Wondering About Botox? We Can Help!
The first question we often get is…. WHAT IS BOTOX?
Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It’s the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism. Doctors use it in small doses to treat health problems, including. Yep, that’s right! Botox is a poison… and some might say its an amazing poison. 🙂 While yes, Botox can be deadly, it is generally from eating contaminated foods thus leading to botulism it is often hailed as one of the safer medical procedures. Botox has been used widely since 1981 with little side effects. Botox has been FDA approved for a number of uses. It would take dose of more than 100 times the average dose given for a cosmetic use for Botox to be toxic
Next, WHAT DOES BOTOX DO?
Botox causes temporary paralysis of ones’ muscles. It aides in migraines, TMJ, facial wrinkles and a myriad of other aesthetic procedures. Botox is used to eliminate wrinkles and some expressions in the face. As we age, we lose collagen and elasticity in our skin. Botox aides in maintaining the integrity of our skin’s appearance. Once Botox is injected into a part of the body, it paralyzes the nerves in the area, thus blocking the signals between the brain and the nerves. This can freeze muscles, sweat glands, and more, which is why Botox is just as commonly used to treat excessive sweating. Once the nerves are paralyzed, the natural muscle contraction beneath the skin relaxes, leading to the skin itself relaxing, and the folds and wrinkles slowly disappearing. (Quote: EosSpa)
After, we get past the shock that we are putting a poison in our face, the most common next question we are asked is:
WHAT AREAS CAN I USE BOTOX? (Photo Credit Dr:Happe)
A few wide spread misconceptions are: (info courtesy of AAFE)
Botox injections are painful– Most patients describe Botox injections as a slight pinch or say that they hardly felt the injection at all. Using a topical anesthetic like Comfortox BLT with Comfortox 31g syringes which were specifically designed for Botox injections helps insure your patients comfort and makes you a more comfortable injector. No other anesthetic is needed for this procedure.
Botox injections lead to a frozen face– Many people think that getting Botox injections will make them lose the ability to emote or make facial expressions. This is a myth; the treatment relaxes the muscles at the injection point. With a skilled injector, you will still be able to display the entire range of facial expressions including smiling, frowning and appearing surprised.
Botox is only for effective for removing wrinkles and improving facial lines– Botox is used for a range of medical conditions and was first used to treat strabismus, a problem with eye muscles. There are many medical uses such as treating migraines, back/neck pain, TMJ conditions, and hyperhidrosis just to name a few.
Wrinkles will worsen if you stop getting Botox– Botox will not worsen wrinkle formation but instead wrinkles will slowly return to how they were initially, prior to Botox® treatment.
…. and now that you are fully educated, the next thing to consider is:
WHEN SHOULD I GET BOTOX?
We find ourselves telling clients, that you should only get BOTOX when you have fine lines and/or areas of your face that you are unhappy with. We normally start to see these lines in our mid 20s and beyond. However, as like with everything else; diet, stress, exercise etc all contribute to the growth of lines on ones face. Meaning, maybe you’re not in need of BOTOX until the age of 35, 40 or even 50!
| When To Think About Botox | When NOT To Consider Botox |
| You have facial wrinkles caused by muscle contraction – moderate to severe | You are breast-feeding or currently pregnant |
| The wrinkles are on your forehead, around the eyes, between the eyes, and/or along the neck | You are unhealthy, with a serious infection or illness, especially if the infection is along or connected to the injection site |
| You are physically and mentally healthy | There is a possibility that you are allergic to Botox or any of its ingredients |
| You understand the process and limitations of Botox, and you have discussed your expectations with your doctor | You do not properly understand Botox and your expectations have not been discussed with a doctor |
Graph credit: eos spa
Lastly, Who do you choose to perform your BOTOX treatment and how much does it cost?
We often find ourselves telling clients to schedule a consult prior to any BOTOX procedure. Look for an experienced practitioner and more importantly one that you feel comfortable with. This is not the type of procedure that you want to “penny pinch” on or hop from one place to the next- trying to find the lowest price. BOTOX treatments range anywhere from $10-$15 per unit. Check out our VIP club for great BOTOX specials.
Great FAQ’s During A Consult.
Q: What are your qualifications? A: Degree in medicine, dentistry, or a certification required by your specific State for nurses.
Why: While there are many estheticians who offer Botox, remember they do not have the licensure required by any State to perform this service. Often even certified professionals lack the proper training, experience, or education to handle any possible complications that might arise. Skilled-professionals have the understanding to deal with anything unexpected, meaning you are in safe hands if anything goes wrong.
Q: How many times have you performed this procedure? A: The ideal doctor should have performed hundreds of BOTOX procedures over several years. If you desire, they should have before and after pictures of their previous pictures available and on-hand for your perusal.
Why: While BOTOX might seem like a simple procedure, it’s important to remember that even the simplest procedure can go wrong. The more experienced a doctor is in administering BOTOX, the more they will develop and inherent understand of the way your face and skin might react to it.
Q: Do Botox results last forever? A: No, however, you can come back for follow-up treatments when the results start to wear off in a few months.
Why: This is a basic fact of BOTOX, and if any potential BOTOX injector tries to convince a patient that their brand of BOTOX will last longer in their face – for up to several years – then it’s not the type of BOTOX injector you will want to trust.
Q: What kind of side effects can I expect? A: Side effects of the BOTOX procedure are generally caused by the BOTOX or the technique of the injection.
Why: In most cases of BOTOX going wrong, the problem is that the product was injected in the wrong spot. Your potential BOTOX doctor should be aware of this, reassuring you that they have mastered their injection technique.
Q: Is there any follow-up care? A: Yes, a review of your face after two weeks.
Why: A good BOTOX practice should always insist on a review of the results (either via photos or in office visit) two weeks after the procedure. This should involve any small corrections that they believe are necessary to enhance and perfect the results of your BOTOX treatment.
Should you have additional questions regarding botox, please feel free to reach out to us at hashtagcurrentmood@gmail.com. To see before and afters of some of our BOTOX pictures, please visit us on FB or IG. Upon request we can conduct a virtual consult online and show you pictures as well.
For Additional Botox Before & After Photos Visit: https://www.botoxcosmetic.com/before-and-after
Thank you eos med spa, AAFE and Dr. Happe for information contributing to this blog.