top of page
Search
daniellestarkpac

“The Ultimate Guide to Botox & other neurotoxins"

Botox has been around for a long time, but before it was being used to soften frown lines, the popular neurotoxin was used and FDA approved for a therapeutic purpose: improving eye muscle disorders. In 1989 Botox was first approved for treatment of blepharospasm and strabismus. The way it improved these concerns was by reducing muscle activity therefore improving symptoms. By 2002, Botox Cosmetic was approved for use in the frown lines and we started to say HELLOO to “goodbye frown lines”. The term “Elevens” was quickly made popular referring to the two parallel vertical lines that form between the brows. Today, there are several on and off label uses for neurotoxins as well as several companies to jumped in to the industry. Some of the other popular brands include Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau and Daxxify. Each made its appearance after Botox and differs ever so slightly in both subjective and objective qualities. When it comes to picking a product to use, I feel its best to let the provider decide based off their assessment and your goals. Too often, a patient comes to see me for a tox treatment and when I ask “what look do you like” or “what other areas have you discussed or treated” they say no one has ever asked them this before! We get in to a long discussion on what makes each product unique, how most patients report that it feels, and what will be best for the area. Ladies, its like finding the right bra for your body…what works for your friend may not suit you best. So to truly find your best toxin we talk about desired amount of movement, history of headache, desired longevity or ideal treatment frequency. Now, when a patient says that Botox (or other toxins) does not work for them, we talk about the dose and placement. Too many or too few units means too much or too little movement, whereas placement indicates shape of the brows, heaviness of the brows, arching, or a change in the smile…ALL of which can be modified or avoided. The last thing I brush on, are the less-commonly known uses of toxins. Things like nasal slimming, reducing allergy symptoms, reducing gummy smile, improving chin dimpling, lifting/tightening the jawline, improving bands on the neck, reducing sweating and more. For all treatments, I recommend working with an experienced provider who is comfortable explaining the treatments as well as performing them. Many of these less common areas of concern are more complex or require different preparation from the standard toxin. Because there is no way to undo a toxin treatment and you must instead, wait for it to wear off in its own, it's important to trust in the providers experience. Botox and all of the other toxins are amazing for enhancing features and improving or slowing signs of aging. For more information or to book a treatment, use the Book or Contact Us page.



12 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page