RECAP: Last week, I talked a little about what youth and age can represent in academia, and how the standard that we are held up to is extremely gendered. For those who have not really considered Botox or looked into it, this post could be helpful to demystify what it the neuromodulator (fancy word for muscle relaxer) does. Understanding why people might choose Botox as a self-preservation practice can also make us less judgmental. I’ve collected some FAQs around Botox and in addition to a bit of my own research, also solicited the expertise of my childhood friend, Van Cam, who is a Plastic Surgery Physicians’ Assistant in the Bay Area. You can follow her on Instagram @theaestheticpa for more before & after pictures and lots of questions answered.
1. What are people most anxious about in regards to receiving neuromodulators?
Apart from the fact that Botox is technically a toxin, people can be concerned with pain and longer term effects. Rest assured that the injections are not any more painful than a pinch, and some offices might even use a vibrator to help distract the brain from expecting pain in a specific place. From Van’s experience though, she observes that “people are most concerned about looking ‘done’ or unnatural. I spend a lot of time consulting with the patient about their expectations and desired result. Some want a very light relaxation whereas others may prefer to be ‘frozen.’”
Many offices, like Van’s, will offer a 2 week touch up afterwards especially if it’s your first visit, if you want more relaxation. “There is no reversal agent for Botox but you can always add more units if the result seems too light.”
2. There are multiple muscle relaxers out there (Botox, Dysport, etc.). How do you go about deciding which is the better option for you? For someone completely new to relaxers, how would you recommend starting?
Just like how Band-Aid is now the popularized term for those bandages we use for cuts, Botox is also popularized for muscle relaxers even though there are now many different options. In terms of Botox and Dysport, two very common treatments, Van notes that “Both have the same mechanism of action and a similar longevity. The main difference I’ve noticed is that Dysport will start showing results sooner than Botox (2-3 days vs 5-6 days) with the full result at 2 weeks for both products. To be honest, most patients can’t tell a difference. I describe it like a preference to Coke vs Pepsi. Best way to know if you have a preference is to try both and see how you respond.”
Neuromodulators are also administered in units (treatments can range anywhere from 2-30 units depending on the area, and impression of the wrinkles. There can thus also be a difference in terms of price per unit, depending on how diluted the treatment is.
3. Who gets Botox? Is it ever too early or too late to start?
Technically it’s never too late for an injection, but there does seem to be a prime age when treatments can be most effective because they are preventative. Many will get their first treatments in their twenties to slow down the impressions becoming permanent. In Van’s Bay Area office, much like elsewhere, her patients range from 18-70 years old. “The younger patients typically come in for lip filler or facial augmentation. Most patients over 30 years old will consider both a neuromodulator plus filler to restore age-related volume loss. Typically, mature patients would benefit most from surgical correction (facelift, neck lift, eye lift, etc) but some don’t want to have surgery so they may choose nonsurgical route with fillers, Botox, and lasers.” It seems like Botox is also more common than you think!
4. What are some other treatments/procedures that are common?
“Botox and fillers are the most popular treatments at our office. We also do a lot of lip fillers and Nonsurgical rhinoplasty (filler to contour the nose shape).”
5. Are there any alternatives to relaxers that you might recommend (for someone still skeptical or reluctant)?
“Botox/Dysport is really the only thing we have to PREVENT wrinkles just because they reduce the intensity and frequency of muscle contraction that, over years, can result in permanently etched-in lines/wrinkles. Once lines become static (present at rest without animation), they can be very difficult to get rid of, even with Botox treatments, depending on the depth of the wrinkle. That’s why we find people are starting to invest in preventative Botox at an earlier age. Whether one chooses to get Botox or not, I would recommend sunscreen and retinol. Both are proven to have anti-aging properties, reducing photo damage and increasing skin cell turnover.”
For those interested, here is also a twin study that compares the difference of the presence of later wrinkles with and without regular use of Botox: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1001/archfaci.8.6.426
Botox doesn’t have to be for you and that is okay. If you’re still interested in anti-aging care, there are many products that could still deliver preventative results in addition to sunscreen and retinol. (These should definitely already be in your skincare routine!) Peptide serums like SkinMedica Ha5 Hydrator (a line by the creator of Botox Cosmetic, Allergan), hydrate and deliver peptides to stimulate the production of all the good anti-aging stuff, like collagen. A more budget friendly option is The Ordinary’s Buffet, which has been touted to be “Botox in a bottle.” Devices like the NuFace Microcurrent toning device is another popular option on the market. Just like how exercise can tone muscles of the body, this device delivers little currents that help tone those of your face to keep them plump and firm.
If you’d still like to know more, here are some helpful resources on Botox:
“How Botox affects your body”Allure : https://www.allure.com/story/how-botox-affects-your-body
“9 Things you need to know before getting Botox for the first time” Aedit https://aedit.com/aedition/everything-you-need-to-know-before-getting-botox-for-the-first-time
“Comparing neurotoxins” Aedit
We hope this two-part post has been interesting and helpful, especially in the lines of self-preservation. If you’ve tried Botox, let us know how it’s worked for you! #botoxornotox
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