BOTOX 101

Everyday facial expressions such as smiling, frowning, squinting, and laughing are a natural part of life. Unfortunately, as we age these expressions can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and crows feet. Botox is the most effective, non-invasive injectable treatment to temporarily diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Regardless of your age, Botox injections provide an excellent option for anti-aging treatments, diminishing existing lines and preventing new lines from forming. So you can keep smiling and laughing while looking your best! So what are the most common areas and types of lines we treat with Botox? To name a few…

• Crows feet: The lines around the outer corner of your eyes
• Frown lines: Lines around your outer lips
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Under eye lines (*Microtox…we’ll circle back to this shortly!)
• Neck lines
• Marionette Lines: Turn the corners of your mouth up to improve prejowl
• Bunny lines: Horizontal lines around the nose
• Lip lines: Smooth fine lines on the lower and upper lip
• Pebble Chin: Smooth the dimples in your chin

We recommend regular Botox treatments every three to four months to maintain your progress and prevent new lines from forming. Do Botox injections hurt? Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, but we use a very tiny needle for Botox injections, and in the hands of a skilled injector, most clients report being practically painless! Some tell us you feel a minor sting, but overall a very comfortable experience. I think the most common question we get about Botox is “How many units will I need…” Great question… with a more complicated answer. It’s very difficult to say with any kind of certainty how many units a client needs in a specific area without seeing them in person. As an aesthetic injector, there is no substitute for an in-person, full-face assessment. I need to see those muscles in action, see how strong they are, how much movement you have, which muscles will be impacted by treating certain areas, how deep your current lines are, etc. Overall, the answer is that it depends! We do have a helpful guide available on our website auroramedicalspacape.com that provides the national average dose broken down by area. While it can offer a guide, there are definitely clients who need more or less units than the average. 

Botox Cosmetic is the #1 non-invasive cosmetic treatment in the world. Just as brands like Band-Aid, Kleenex, and White-Out have become synonymous with adhesive bandages, tissues, and correction liquid, “Botox” has become the colloquial term for botulinum toxin type A injections. Since we are all about education here at Aurora, we felt it was important for clients to understand that there are actually 4 cosmetic neurotoxins on the market today—Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, & Jeuveau – and because it has become so commonplace to say “Botox” in reference to any neurotoxin, we encourage you to always ASK TO SEE exactly which product is being used for your injections. As an educated consumer, it’s important to be aware of the differences between these products, including differences in market share, manufacturing, potency, and cost per unit. While the active ingredient in each product is botulinum toxin type A, these products are not interchangeable due to differences in manufacturing, biologic properties, potency, and handling. As with all aesthetic treatments, it is essential to find a provider who is well versed in the market. 

Botox Cosmetic is not just a stellar way to combat those pesky lines and wrinkles, but is also a highly effective treatment option for a number of common issues. For example, Botox can be used to treat migraines, TMJ, clenching and grinding, Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), crepey skin, bladder control, low-set eyebrows, downturned corners of the mouth, aging neck, and more! We are constantly learning and expanding our knowledge of Botox Cosmetic and it’s growing potential. 

“Microtox” is a newer term used to describe an advanced injection technique. This is a technique that should only be used by a highly trained, advanced injector in order to achieve optimal results. Microtox refers to micro droplets of Botox sprinkled into specific areas. Loose or crepey skin under the eyes, neck skin, cheeks, and the chest are the most common areas we use the Microtox injection technique. One of my favorite parts of working in the aesthetic industry is the constant advancement of techniques and innovations. I place education at the forefront of my career, and am grateful to be able to offer advanced options like Microtox to my clients. Botox used to be a topic no one talked about…taboo…hush hush. Fast forward to today– now when you mention Botox, nobody raises an eyebrow. Ha! Botox humor at it’s finest folks. Give us a call today if you’re ready to talk more about what Botox can do for you!