Dermal Fillers and Skin Boosters: Keep Your Skin Hydrated from the Inside this Winter

Winter in Montreal is notoriously harsh on your skin. The mix of icy winds outside and dry heating indoors strips away natural hydration, leaving your face feeling tight, flaky, and prematurely aged. That’s why many patients turn to injectable treatments like dermal fillers and skin boosters during the colder months.

While they’re both designed to refresh and rejuvenate your appearance, they work in very different ways. Dermal fillers focus on restoring lost facial volume and smoothing out wrinkles, while skin boosters improve hydration and skin quality by working more like an internal moisturizer.

Understanding these differences helps you choose the dermal filler treatment that fits your goals this winter.

• Dermal fillers add structure and volume to enhance facial contours.
• Skin boosters distribute hydration and stimulate collagen production for smoother texture.
• Both rely on hyaluronic acid, a natural component of your skin, but are formulated and applied differently.

Benefits of Each Treatment

The benefits of dermal fillers and skin boosters extend well beyond softening wrinkles. Fillers can lift, enhance, and augment facial appearance, while boosters restore elasticity and radiance without altering your natural contours. 

For many Clinique-K patients in Montreal, the choice comes down to whether they need added facial volume or improved skin quality.

• Dermal fillers provide some added hydration but the main goal is to reduce static wrinkles, restore  facial volume, and enhance thin lips.
• Skin boosters improve hydration across the entire face, reducing fine lines and restoring glow.
• Both support a youthful appearance, especially during facial aging when moisture and elasticity decline.

The Dermal Filler Procedure

The dermal filler procedure is one of the most common injectable treatments for facial aging. A dermal filler injection places a gel-like substance beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines, and enhance contours. Since most fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, they integrate naturally with your tissue and deliver instant results.

• Patients often choose filler treatments for cheeks, lips, and facial wrinkles that form with aging.
• The procedure takes less than an hour, with minimal downtime.
• Recovery is quick, and most people return to daily activities immediately after treatment.

Skin Boosters: A Different Approach

Unlike fillers, skin boosters aren’t designed to add volume. Instead, they improve hydration and skin quality at a deeper level. During treatment, micro-injections of hyaluronic acid are placed across the skin to increase moisture and stimulate collagen production. 

Instead of altering shape, boosters focus on texture, making them the go-to choice for patients who want to look refreshed but not different.

• Skin boosters target fine lines, elasticity, and overall radiance.
• They can be used on the face, neck, and even hands where dryness is most visible.
• The treatment is subtle, enhancing your skin’s natural beauty without surgery or facial restructuring.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers vs. Skin Boosters

Both treatments rely on hyaluronic acid but use it differently. Hyaluronic acid fillers are denser gels designed to lift and fill, restoring youthful contours. Skin boosters, however, are lighter formulations that spread evenly through the skin, locking in hydration and improving elasticity.

• Hyaluronic acid fillers are best for structural changes, such as restoring cheek volume or enhancing lips.
• Skin boosters improve skin quality by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and dryness.
• Together, they address both volume loss and skin dehydration, creating a comprehensive facial rejuvenation plan.

Injections and Treatment Areas

The injection technique highlights the difference between the two treatments. Dermal filler injections are placed more deeply to restore structure, while skin boosters are injected superficially in multiple micro-doses for even distribution.

• Dermal fillers are often used in the lips, cheeks, chin, and jawline to restore contours.
• Skin boosters are applied to larger treatment areas like the face or neck for hydration.
• Combining both allows patients to improve facial contours and skin texture simultaneously.

Types of Filler and Soft Tissue Fillers

There are different types of filler available, and each is suited for specific purposes. Hyaluronic acid fillers remain the most popular choice because they are safe, effective, and reversible. 

• Thicker fillers work best for cheeks and jawline definition.
• Softer fillers are ideal for delicate areas like lips or under the eyes.
• The right type of filler depends on your goals, skin type, and facial features.

Skin Boosters, Dermal Filler Recovery and Results

Recovery is generally short for both treatments, but results differ. Dermal filler results are visible immediately after the procedure, with restored volume and smoother contours. Skin boosters take a little longer, as hydration builds over time and collagen production improves skin quality gradually.

• Dermal filler recovery involves mild swelling or bruising at the injection site.
• Skin boosters may require several sessions for optimal results.
• Both treatments deliver lasting results that keep your skin looking refreshed through Montreal’s coldest months.

Understanding Risks and Possible Side Effects

Both treatments are considered safe when performed by qualified injectors, but possible side effects do exist. For dermal fillers, mild swelling, redness, or bruising are the most common. 

Skin boosters carry similar minor effects, usually resolving in a few days. Serious risks are rare but can occur if treatments are not performed by experienced physicians and surgeons.

• Differences in filler placement may require small adjustments.
• Allergic reactions are very uncommon, but should be discussed during your consultation.
• Choosing a skilled injector reduces risks and ensures natural results.

Other Treatments for Facial Aging

While dermal fillers and skin boosters are excellent options for hydration, they can also be combined with other treatments. Anti-wrinkle injections, for example, target dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement, while cosmetic surgery options like a facelift or brow lift address more advanced facial aging. 

Many of our patients use a mix of injectable treatments to balance natural contours and maintain youthful skin.

• Fillers restore lost volume.
• Skin boosters improve hydration and skin quality.
• Anti-wrinkle injections relax dynamic wrinkles for a smoother appearance.

Why a Consultation Matters

Every face is unique, and the right treatment depends on your goals. During a consultation, you’ll have the chance to discuss the differences between facial fillers and skin boosters with an experienced injector. 

Our Plastic surgeons and clinicians in Montreal take the time to evaluate your facial features, skin texture, and hydration levels to recommend a tailored plan.

• A consultation today ensures you understand the different types of dermal filler options available and which are best for you.
• You will learn about expected results, recovery, and possible side effects.
• This appointment is also the best time to ask questions and review which treatment areas—lips, cheeks, or nasolabial folds—would benefit most.

Lasting Hydration for Beautiful Skin

The biggest difference between dermal fillers and skin boosters is their purpose. Fillers do provide some hydration but are more designed to lift, sculpt, and restore volume, while boosters hydrate, improve texture, and support collagen production. 

Both are powerful tools against facial aging, and together they help you maintain a youthful appearance even through Montreal’s harsh winters.

• Dermal fillers enhance features like lips, cheeks, and jawline.
• Skin boosters smooth fine lines and restore hydration from the inside.
• Combining the two gives patients lasting results with a refreshed, radiant appearance.

To learn more about dermal fillers and skin boosters we invite you to book a consultation at Clinique-K at our locations in Westmount and Longueuil.