When you think of self-care, the last thing on your mind is injecting toxins into your body. However, allow me to explain why one particular toxin might actually help. Enter: Botox.
What Is Botox®?
The name Botox® has been a catch-all word for all neurotoxins (similar to how people will ask for Kleenex® instead of a tissue) that have Botulinum neurotoxin. There are other brands of the Botulinum neurotoxin (Skincredible uses Botox® and Dysport®) and they include:
- Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA)
- Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA)
- Jeuveau® (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs)
- Daxxify® (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm)
The difference between them lies in their formula, proteins, molecular weight, and reconstitution protocols.
Some patients say that one feels “heavier” or “lighter” than another brand. Others have said they feel more or less of the “frozen” feel. Since most toxins are manufactured as a powder and are reconstituted (diluted) with bacteriostatic saline to get the toxin into its liquid form, it’s possible to even feel a difference from provider to provider.
Why do botulinum neurotoxin (i.e. Botox®) injections?
So we are back to the “why put toxins in my body question?” The answer is because it has been proven to safely reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, correct facial symmetry, and improve self-confidence through mental health. It has also been proven to help with many other non-aesthetic conditions including :
- Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Chronic migraines
- Overactive bladder
- Neck spasms
- Eyes spasms
What Is A Treatment Like?
The treatment takes only between 15 and 30 minutes and depends on how many sites you will get getting injected at. The number of sites is determined by a few factors including the patient’s area(s) of concern, previous toxin treatments, and size of facial features.
Whether or not getting Botox injections are painless, however, is subjective. The toxin itself doesn’t cause the patient any pain, it boils down to how well you handle needles. Some experience a slight pinch at the injection site while others don’t feel anything. To reduce discomfort, doctors can numb an area using different methods such as topical anesthesia, ice, or vibration anesthesia. If nothing else, to ease the patient’s mind and make them mentally more comfortable during the procedure.
After Care is pretty easy. It is advised to refrain from rubbing or massaging the treated areas for at least 24 hours to prevent the toxin from going to another region of the body. You can resume your regular activities immediately.
When Will I See Results?
For aesthetic purposes, most toxin injections began working within 1 to 3 days though full effectiveness is not usually seen until two weeks after treatment. On average, the results may last for three months or longer depending on a number of factors including (but not limited to):
- Your metabolism
- How active you are
- The quality of the product you were injected with
- Where you were treated (some areas of the body last longer than others
Are you ready?
Our trained clinicians are available to assist you in achieving your skincare goals and recommend the best products for you!
Contact us today to schedule your consultation to find out if one of our recommended products is right for you!
As the leaves begin to change and the fall social scene beckons, this is the perfect time to kiss that tired, summer skin goodbye!