Ask anyone their thoughts on Botox® Cosmetic and you’re bound to get as many opinions as people you ask! In addition to those responses you will most likely hear a few myths about this popular treatment that many people still hold true! With so many circulating thoughts about Botox® and its increasing exposure and popularity on reality shows and mainstream media, it’s important to be able to separate fact from fiction to make choices that are right for YOU!
Myth #1 “Botox® is a dangerous poison that is toxic to your body!”
Botox® Is a highly refined protein derived from the Botulinum Toxin. This toxin is a type of bacteria that thrives in poorly preserved foods and can lead to food poisoning. BUT! The concentration of Botox® actually used in a cosmetic injection is incredibly low and is administered, by your physician, with precise accuracy into a very specific muscle. As a result, it is virtually incapable of spreading to other areas of the body where it could pose a great threat.
Myth #2 “Botox® is super new to the market…buyer beware!”
BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used for over 17 years and is approved for medical use in over 78 countries. It is one of the most extensively studied medical esthetic treatments on the market. The safety and efficacy of BOTOX® Cosmetic have been evaluated in both Allergan (the manufacturer of Botox®) sponsored clinical trials as well as in 417 peer-reviewed articles in scientific and medical journals.
Myth #3 “Botox® will leave you looking like a frozen, emotionless ZOMBIE!”
“You would have to specifically ask your provider to inject you this way if that’s the esthetic you were going for, and even in that case, any responsible provider would discourage that sort of outcome,” shares Dr. Garrett Griffin of Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery. He goes on to say, “The whole point of Botox® is to prevent the future occurrence of wrinkles and to make you look like a more refreshed, youthful version of yourself…NOT an entirely different person!”
Myth #4 “You should only start Botox® when you start to see lines.”
“The name of the game is PREVENTION,” advises Dr. Christopher Tolan, also a physician with Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery and a National Botox® Trainer for Allergan. “Waiting until lines are fully formed, visible and etched into the skin makes it more difficult to smooth their appearance again,” he continues.
Botox is most often used for lines and wrinkles which form from facial movements like scowling, squinting, frowning, and raising your eyebrows. By starting Botox preventatively, a patient (and their muscles) actually learn to not make certain faces and expressions over time that contribute to wrinkles. As a result, these wrinkles may never form and that patient may need less Botox or need it less often in the future.
Myth #5 “Botox is super expensive and costly to maintain.”
The average Botox® treatment is around $350. While this isn’t Inexpensive, it IS an investiment with reliable and visible results. If you’re tired of throwing your money away on skincare products and spa treatments that aren’t delivering results, Botox® can actually SAVE you money. In fact, many of us spend more on fancy Starbuck’s coffees each year than Botox would ever cost to maintain at 3-4 treatments per year!
Plus! Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox® has a patient rewards program called Brilliant Distinctions that allows patients to earn points with each treatment. These points are then applied as discounts to all subsequent treatments making your Botox®, dermal filler and Kybella treatments even more affordable!
Myth #6 “When Botox® wears off your wrinkles will look WORSE than before!”
Relax, (no pun intended) when your Botox® wears off after 3 to 4 months your appearance will simply return to what is was before. Your treatment stopped the clock on those wrinkles advancing and when your Botox® wore off, the second hand started ticking again.
Although repeated Botox® treatments will prevent your wrinkles from worsening, if you stop treatment you will slowly lose the relaxing effect of the treatment and will resume your normal facial movements and wrinkle development. Botox® will NOT make wrinkles worse.
Myth #7 “Botox® injections hurt!”
“I just had a first time Botox® patient the other day describe the feeling of the injection to that of a accupuncture needle, so NO…the injection is NOT painful,” shares Dr. Griffin. “There may be some mild discomfort at the injection site, but the majority of our patient find the injections completely tolerable, if felt at all,” he concludes.
Myth #8 “Botox® is addictive.”
“Sure! You may be addicted to the way you LOOK with Botox®, but NO, Botox® Cosmetic is NOT addictive,” smiles Dr. Tolan. “Botox® is safely eliminated from your body 3 to 6 months after your treatment. We advise most patients to return at 3 to 4 months for a subsequent treatment so their transition between treatments is smooth and their appearance is consistently youthful. This is NOT because your body wants or needs more of the product,” he explains.
Myth #9 “Botox® is just for Women.”
Ever hear of “BRO-TOX?” Botox® treatment among men is on the rise! For some, it’s just about looking as youthful as they feel, for others, it may be to soften the appearance of an angry or tired look. It’s a competitive job AND dating market out there and men want to look just as good as their female counterparts!
Myth #10 “Botox® is only used in the Cosmetic Industry.”
Botox has gone FAR BEYOND just cosmetic. When used therapeutically it can be used to treat migraine headaches by reducing muscle tension and creating less strain on the nervous system. It can also be used to temporarily block sweat glands (hyperhidrosis) to stop excessive sweating on the palms of your hands or underarms. Botox® is even being used to control overactive bladders and being studied to prevent feelings of hunger by relaxing stomach muscles!
Regardless of which of these myths YOU may have thought true, it is important to partner with a reputable provider to ensure your BEST BOTOX RESULTS! At Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery, our cosmetic injections are ONLY administered by our double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeons.
Call (651)632-9700 to schedule your Botox® treatment and let our physicians debunk any myths you may still believe!