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العربيةFiller, Botox, Skin Booster, Fat Grafting — How to Choose
Injection procedures may sound alike, but each treats something different. At Face Plus Plastic Surgery, we hold consultations by dividing them into four.
Table of contents for this page
- Filler Procedure Information — a procedure that injects a gel-type material into hollow areas to fill in volume
- Botox Procedure Information — an injection that temporarily reduces muscle movement to treat the wrinkles that form when you make facial expressions
- Skin Booster Types and Differences — a procedure injected directly into the skin, intended to treat the condition of the skin itself, such as skin texture, elasticity, and hydration
- Fat Grafting Surgery Information — a surgery in which your own fat is harvested, purified, and then transferred into hollow areas of the face
The four do different jobs, so they cannot substitute for one another. This does not mean that one is better than another.
Injection procedures also have side effects. If your skin color changes after a procedure, pain becomes severe, or your vision suddenly becomes unclear, please start with Symptoms to Check Urgently.
Which procedure for which concern?
If hollow areas are your concern, look at filler or fat grafting; if expression wrinkles are your concern, Botox; if skin texture and elasticity are your concern, skin boosters.
| If this is your concern | Procedure to look at first | Detailed explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Cheeks, temples, or forehead look hollow and cast shadows | Filler or fat grafting | Filler Procedure Information · Fat Grafting Surgery Information |
| Deep folded creases such as nasolabial folds | Filler | Filler Procedure Information |
| The chin looks slightly recessed | Filler or fat grafting (for a more pronounced case, chin surgery) | Filler Procedure Information |
| Bothered by wrinkles that appear only when smiling or frowning | Botox | Botox Procedure Information |
| The muscle at the corner of the jaw bulges firmly when you clench your back teeth | Botox | Botox Procedure Information |
| Fine wrinkles are visible even at rest, and skin texture is rough | Skin Booster | Types of Skin Boosters and Their Differences |
| Skin feels dry and has lost elasticity | Skin Booster | Types of Skin Boosters and Their Differences |
| Several areas are hollow together, and you want to fill them with your own tissue | Fat Grafting | Fat Grafting Surgery Information |
| Loose, sagging skin is your biggest concern | Lifting | Lifting Selection Criteria |
Hollowness and sagging are different problems
A hollow face and a sagging face have different causes. Simply filling sagging tissue can make the face look heavy.
That is why, at the consultation, we first look at which is the main cause. If sagging is the main cause, we look together at the procedures and surgeries explained in Lifting Selection Criteria.
The first of our treatment principles is "We never recommend unreasonable surgery."
How do the four differ?
Filler treats the volume of hollow areas, Botox treats muscle movement, skin boosters treat the condition of the skin itself, and fat grafting treats the volume of hollow areas with your own fat.
The Four at a Glance
| Procedure | What it addresses | Material | Can it be reversed? | Detailed explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filler | Fills the volume of sunken areas | Hyaluronic acid filler or PCL filler | Hyaluronic acid filler has an injection that dissolves it. PCL filler does not | Filler Procedure Information |
| Botox | Reduces muscle movement to address expression lines | Botulinum toxin (prescription-only drug) | Muscle strength returns as the drug's effect wears off | Botox Procedure Information |
| Skin Booster | The condition of the skin itself, such as texture, elasticity, and hydration | Ingredients differ by product | Some products have no drug that dissolves them | Types of Skin Boosters and Their Differences |
| Fat Grafting | Fills the volume of hollow areas with your own fat | Your own fat | There is no drug that dissolves it | Fat Grafting Surgery Information |
| Thread lift and lifting surgery | Lifts sagging tissue upward | — | — | Lifting Selection Criteria |
How are injections and surgery different?
Filler, Botox, and skin boosters are procedures done by injection, while fat grafting is a surgery that includes a process of harvesting fat.
In fat grafting, not all of the transferred fat remains. Some of it is absorbed, and the amount that remains differs by person, area, and the harvesting, purification, and injection methods. It is not possible to say definitively that a certain percentage will remain.
What products are used?
Product names, ingredients, and approved uses are listed on each procedure page. This hub lists only the product categories.
- Filler: We use both hyaluronic acid filler and PCL filler. The product list is in Filler Procedure Information.
- Botox: Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only drug (a drug that requires a doctor's prescription). It is made by several companies, and each product has its own approved details.
- Skin boosters: The ingredients and approval classification differ by product. The ingredients and approved uses of each product are in Skin Booster Types and Differences.
- Fat grafting: We use your own fat. No artificial material is inserted.
What side effects can occur?
Bruising, swelling, asymmetry (the two sides looking different), and lumps can occur, and in rare cases there have been reports of the injected material blocking a blood vessel, causing skin necrosis (death of tissue), loss of vision, or complications involving the brain.
Being an injection procedure does not mean it carries no risk. Please decide only after fully understanding the items below.
What applies to all four procedures
- Bruising, swelling, redness at the injection site, tenderness when pressed
- Left-right asymmetry
- Infection
- Hypersensitivity reaction (allergic reaction)
What we watch for in each procedure
| Procedure | Side effects we watch for in particular | Detailed explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Filler | Lumps that can be felt or that show through the skin, delayed nodules (lumps that form a long time afterward), foreign body reaction, filler migration, vascular occlusion | Filler side effects |
| Botox | Drooping eyelid (ptosis), drooping eyebrow, an awkward expression, a feeling of weakness when chewing, and, rarely, systemic symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or breathing | Botox side effects |
| Skin Booster | Nodules (lumps that can be felt), injection into a blood vessel, and, depending on the product, the absence of a drug that dissolves it | Skin booster side effects |
| Fat Grafting | The transferred fat being absorbed more than expected, clumping and nodules, fat necrosis, oil cysts, and calcification, unevenness, bruising and reduced sensation at the site where the fat was harvested, and embolism from injection into a blood vessel | Fat grafting side effects |
Do not wait in these cases
The changes below are ones you should tell us about without waiting until your next visit.
Symptoms that call for an immediate call to 119 or a trip to the emergency room
- When your vision suddenly becomes unclear or you see double
- When your speech becomes slurred, or one side of your face, arm, or leg goes numb or weak
- When hives appear all over the body, you have difficulty breathing, or your lips or throat swell
- When you have difficulty swallowing or breathing
Symptoms to have checked promptly
- When the skin color of the treated area turns white or dark red
- When the pain gradually worsens compared with right after the procedure
- When the treated area becomes red and swollen and you have a fever
- When a net-like mottling appears on the skin
Changes you must tell us about at your next visit
- When a lump that can be felt does not shrink
- When the difference between the left and right sides stays the same over time
- When a drooping feeling in the eyelids or eyebrows, or an awkward expression, continues
When you go to the emergency room, please also tell them what was injected and where (whether or not it was hyaluronic acid filler, the area, and the time).
What do these four not resolve?
Lifting what has sagged is hard to replace with a filling procedure or an injection.
- If sagging is your main concern, compare thread lift, mini facelift, and facelift in Lifting Selection Criteria.
- If you have a bulge under the eye with hollowness below it, see Lower Eyelid Fat Repositioning Surgery Information.
- If your chin is markedly recessed, see Chin Surgery Information.
How do I care for myself after the procedure?
Dr. Park and the nursing team check your progress together after the procedure. The third of our treatment principles is "We see patients even more often after surgery."
If you have had surgery, you will visit the clinic about 2 to 3 times over roughly 2 weeks. The number of visits and the dates are adjusted according to the surgery and your recovery.
Precautions for each procedure (such as when to resume washing your face, wearing makeup, exercising, and drinking alcohol) are given on each procedure page.
How do I get a consultation?
You can call our main number, 02-541-8500, or apply through Consultation & Booking information.
The clinic is located on the 4th floor of Vorati Al Building, 480 Gangnam-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is a 1-minute walk from Exit 3 of Sinnonhyeon Station.
At the consultation, please tell us the type and timing of any filler, Botox, skin booster, or fat grafting you have had before, the medications you take, your allergies, and any illnesses you have. If you do not remember which product you received, just tell us so.
Dr. Park's training and academic activities are described in About the Doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are filler and fat grafting different?
Both fill in hollow areas, but the materials are different. Filler is a procedure in which a product is injected, while fat grafting is a surgery in which your own fat is harvested, purified, and transferred. Hyaluronic acid filler has an injection that dissolves it, but there is no drug that dissolves fat. Not all of the transferred fat remains, and the amount that remains differs by person and area.
How are filler and Botox different?
Filler fills the volume of hollow areas, while Botox reduces muscle movement to treat the wrinkles that form when you make facial expressions. Their purposes differ, so they cannot substitute for one another.
How are skin boosters different from filler?
Skin boosters are procedures intended to treat the condition of the skin itself, such as skin texture, elasticity, and hydration, while filler is a procedure that fills the volume of hollow areas. The ingredients and approved uses of skin boosters differ by product, and explanations of each type are on the Skin Booster page.
Do injection procedures have no side effects?
No. Bruising, swelling, asymmetry, and lumps can occur, and in rare cases there have been reports of the injected material blocking a blood vessel, causing skin necrosis, loss of vision, or complications involving the brain. If the skin color at the treated area changes, the pain gradually worsens, or your vision suddenly becomes unclear, please tell us right away.
Can sagging also be treated by filling it with filler?
Sagging is difficult to reverse with a filling procedure. Adding volume to sagging tissue increases its weight, which can make the sagging more noticeable. If sagging is your main concern, we look at lifting procedures and surgery together.
Can all four be done together on the same day?
It depends on the type of procedure and your condition. The combinations done together and the interval between them are decided at the consultation.
References
- Rho NK, Kim HS, Kim SY, Lee W. Injectable "Skin Boosters" in Aging Skin Rejuvenation: A Current Overview. Arch Plast Surg. 2024;51(6):528–541. PMID 39544509. PMCID PMC11560330. doi:10.1055/a-2366-3436
- Lv Q, Li X, Qi Y, Gu Y, Liu Z, Ma GE. Volume Retention After Facial Fat Grafting and Relevant Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2021;45(2):506-520. PMID 31940073. doi:10.1007/s00266-020-01612-6
- 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. PMID 30805636. doi:10.1093/asj/sjz053
- Signorini M, Liew S, Sundaram H, De Boulle KL, Goodman GJ, Monheit G, Wu Y, Trindade de Almeida AR, Swift A, Vieira Braz A; Global Aesthetics Consensus Group. Global Aesthetics Consensus: Avoidance and Management of Complications from Hyaluronic Acid Fillers—Evidence- and Opinion-Based Review and Consensus Recommendations. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137(6):961e–971e. PMID 27219265. PMCID PMC5242216. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000002184
- Alhusain AM, Alsaif M, Alkhathami AM, Alghamdi AM, Alkhunein J, Alqirnas M, Alsubhi RO, Alsalamah S, Alanazi MM, Fathi A, Alghamdi A, Alowid F, Aleissa S. Hyaluronidase Protocol in Management of Hyaluronic Acid Filler-Related Vascular Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026;50(6):2300–2317. PMID 41249530. doi:10.1007/s00266-025-05431-5
- Beleznay K, Carruthers JD, Humphrey S, Jones D. Avoiding and Treating Blindness From Fillers: A Review of the World Literature. Dermatol Surg. 2015;41(10):1097-1117. PMID 26356847. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000000486
- Moellhoff N, Kuhlmann C, Frank K, Kim BS, Conte F, Cotofana S, Piccolo NS, Pallua N. Arterial Embolism After Facial Fat Grafting: A Systematic Literature Review. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2023;47(6):2771-2787. PMID 37563433. PMCID PMC10784353. doi:10.1007/s00266-023-03511-y
- Wong J, Lam DP, Abrishami A, Chan MT, Chung F. Short-term preoperative smoking cessation and postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can J Anaesth. 2012;59(3):268-79. PMID 22187226. doi:10.1007/s12630-011-9652-x
- Mills E, Eyawo O, Lockhart I, Kelly S, Wu P, Ebbert JO. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2011;124(2):144-154.e8. PMID 21295194. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2010.09.013
He personally consults on and performs facial aging treatments such as facelift, droopy eyelid surgery, and thread lift. The doctor personally sees you from consultation through recovery.
About the DoctorThe content of this page is general medical information provided in accordance with the Medical Service Act, and the effects and recovery time of surgeries and procedures may vary by individual. All surgeries and procedures can cause side effects, so please make your decision only after a thorough consultation with a plastic surgery specialist.