Botox

What Is Botox (Botulinum Toxin)?

Botulinum toxin, more commonly known as botox, is used to treat conditions associated with muscle activity. It is most well-known for its ability to smoothen fine lines, prevent wrinkle formation, and slim the jawline. But that’s not all – botox is also able to effectively regulate sweat and sebum production.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox works by temporarily blocking nerve signals in the muscles where it is injected. It prevents the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. Without acetylcholine, the muscle is unable to contract as it normally would – this temporary paralysis of the muscle reduces the appearance of wrinkles associated with facial expressions.

What Can Botox Treat?

Botox are commonly used to treat the following wrinkles:
* Forehead lines
* Crow’s feet
* Glabella frown lines
* Bunny lines (nose wrinkles)

Besides the above skin concerns, Botox can also be used for issues such as:

* Enlarged/square jaw due to masseter hypertrophy
* Bruxism (teeth grinding)
* Gummy smile
* Downturned lip corners
* Nefertiti facelift
* Regulate sebum production
* Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) at the armpits and palms
* Migraines

FYI: Botox can be used in microdoses (a.k.a. baby botox) for overall skin rejuvenation and to treat conditions like rosacea and acne.

How Are Botox Treatments Performed?

An appropriate dose of botox is injected into the targeted treatment area – if a muscle is being treated, it will weaken the target muscle’s activity, which prevents unwanted skin contraction. This softens the appearance of wrinkles, prevents worsening, and in some cases may even erase the wrinkles.

For bulky muscles such as jaw masseters, a larger amount of botox will be injected. This results not only in muscle relaxation, but also shrinkage of the muscle, giving you a slimmer and more feminine looking jawline.
For treatment of excessive sweating and sebum regulation, micro doses of botox are injected at multiple points within the entire treatment area. This has an effect of decreasing sweat and oil production at the treated areas.

A Botox treatment may take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, depending on the area(s) done.

Is Botox Treatment Painful?

Generally, botox injections are very well tolerated – the injections are delivered via a very tiny needle, with its diameter almost as small as a strand of hair. We can also apply numbing cream which will make injections a lot more comfortable.
Botox injections are not as painful as we imagine it to be. In fact, it could be even less painful than extractions during facials.
If you have any concerns, please let our staff know and we will do our best to ensure your procedure is as comfortable as possible.

Will Botox Cause My Face To Look Fake?

Looking ‘frozen’ or unnatural is a common fear patients have about botox – these concerns are legitimate but for the most part untrue. Most of these plastic and fake cases we see are due to plastic surgery done badly, fillers injected poorly or botox injected excessively. Botox, when done well, is very natural as it preserves your facial expressions while slowing down ageing. A properly done treatment gives subtle yet noticeable results, and the average person should not be able to tell that you have done Botox; they would just think you look better than your actual age.

How Much Does Botox Cost?

The cost of botox depends on the number of units required to treat a given area and is different for each patient.
A proper doctor’s consultation and assessment will help determine how many units you need and if you are a suitable candidate for botox at all.

What Can Botox Do?

When treated early, Botox helps to prevent wrinkles from becoming heavy creases on the skin. In individuals with prolonged signs of wrinkles, the lines can be deeper, and hence more difficult to treat. The use of fillers may be considered in conjunction. Botox can also reduce muscle bulk to give a sharper face, and even reduce the activity of sweat glands to reduce sweaty palms or armpits. Botox can also help in skin lifting. As with any procedure or treatment, results can vary for each patient.