Rufus R. Noble When someone tells you they “get Botox,” it could be referring to exactly what you would think. In fact, there are four similar injectables available in the market today: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau, and all make use of botulinum neurotoxin to reduce wrinkles and diminish the signs of aging in the same way, but there are a lot of misconceptions regarding the way that it happens.
“Many people believe that they’re fillers, but in reality they’re paralyzing agents. These injectables stop the transfer of electrical impulses from those nerve endings and muscles, which means that muscles are unable to be contracted in a normal manner,” says Phillip R. Langsdon, MD who is a facial plastic surgeon from Germantown, Tennessee, and the former president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). When you’re unable to move your muscles, the expressions that you create with your face won’t result in wrinkles and fine lines which etch into your face over time and remain in your facial features. (Though when it’s done properly by a professional trained to do it and you’re not “frozen” or expressionless.)
The wrinkle-reducing effects typically don’t happen in a single day. Although muscle activity typically stops within five to fifteen days after injecting, it could be up to 4 weeks before the changes become noticeable in accordance with the meta-analysis that was published in the month of July 2021 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews that looked at 65 randomized controlled studies on neurotoxins that were used to treat wrinkles in the face. Researchers also note that Botox can be risky. The most commonly reported adverse effect is Ptosis (an eyelid that is loose).
Alongside Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau, a neurotoxin known as daxibotulinumtoxinA (Daxi) is expected to soon be accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in treatments for glabellar or frown lines, as per Revance Therapeutics (the company that invented Daxi). Daxi could be available in doctors’ offices by fall 2022. This would mean that there are five different neurotoxin options available for patients.
Within the Botox umbrella, there’s been an increase in interest in certain types of treatments that make use of these injectables,
Let’s see what they all mean what they mean, how to pick the best treatment for you, and the must-know information you need to know prior to going.
Baby Botox: Best for People Looking to Prevent Signs of Aging
Depending on who you speak to, you’ll hear various opinions on the time when an individual would benefit from beginning Botox.
“For younger patients, Botox may help prevent or slow down the progression of lines, particularly around the eyes, eyebrows, and forehead,” according to facial plastic surgeon and plastic surgical surgeon Patrick J. Byrne, MD, the director of the Head & Neck Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. (“Younger” is a relative term; Byrne is a doctor. Byrne says he sees certain patients who are in their late 20s.)
Top Stories00:30 All About Chemical Peels: A Complete Beginner’s Guide” ‘Baby Botox’ is a term that often refers to the desire for subtle, rather than more dramatic, changes,” According to Byrne. In this scenario, the doctor injects small amounts of Botox. “Baby Botox is really a reflection of an ongoing trend towards broadening the market to offer smaller, more subtle changes to a larger pool of interested patients,” Dr. Xavier states.
One area where this could be most effective is the eyebrow. “In the younger age group, Botox could be used to alter the muscle balance. The brows can be lifted form, shape and give them a contour,” says Byrne.
BlowTox: Best for People Looking to Stop Scalp Sweating
Do you have a sweaty scalp? Botox might be able to assist. It is often referred to as “BlowTox,” this is Botox injectable in the hair to stop sweating.
For some, this excessive sweating can be a sign of an illness known as hyperhidrosis, as per the International Hyperhidrosis Society. (Your physician or doctor can assist you in determining if this is the situation.) For some, it’s just a matter of keeping your scalp sweaty at bay in order to maintain your hairstyle.
When your scalp sweats for example, in summer heat or following an intense workout, hair tends to fall dry and lifeless. For women who experience regular blowouts, an appointment at a salon that has the hair professionally blown-dried BloxTox could be appealing. “There’s been a growing trend to superficially inject Botox into the scalp to help your blowout last longer,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD director of clinical and cosmetic studies in dermatology research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
It’s not a stretch: “Botox has been reported to lower sweating levels and oil production. It’s actually approved by the FDA for treatment of excessive sweating in the underarms (hyperhidrosis),” says Dr. Zeichner. Botox injections block the chemical messenger which stimulates sweat glands, according to the International Hyperhidrosis Society explains. If you decrease the amount of sweat and oil production on your scalp, hair will not get weighed down by sweat and grease, Zeichner adds.
The drawback? The cost of treatments is high, according to Zeichner, because a large amount of Botox is required to cover a huge area. The results can last from up to five months. You’ll require two to four treatments a year to keep your hair dry and smooth scalp.
BroTox: Best for Guys Who Want to Get in on the Anti-Wrinkle Treatment
Don’t be fooled into thinking that botulinum therapy is only for females. Actually, among the top commonly used surgical and nonsurgical procedures available for men is neurotoxin, according to a 2021 AAFPRS report. The plastic surgeons that were surveyed claimed their male patients utilized rejuvenation treatments to ensure they remained “relevant and competitive at work.”
A very sought-after place to focus on? the “11s.” “Many men have deep frown lines that run between the eyebrows. If the lines are deep, it can make people appear older or even irritated,” says Dr. Langsdon. He adds that many men are treated with Botox in the crow’s-feet and frown lines, and this could be the effect of lifting droopy brows which can make someone appear more alert or less serious.
