What is Botox?
Botox and Dysport are neuromodulators, aka "wrinkle relaxers," which are comprised of botulinum toxin. They are FDA approved medications which are injected into muscles, in order to relax the muscle movement that is creating wrinkles. When we relax or weaken the muscle, it makes the skin visibly smoother.
Neuromodulators currently on the market in the United States include Botox, Dysport, Juveau and Xeomin. These medications are all neuromodulators and work similarly. Some patients and providers have personal preferences, just like people have a preference of Coca Cola vs. Pepsi. Botox has grown to be the household name for neuromodulators, much like Kleenex is for tissue.
What does Botox treat?
We can have dynamic lines and static lines. Dynamic wrinkles are created with muscle movement and/or with expression. Over time, with repeated movement, these dynamic lines can turn into static lines, which are lines or wrinkles that are present even at rest. Because neuromodulators relax the muscle movement, and we are not creating these lines over and over again that lead to static lines, neuromodulators can be preventative. With treatment, dynamic lines and wrinkles can be helped considerably, and with consistent treatments static lines can soften over time as well.
Botox first received FDA approval for therapeutic use in 1989, and FDA approval for aesthetic treatment in 2002 (Allergan Aesthetic, 2020). Botox has been used for aesthetic treatments in other areas than frown lines, forehead, and crows feet. Other areas can include “bunny lines,” jawlines slimming, gummy smiles, lipstick/smokers lines, “tech neck,” and the ever popular “lip flip.” It can also be used for underarms for hyperhidrosis! In addition to aesthetic treatments, Botox is used for many other therapeutic reasons such as migraines, sweating, TMJ (jaw tightness, grinding), overactive bladder, neck spasms, and esophageal strictures.
What will the treatment be like?
Wrinkle relaxer treatments are a quick, relatively painless procedure with minimal downtime. We use small, insulin syringe size needles. As with any procedure involving a needle, bruising and a small amount of bleeding can be normal, and typically resolve within a few days. Injections can cause small amounts of swelling, a small temporary bump, bruising, redness, a headache, and sometimes sensations such as tingling or mild itching. Results are typically seen within 2-14 days, and typically last 3-4 months.
You will look like you, just with less wrinkles.
Check out some wrinkle relaxer results here.
Some testimonials from our Bespoke Beauties can be found here.
Allergan Aesthetics. (2020). BOTOX Cosmetic history. BOTOX Cosmetic onabotulinumtoxin A injection. Retrieved December 9, 2020, from https://www.botoxcosmetic.com/what-is-botox-cosmetic/botox-cosmetic-history
