“I will never get Botox because I want to be able to smile.”
“Well, I am not going to get Botox because I don’t need it yet. You shouldn’t get it until you are at least 50.”
“Oh really? Well, I heard it can kill you. It isn’t worth dying to me.”
We have heard it all and it is time to bust the Botox myths. In Fact, Botox is a safe and effective treatment, approved by the FDA, used to combat the signs of aging. In 2015, there were 6.7 million Botox procedures performed making it by far the number one minimally invasive cosmetic procedure in the United States. If that number alone doesn’t convince you here are 5 Botox Myths…busted!
Botox will freeze your face leaving you with complete inability to make any sort of facial expression.
MYTH, but there may be some truth here. Botox is used to relax the muscles that are attached to the skin. As the muscle contracts or moves, so does the skin. When we inject Botox into the muscles that move (cause the skin to contract) we are able to prevent creasing of the skin that creates fine lines and wrinkles. An experienced injector can relax the muscle enough to decrease skin lines, but to maintain some muscle movement to retain expression. At Spa Medical we have mastered the art of Botox, helping you achieve the most natural look possible.
Botox is permanent.
MYTH. Botox is metabolized by your body which means in order to experience continued, lasting results it will have be administered more than once. In fact, the protocol for Botox is every 90 days. Some people metabolize it quicker than others and may need to be seen before the 90 day mark. However, most people notice waning results between 90-120 days post treatment. This is actually a great thing! Why? If you decide you don’t like it, then you don’t have to live with it.
Botox is just for older women.
MYTH. Botox is becoming an extremely popular treatment with women in their late 20s and early 30s. Why? Because Botox is preventative medicine.
First, let’s talk about what happens with our skin as we age. When we’re young, under the age of 30, the skin bounces back into place after the muscle moves it. It is almost as if our muscles never contract thus leaving no fine lines or creases. As we age, the skin loses elasticity and becomes thinner. When that occurs, the skin doesn’t so easily return to its smooth, relaxed state as the muscle relaxes. Therefore, a line or crease may form in the skin. After years of muscle movement, the line or crease stays in the skin.
With Botox we can actually prevent those lines, leaving the skin smooth and refreshed into our 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s! Women now, more than ever, are being proactive about their skincare instead of reactive. And we agree with them! The sooner you start your Botox treatments the younger you will look later!
Retinol, and other anti-wrinkle creams, do the same thing.
MYTH. As discussed earlier, Botox works to relax the muscles. Vitamin A, the active ingredient in retinol products, works on the skin, not the muscle. The goal of anti-wrinkle creams is to fight collagenase (enzymes that break peptides in collagen) and increase collagen production and cell turnover rate while improving the overall integrity of your skin. Botox and anti-wrinkle creams work two different ways, but when they are used together, have proven to be a powerful force against aging skin.
Botox for wrinkles can kill you.
MYTH. The amount of Botox you receive during your treatment to fight the aging process will not kill you. In fact, a human would need 3500 units of Botox to reach a harmful level. An average Botox treatment is 20-30 units. So, you really don’t have anything to worry about. It would be taken off of the market immediately if FDA determined it was dangerous over its 30 year life span.
