How to Ensure Best Results with B*tox
Firstly, what is B*tox?
B*tox, and the various other brands of botulinum toxin are complex molecules that are derived from nature but synthesized in a laboratory. They work by blocking nerve receptors in muscles, sweat and oil glands. When skilfully administered to the target muscles, B*tox can be used to decrease wrinkles, reduce sweating and decrease oiliness in the skin.
What are the uses for B*tox?
Classically, B*tox is injected to erase lines on the forehead, between the eyes (the glabellar frown lines) and the crow’s feet. Less lines means less shadows across the face which looks neater and fresher. Or younger.
A novel use for B*tox would be to reduce the size of the jaw muscles. B*tox is injected into the biting muscles at the back of the jaw to cause the muscle to weaken and shrink. This then gives a slimmer and more triangularly shaped face.
B*tox can also be used to define a jawline and also to lift the skin of the neck.
And then there is Intradermal B*tox (previous also called Microb*tox or Mesob*tox). Multiple tiny injections of b*tox are placed within the skin to decrease the “opened-pores”. And btw, the intradermal b*tox also reduces sweating and oil secretions, which gives another level of refinement to the skin. Conditions like mild acne and rosacea responds well to this treatment.
B*tox is also quite often used in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Injected into the skin of the armpit or the palms, it will reduce sweating for 6 months of more.
Ok, how to get the best results?
The best results depend mostly on the aesthetic doctor’s skill and experience. Hence prices also differ greatly among doctors. This is a situation where you really get what you are willing to pay for.
For those who have only bad experiences with B*tox, you have only yourselves to blame. Because among all the available aesthetic treatments in the world, B*tox gives the most predictable results in trained and experienced hands. If the intention is to erase a line, and if it is technically feasible, it will be successful in more than 90% of the time. No laser treatment comes close to this kind of results.
So why is it that sometimes there are no results? The results and duration of action (longevity) are dose-dependant. If an area needs 20 units of the product, but you are only willing to fork out money for 10 units (“just to try”, many patients will often say), then of course the results will be sub-optimal and it will not last.
Also, it is not wise to dictate that your doctor treats one set of muscles only. Adjacent muscles compensate and may give rise to unfavourable results – like the “Spock sign”. Always treat anatomical zones in totality.
The take home message, if you want the best results from your B*tox treatment, is to go to a trusted doctor and listen to her/him. Otherwise ask Dr Google to inject for you.
Should you go to unlicensed beauticians? As you would expect, skill and experience differ already among trained aesthetic doctors. What more with people who have not had medical training on hygiene and facial anatomy. We cannot stress more about this point.
Dr Phoon Yi Shan