoughtful combination, with the neuromodulator for expression and filler for volume. We dose each one to suit your face, and we don’t inject more than it needs.
A natural result is a question of dosing
Worried your face will look frozen? A lot of people come in with that fear, and we understand it. That "frozen" look comes from overdosing or poor placement. Done right, a neuromodulator softens your expressions without erasing them, and you still look like yourself, just more rested.
It takes an injector who listens to your goal, respects your anatomy and knows when to stop. We’d rather start cautiously and adjust as needed than do too much at once.
Where to start
A neuromodulator relaxes a muscle to smooth expression lines, temporarily and reversibly. It doesn’t replace filler, and it doesn’t give you a frozen face when it’s dosed well. The best starting point is an assessment, where we look at your skin and your priorities before proposing a plan. The consultation comes with no obligation.
