wrinkle reducing

How does Botox Work?

How do wrinkle reducing treatments work?

Wrinkles are mainly caused by muscle contraction. For example, when you are angry or confused, you draw your eyebrows together and downwards. This causes pleating of the skin which results in frown lines. Similarly, elevation of the eyebrows causes horizontal lines on the forehead and smiling/squinting causes crows feet around the eyes.

Toxins are injected into the target muscle directly below the wrinkled area and blocks the transmission of signals from the nerve ending to the muscle. This causes temporary paralysis of the treated muscle the causes the wrinkles, which results in the reduction or loss of wrinkles.

How long do results last?

Results will start to show after 3-10 days and will last 3-5 months. The result is not permanent because the nerve ending re-establishes it’s signalling by forming new nerve sprouts. This sprouting takes approximately 3-4 months, at which point the muscle regains it’s activity and the wrinkles begin to reappear. Clients who have treatments 2 or 3 times per year tend to find the results may last longer after the first 2 years of treatments. When combined with other skincare treatments, it is an essential component of anti-aging.

10 Bot Toxin Myths Busted!

There are A LOT of inaccuracies and untruths out there about B-Tox. Here are 10 myths that we are going to bust!

MYTH 1: B-Tox can be used anywhere on the face
There’s a filler and injectable to treat just about every line and wrinkle on the face, but Botulinum Toxin cannot be used for everything.  While it may seem like B-Tox can be used all over the face, there are only certain areas where it works; other injectables are an option for problems that B-tox cannot correct.

MYTH 2: It works immediately
Because B-tox acts on the nerves that control muscle movement, its can take anywhere from three to five days for it to set in before you notice results.

MYTH 3: You can never develop an allergy to Botox
Anyone can be allergic to anything, B-tox included. Although rare, there have been cases of allergies following Botox injections though it can be hard to distinguish between a true allergy to B-tox or an allergy to the dilutent used to dilute the B-tox.

MYTH 4: If you workout a lot you’ll need more B-tox than the average person
Whether you’re a workout fiend or you haven’t seen the inside of a gym in years, it’s not your workout choices that dictate how much B-tox you need, but rather the degree of your lines and wrinkles.

MYTH 5: B-tox alters your emotions
In actuality, if done correctly and in proper moderation, B-tox will look natural and emotions will still be expressed on your face. But angry appearances emotion that occurs when you furrow your brow will be diminished. But in the right amount, B-tox will not affect any other movement in the face like lifting your brows or smiling so you remain expressive.

MYTH 6: You can never become immune to B-tox
It is extremely rare but it is possible to develop resistance to B-tox due to the formation of antibodies to it following repeat injections.  Techniques to deal with these cases include using a different brand of toxin to inject, using the minimum dose required to achieve the desired effect at the longest interval between treatments.

MYTH 7: B-tox is the same exact thing as botulinum found in food
Some people believe that B-tox injected is the same as the bacteria that causes botulism.  Actually the B-tox manufacturers produce an isolated toxin that is not the entire bacteria.

MYTH 8: B-tox gives a fake looking result
The majority of my patients tell me no one knows they have had anything done. That's what I want.  In Aesthetics anything done correctly and in moderation can look natural. My goal is to under-treat so you look renewed and refreshed.  Celebrities that look over injected and fake or plastic have been over treated and good aesthetics practitioners should have conversations with their clients about keeping treatments looking natural.

MYTH 9: B-tox won’t do anything for super-heavy lines on the forehead
B-tox can work wonders on deeply etched lines in the forehead. It can sometimes take multiple rounds of treatment and time before the muscles become weak enough to really soften the lines.

MYTH 10: It’s safe to have anyone inject B-tox as long as they are some sort of doctor
Aesthetics practitioners should be MEDICAL professionals with advanced training and clinical experience in aesthetics. Each person will have differences in their anatomy and expectations of treatment and so the skill of an appropriately trained aesthetics practitioner is pivotal in planning injection sites, dosages and considering vector movement changes to deliver a beautiful aesthetic result.