Dermal fillers vs botox: what’s the difference and what is each one for?
Prices as of 24.10.2026
Botox vs filler: comparison table
Times are typical ranges, not a promise.
| Botulinum toxin | Hyaluronic acid filler | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | prescription medicine | medical device, a gel |
| How it works | temporarily relaxes a muscle | adds volume and support |
| Type of line | lines from movement | folds at rest, volume loss |
| Typical areas | forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet | lips, nasolabial folds, cheekbones, chin |
| Treatment time | 15–30 minutes | about 30–45 minutes |
| When you see it | 2–5 days, full in 1–2 weeks | at once, final shape in 2–5 days |
| How long it lasts | usually 3–4 months | usually 6–12 months |
| Exercise and sauna | after 24 hours | after 48 hours |
| Reversible? | no, wears off by itself | yes, with hyaluronidase |
Which treatment suits which concern
Mirror test: a line that disappears when the face relaxes is dynamic.
Forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet
Usually botulinum toxin: lines from muscle movement.
Lip volume, outline, symmetry
Filler: volume needs adding.
Nasolabial folds, under-eye hollows
Filler: the fold shows at rest; the cause is volume loss.
Mouth corners, marionette lines
Often both: botulinum toxin relaxes, filler supports the line.
Lip flip, gummy smile
Botulinum toxin relaxes the lip muscle; no added volume.
Teeth grinding, neck bands
Botulinum toxin: the cause is muscle tension.
Side effects and risks: normal or urgent
The most serious, rare filler risk: entering a blood vessel.
Common
- redness, small bumps – a few hours
- swelling and bruising after filler – a few days
- filler may be palpable at first
Rare
- drooping brow or eyelid – resolves within 12 weeks
- unevenness, a lump, inflammation or filler migration
Let the clinic know
Urgent
- severe or increasing pain after filler
- skin turns pale, blotchy or dark
- fever or unusual swelling
- blurred or lost vision – 112
Contact the clinic at once. Emergency: 112
Can botox and fillers be combined?
Yes, often: botulinum toxin for frown lines, filler for lips or folds.
Consultation
The specialist asks about health, medicines and past injections and assesses your expressions.
Plan
Botulinum toxin, filler or both; for several areas, the Full Face approach.
Treatment
Both can be done in one visit, or split so the botulinum effect is assessed first.
Follow-up
The botulinum result is checked after about 2 weeks.
A third option: skin boosters
If the concern is dry, thin or dull skin and fine lines, neither may suit. Skin boosters such as biorevitalisation hydrate the skin without adding volume or relaxing muscles. Skin boosters explained.
In more detail
How botulinum toxin works
Botulinum toxin type A temporarily blocks the nerve signal to a muscle, so it contracts less and the lines it creates soften. It adds no volume: a deep fold caused by lost support will not disappear. It is a prescription medicine, so every treatment starts with a consultation.
The first treatment may wear off sooner. It is also used for teeth grinding, a gummy smile, neck bands and excessive sweating. More on timing: how long does botox last.
How dermal fillers work
A dermal filler is a gel placed under the skin to restore volume and support. Most are based on hyaluronic acid, which binds water; the body gradually breaks it down. In the lips and nasolabial folds it usually lasts 6–12 months, depending on the area, the product and your metabolism.
Melior Clinics also uses Biofiller made from the patient’s own plasma and collagen-stimulating Ellansé, which behave differently.
Lip filler vs lip flip
A lip filler adds volume to the lips. A lip flip uses a small amount of botulinum toxin to relax the muscle at the upper lip border, so the lip turns slightly outwards without added volume. It is sometimes considered when the upper lip seems to disappear on smiling; at Melior Clinics it is listed with gummy smile treatment under botulinum injections. For visible fullness or a defined outline, filler is the usual choice.
Hyaluronidase: can filler be dissolved?
Yes. The enzyme hyaluronidase dissolves hyaluronic acid filler when a result looks unnatural, when asymmetry, a lump or migration appears, and if a blood vessel is blocked. The effect usually shows within 2–7 days; sometimes a repeat treatment is needed. New filler usually waits at least 2 weeks.
You are asked about allergies first, including bee venom. Biofiller and Ellansé cannot be dissolved this way. At Melior it is a separate treatment: filler dissolving.
How serious is filler in a blood vessel?
It is rare, but the FDA calls it the most serious risk of dermal fillers: reduced blood supply can damage the skin and, very rarely, cause vision loss or stroke. According to a review of the world literature, the higher-risk areas are the nose, the area between the brows, the forehead and the nasolabial folds.
Who should not have them?
Neither is given during pregnancy or breastfeeding, with inflammation, infection or a cold sore in the area, or during an acute illness or fever. Botulinum toxin is also unsuitable with an allergy to it or to albumin and with certain neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis; filler with an allergy to its ingredients, an active autoimmune disease or a recent laser or peel in the area.
Bleeding disorders and blood thinners are assessed individually. The specialist decides.
Frequently asked questions
Does botox fill wrinkles?
No. Botulinum toxin relaxes a muscle and softens lines caused by movement, but it adds no volume. If a fold is visible at rest, filler or a combination of both is usually more suitable.
Which lasts longer, botox or filler?
Usually filler: 6–12 months in the lips and nasolabial folds, compared with 3–4 months for botulinum toxin on expression lines. Duration depends on the area, the product and your metabolism.
Can you have botox and filler on the same day?
Often yes, if the specialist considers it suitable. Sometimes they are split over two visits so the botulinum effect can be assessed before filler is added.
Can filler be used for forehead lines?
Not usually as the first choice. Forehead lines come from muscle movement and are softened with botulinum toxin. The forehead and the area between the brows are also among the areas where the blood vessel risk of filler is higher.
Do botox and fillers hurt?
Most people describe botulinum toxin as a quick prick with a very fine needle. The lips are more sensitive, so numbing gel is used for filler if needed, and many hyaluronic acid fillers contain the anaesthetic lidocaine.
How much do botox and fillers cost in Tallinn?
At Melior Clinics, botulinum injections start from €125, lip filler from €275 and nasolabial fold filler from €300 (price list of 24.10.2026). The final price depends on the number of areas or the amount of filler.
Which is better as a first treatment?
It depends on the concern, not on the order. For expression lines the first step is often botulinum toxin; for lip volume or deep folds, hyaluronic acid filler. The consultation shows which suits.
Botulinum injections and fillers in Tallinn
Read next
- DermNet NZ: Botulinum toxin
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Dermal Filler Do's and Don'ts for Wrinkles, Lips and More
- Beleznay K, Carruthers JDA, Humphrey S, Carruthers A, Jones D. Update on Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers: A Recent Review of the World Literature. Aesthet Surg J. 2019;39(6):662–674 (PubMed)
- Jung H. Hyaluronidase: An overview of its properties, applications, and side effects. Arch Plast Surg. 2020;47(4):297–300 (PubMed)
This article is general information and does not replace a consultation. Whether a treatment suits you is decided by a specialist at the consultation. Melior Clinics (Star Company OÜ), Liivalaia 53, Tallinn · Estonian Health Board licence L04198.
