Bo-Talks: Why Botox isn’t just for wrinkles

 

Botox is the most popular cosmetic treatment in the U.S., but most people do not know that there are other uses for Botox and related neurotoxins. Neurotoxins are typically used to help treat frown lines, crow’s feet, and horizontal lines on the forehead. The neurotoxin brand names include Dysport, Xeomin, newly FDA-approved Jeuveau, and the most famous of all, Botox.

Neurotoxins work by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle is unable to contract, causing the wrinkles to relax and

soften. Neurotoxins are most often used on forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eye), and frown lines (the lines between the brows, AKA the glabella). Although the most common use is for softening the appearance of wrinkles, there are other uses for neurotoxins that are gaining more popularity.

 

 

 

Normally, your nervous system activates your sweat glands when your body temperature rises however, some individuals suffer from a disorder caused by overactive sweat glands called hyperhidrosis. To treat axillary hyperhidrosis, Botox works by blocking the nerves responsible for activating your sweat glands shutting them down, and significantly reducing perspiration in the treated area. During the procedure, the provider will use a small needle to inject approximately 50 units of Botox into each armpit. 

The effects of this treatment usually last about 6 months to a year.

 

 

Facial slimming can be done using Botox injection into the masseter muscle, a chewing muscle located at the angle of the jaw. Botox injection reduces the size of the masseter muscle, achieving facial slimming, changing an exceedingly square face to some more attractive oval or heart-shaped face. 

 

Botox is injected around pain fibers that are involved in headaches. Botox enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This prevents the activation of pain networks in the brain, thus reducing the occurrence of migraines.

It is often said that a women’s age is shown through her neck, hands, and chest. Over time, thick vertical platysmal bands often become visible, running in a V-shape from the top portion of the neck to the base. These are often the culprits for that “turkey neck” look. Properly administered Botox injections can relax this area and soften prominent neckbands.

A gummy smile is one that shows an excess of gum tissue (3 mm or more) when smiling. Botox is injected above the smile to temporarily denervate the muscles that cause the upper lip to excessively lift. 

Effective Botox treatment for a gummy smile requires an injection at the intersection of these three muscles, a triangular area called the Yonsei Point. 

A typical Botox treatment for a gummy smile includes injections at the Yonsei Point on either side of the nose (about 5 units total) and lasts for around 3 months.

At Couture Med Spa we offer Botox and Dysport for cosmetic treatments and the other treatments previously listed.