5 of the Most Common Myths About Botox

In 2014, there were more than 6.7 million Botox procedures performed in the US, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, making Botox by far the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the country. Although it’s popular, and although it’s been around for more than a decade by now, a lot of myths are still out there about Botox. If you’ve ever considered the injectable, but hesitated because of what you read somewhere or because of a rumor you heard, learning what’s fact and what’s just a myth when it comes to Botox can help you  make an informed decision.

Botox is “Dangerous”

The active ingredient in Botox, botulinum toxin, comes from a bacteria that is responsible for a potentially fatal disease, botulism. Although the two are connected, there’s an ocean of difference between Botox and botulism. For one thing, Botox is a very dilute form of botulinum toxin. It’s concentrated enough to effectively treat wrinkles, but shouldn’t be strong enough to cause serious harm.

There is one big exception to the myth that Botox is dangerous. It’s completely safe when administered by a trained professional, who has experience and knows the proper location for injecting the substance. In the hands of an untrained person, it’s a bit less safe. Someone who isn’t a plastic surgeon or who isn’t working under the supervision of a surgeon might not know how much to inject, how to mix or dilute the substance, or the right location for the injection, making the treatment considerably risky.

It Works on All Wrinkles

Unfortunately, Botox is not a panacea for wrinkles. It’s only FDA approved for treating two areas: the frown lines between your eyebrows and the crow’s feet at the corners of your eyes. Botox is meant to work on dynamic wrinkles, which are created by repeated muscle movements. It doesn’t do anything for lines that form as a result of a loss of volume or a breakdown of collagen over time. If you have those types of a wrinkles, other injectables, such as Juvederm, would be a better bet.

It Replaces Surgery

Just as Botox isn’t meant to treat all types of wrinkles, it’s also not meant to completely replace or reduce the need for surgery. You can think of Botox as a step on the path to anti-aging. It works on specific lines, usually the lines that appear first. It can help you look younger for longer. But, if your skin does become looser or start to sag in the lower part of the face or neck, Botox won’t do much to help you in that area. If you have minimal sagging, a non-surgical treatment such as Ulthera can help tone and tighten the face. More advanced skin looseness can only be corrected with surgery such as a facelift, though.

If You Don’t Like Results, You’re Stuck

The results you get from Botox are far from permanent. In fact, results from Botox tend to have the shortest shelf life compared to other treatments. For the most part, you can expect results to last for three months. At the end of that time, you have a few options. You can decide that you aren’t a fan of Botox and not get another treatment. You can decide that you liked the results and repeat the treatment. You can decide that you liked the results, repeat the treatment, and get Botox in an additional area, such as your crow’s feet.

One thing that is worth noting is that you can’t reverse the results of a Botox injection. If you are very unhappy with how you look with Botox, the best thing you can do is wait for three months, until the results have faded, then decide never to have it again.

It Only Has Cosmetic Benefits

Botox has certainly shown itself to be a bit of a wonder treatment. Sure, it helps minimize wrinkles and can make you look younger. But, it can do much more than just that. In recent years, the FDA has approved Botox as a treatment for excessive sweating, for an overactive bladder, and for migraines. It’s also been used as a treatment for crossed eyes and for uncontrollable neck movements long before it was used as a cosmetic treatment.

At Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Vitenas offers Botox injections to help patients fight the signs of aging. To learn more about Botox and to see if it’s the right option for you, call (281) 810-9083 to schedule a consultation today. When you call, be sure to ask about the other treatments that can be used alongside of Botox!