Hyaluronic acid is an organic substance whose primary function is to bind water within the skin tissue. As we age, the natural amount of hyaluronic acid in the body decreases, leading to a loss of firmness, elasticity, and hydration. Treatments with hyaluronic acid are designed to replenish these levels in the skin. The results are immediate—the skin appears more radiant, supple, and firm.

Botox is the common name for botulinum toxin, a substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Its distinctive effect is muscle relaxation. By temporarily blocking neuromuscular transmission, Botox reduces muscle contractions. When administered in a controlled, professional manner, it delivers impressive yet natural-looking results.

The main distinction between hyaluronic acid and Botox in aesthetic treatments lies in the type of wrinkles each is used to address.

Hyaluronic acid is highly effective for filling static wrinkles—those not directly caused by muscle movement. These wrinkles develop as a result of the skin’s natural loss of hydration and elasticity over time.

Botox, on the other hand, works best for dynamic wrinkles—lines that form due to facial expressions and muscle activity rather than age itself.

Hyaluronic acid is used for:

• reducing static wrinkles (those caused by loss of skin elasticity—hyaluronic acid fills them effectively),
• lip enhancement (precise application helps correct the shape and volume of the lips),
• scar treatment (it promotes wound healing and reduces the visibility of scars),
• treating joint degeneration (it strengthens cartilage structures and supports healthy synovial fluid production).

Hyaluronic acid also has strong moisturizing properties, which is why it is a common ingredient in many skincare products. For the same reason, it is also widely used in gynecology, urology, and ophthalmology.

Botox is used for:

• temporarily relaxing facial muscles to reduce dynamic wrinkles,
• treating excessive sweating of the underarms, hands, and feet (by inhibiting overactive sweat glands),
• treating bruxism (by relaxing the jaw muscles),
• treating migraines (by blocking pain receptors in pericranial muscles, which reduces migraine headaches in about 80% of patients),
• treating hemorrhoids and overactive bladder (in both cases, Botox helps by deactivating selected muscle groups).

There are many myths surrounding the use of Botox and hyaluronic acid, largely due to limited knowledge about aesthetic medicine procedures. The most common include:

• Myth 1 – Botox is used for lip augmentation
  Botulinum toxin, unlike hyaluronic acid, is not a filler and therefore is not used to change the shape or volume of the lips. However, Botox can effectively reduce smoker’s lines—wrinkles that form around the mouth.

• Myth 2 – Botox is more dangerous than hyaluronic acid
  Because Botox works by relaxing muscle activity, it has often been (unjustly!) associated with negative consequences. A common misconception is that Botox treatments are far riskier than those with hyaluronic acid. While any aesthetic procedure carries some degree of risk, Botox—registered as a medicinal product and administered in precise doses by a qualified specialist—is not more dangerous to health than hyaluronic acid.

• Myth 3 – The effects of Botox are permanent, while hyaluronic acid is not
  Botox does not permanently block acetylcholine release. To maintain results, botulinum toxin injections should be repeated every 3–6 months. In contrast, hyaluronic acid treatments typically need to be repeated every 12–18 months, depending on the area treated.

• Myth 4 – Botox and hyaluronic acid can be used interchangeably
  Although both Botox and hyaluronic acid can reduce wrinkles, each is suited to a different type. Moreover, unlike hyaluronic acid, Botox is not used as a filler.

The belief that hyaluronic acid treatments are safer than those performed with Botox is a complete myth. It is important to emphasize that both procedures, when carried out by experienced specialists in accordance with medical standards, involve only minimal risk—just like any other intervention that affects the skin. What’s more, it cannot be said that Botox treatments are in any way more “dangerous” than those involving hyaluronic acid.