The Truth About Cosmetic Botox
Botox users know that the muscle relaxing effects of the injections don’t last indefinitely. We understand that in order to continue enjoying the smoother, more youthful, wrinkle-free appearance that Botox can deliver, we have to periodically repeat the treatments. But could repeated Botox treatments eventually cause our muscles to lose their elasticity and become unresponsive? That’s something we don’t want our patients to have to worry about. So let’s examine the facts:
The dose used to achieve the cosmetic effects of Botox is very small
After decades of Botox use for cosmetic outcomes, there have been no proven cases of resistance. Some patients who use higher doses for treatment of various medical conditions have developed antibodies to Botox – that’s not the case for people seeking to treat their wrinkles.
Loss of muscle response looks different on different people
The point of injecting Botox into the forehead is to relax the muscles that cause horizontal creases. But since forehead muscles also serve to lift the brows, that action can be reduced or eliminated. If a patient has a low brow to begin with, forehead injections may relax the brow to the point where it may appear even lower. Patients who have a naturally low hanging brow may want to avoid using Botox in that area.
Aging can also cause a lowering of the brow, on its own. Long-term injections can cause weakening and atrophy of those muscles, but when you quit using Botox, the muscle should come back to normal strength.
Using Botox repeatedly won’t make your muscles sag permanently
When you get Botox injections, it temporarily relaxes the facial muscles, which means you can make less facial expressions—temporarily.
Droopy eyelids can be a rare side effect
A droopy eyelid effect can occur as a side effect of Botox injections. It is a fairly rare occurrence, especially when your injector is properly trained and experienced. It can occur when Botox is injected into the forehead, close to the brow, but then drifts down into the upper lid.
For questions about Botox or for a treatment appointment, call today: 610.527.4833.
Comments are closed.
