Top 10 Botox Myths Set Straight

female face with wrinkles on her forehead

Newbeauty.com is a great resource for information on the latest advancements in facial plastic surgery and beauty products in general. They recently tackled the top 10 botox myths in their 2015 Winter/Spring edition that addresses many of the questions Dr. Thompson is often asked regarding Botox treatments.

1) Botox can be used anywhere on the face.

While it is true there are injectables for just about every line and wrinkle on the face, Botox is not always the answer.

Botox is FDA approved to treat crow’s feet and the lines between the eyebrows. Those two areas are certainly the most common areas addressed with Botox but Dr. Thompson, as well as many other doctors, also use it in the forehead, to lift the brows, for neck bands, and sometimes only a few units above the lip.

2. Botox works immediately.

Unfortunately, no. Because Botox acts on the nerves that control muscle movement, it can take anywhere from three to seven days to kick in. Most patients start seeing results between 2-4 days and notice full effect around 1 – 2 weeks.

3. You can never develop an allergy to Botox.

While super rare with Botox, anyone can be allergic to just about anything, including Botox. Cases are rare but have been reported. The difficult part is determining if the allergy is from the actual Botox or the dilutent used to dilute the Botox.

4. If you workout a lot you’ll need more Botox than the average person.

The amount of Botox needed is not dependent on how often you work out, but rather the degree of your lines and wrinkles.

5. Botox comes from the manufacturer in liquid form.

Botox comes to the office as a freeze dried powder and mixed with sterile saline before it is injected. Be wary of places offering discounts that seem too good to be true as many dilute Botox more than the recommended amount.

6. You can never become immune to Botox.

Again, this one is super rare but it is possible to develop resistance to Botox due to the formation of antibodies to it following repeat injections. “Techniques to minimize antibodies would include using the minimum dose required to achieve the desired effect at the longest interval between treatments.”

7. Botox is the same exact thing as botulinum found in food.

Botox is an isolated toxin and not the same as the bacteria that cause botulism.

8. If you have a facelift, blepharoplasty, or browlift, you’ll never need to get Botox.

These surgeries address loose muscle, skin and tissue, as well as displaced fat. Botox is different in that it works on the nerves to keep muscles from forming wrinkles. Any one of the procedures can be done with or without Botox, depending on the needs of the patient. Most doctors recommend continuing Botox treatments following surgery to optimize results.

9. Botox won’t do anything for super deep lines on the forehead.

Though not FDA-approved for the forehead, Botox works wonders for forehead wrinkles. It may take multiple treatments over time, but lines will soften and smooth in the forehead with Botox use.

10. It’s safe for any doctor to inject Botox.

As with any cosmetic procedure, only trust your face to a board certified facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon, or dermatologist with extensive experience using all injectables. While any doctor can take courses on Botox injections, the likelihood of a positive outcome increases when performed by a physician who fully understands the anatomy of the face and treats patients often.

For more information on Botox at Thompson Facial Plastics, call (801)776-2220.

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