Botox vs. Skin Botox: how should you choose?
Botox is injected into muscle to reduce movement, while Skin Botox places the same toxin in small, closely spaced doses in the shallow layers of the skin to address fine lines and skin texture.
Because of its name, Skin Botox is easily mistaken for a milder Botox, but the two differ not in strength but in the layer injected and the purpose. For concerns created by muscle—such as wrinkles that fold when you smile or frown, or well-developed jaw muscles—we look at Botox first. If your skin texture is rough and pores and fine lines are visible regardless of expression, Skin Botox is the starting point.
How the two treatments work
- The same drug: Both treatments use botulinum toxin, which blocks acetylcholine released from nerve endings.
- Botox injected into muscle: Injected into the muscles that create facial expressions or the chewing muscles. We select the muscles whose movement should be reduced. When a muscle moves less, wrinkles soften, and a muscle used less becomes smaller.
- Skin Botox injected into the skin: Injected into the dermis, the shallow layer of the skin. Also called Dermotoxin, the name combines "dermo," meaning skin, and "toxin." It is placed in small, closely spaced doses across the entire face to address fine lines, elasticity, and skin tone without greatly changing your expressions.
Comparing Wrinkle Botox, masseter botulinum toxin, and Skin Botox
| Category | Wrinkle Botox | Masseter botulinum toxin | Skin Botox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concerns addressed | Wrinkles that fold with facial expressions | Angular jawline from well-developed chewing muscles | Fine lines, pores, skin texture, skin tone |
| Treatment areas | 1 area or 3 areas | Both sides of the jaw | Forehead, glabella, dark circles, nasolabial folds, pores and skin texture, full face, neck |
| Anesthesia and treatment time | About 10 minutes after numbing cream | About 10 minutes, with no anesthesia step | About 10 minutes after 20~40 minutes of numbing cream |
| Right after treatment | Small raised bumps usually settle within 2~3 hours but may last 1~2 days | The jaw may feel temporarily stiff | Multiple shallow injections leave small raised marks that then subside |
| Duration | 2 to 3 months on average | Returns to original size over 6~8 months | 1~2 months on average |
| Retreatment interval | 3~4 months | 4–5 months | 2 to 3 months |
With all three treatments, you can return to daily activities right after treatment.
How to choose by concern
1. When wrinkles fold deeply with facial expressions
- Recommended treatment: Wrinkle Botox, 1 area or 3 areas
- Recommended interval: every 3~4 months
- Features: For areas that fold, such as the forehead or between the brows, we first look at the movement of the muscle creating that wrinkle. Using Skin Botox to smooth deeply folded expression lines does not match its purpose.
2. When the sides of the jaw look angular
- Recommended treatment: Square Jaw Botox 50u
- Recommended interval: every 4~5 months
- Features: The muscle gradually decreases starting 2 weeks after treatment, and changes in the jawline can be seen after 1~2 months on average.
3. When pores, sebum, and fine lines are all a concern
- Recommended treatment: Skin Botox, in cc units for the full face or neck
- Recommended interval: 2~3 months apart
- Features: Also considered when the skin is thin and dry and other treatments feel like a burden. Trying to address pores with Botox injected into muscle misses the purpose.
4. When both concerns are present
- Features: Because they act on different layers, they are sometimes done on the same day. Whether to combine them and in what order is decided in a personalized consultation after reviewing your skin condition, medical history, and current medications.
Resistance and Choice of Formulation
Frequent injections at short intervals are known to potentially trigger antibody formation, which can lead to resistance, a reduced response to the toxin. For this reason, please follow the intervals shown in the table above. You may choose from a Korean formulation, a Korean low-resistance formulation, or a German low-resistance formulation. Botox injected into muscle may temporarily make expressions look slightly unnatural depending on the site and dose, so the initial dose is set according to the condition of your muscles.
Aftercare
- 2–3 hours later: You may begin washing your face and wearing makeup. Until then, please avoid rubbing the injection sites.
- Days 3–7: Avoid alcohol and smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses), hot baths, and strenuous exercise. After square jaw Botox, chewy or hard foods may shorten the duration of results and cause pain, so please avoid them where possible.
- One month: Take a break from deep massage and meridian massage.
Mild bruising and swelling may appear at the injection sites and usually subside soon. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a muscle or nerve disorder, are taking any medication, or have allergies, please let us know before treatment. If swelling and pain worsen day by day or a feeling of heat persists, please contact us right away.
Booking and consultation
Face Filter Clinic Suwon offers wrinkle Botox in 1-area and 3-area options, and Skin Botox in cc units. During a personalized consultation, we first assess whether your wrinkles stem from muscle movement or from the texture and elasticity of the skin itself, then select the treatment and dosage.
View Wrinkle Botox Procedure Information
View masseter Botox treatment information
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.