Is Botox the Right Therapy for You?

When you hear the word Botox, what’s the first thing you think about? Youth Serum? Mystery? Vanity?

Botox has been gaining a lot of traction and buzz lately for its cosmetic and therapeutic effects, especially trending in society and on social media sites.

Botox to me as a clinician is a *magic* solution that simply smooths things out. It relaxes the muscles and reduces wrinkles all at the same time. Botox is not vanity, nor is it a mystery. It’s therapy. Scientifically, Botox is a purified protein derived from the Botulinum toxin A that inhibits the muscle fibers and reduces its activity and thus the activity of the skin attached to it.

Botox acts specifically on the neuromuscular junction in muscle fibers and inhibit its muscle activity for at least three months at a time. With repeated treatments, this reduces wrinkles, pain, muscle activity and size, and therapeutic effects begin to last longer. Getting “too much Botox” will not lead to poison nor will it get you sick.

So We Don’t Have to Look so “Wrinkly” as We Age?

There are two types of wrinkles: dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles are wrinkles caused by muscular movements on the skin over time. These wrinkles disappear and reappear with muscle movements. Static wrinkles, on the other hand, are wrinkles caused by gravity. They are always there, no matter what kind of muscle movements or skin treatments you do. These wrinkles don’t go away and Botox will not work on them. Other methods such as fillers and PDO threads should be considered for treatment to these areas. Botox works on dynamic wrinkles only. That being said, pain and wrinkling around the forehead, eyes, nose & lips can significantly be reduced with the use of Botox therapy.

• Botox therapy can also be used to treat migraine headaches. Many headaches are actually caused by muscles in and around the head and neck. So, treating these muscles provides profound relief for months, studies show.
• Botox therapy can be used to treat myofascial pain and trigger points and provide therapeutic relief in the head and neck region. It can also treat bruxism and TMJ issues such as clenching & grinding. Studies show that around 90% of TMJ issues are muscular related. When you treat the muscles with Botox therapy you provide profound TMJ relief.
• Botox therapy can be used to treat overactive sweating as well. A side effect to a smooth forehead is that you won’t sweat in that area on a hot day.
• Botox therapy can be used to correct and achieve esthetic appeal, for instance correct an over-active gummy smile. (smiles showing excessive amount of gum tissue due to hyper active upper lip). It can also be used to enhance body features such as the eyebrows—“Botox Eyebrow lift”—and lips—“Botox Lip Flip.”

Whether Botox is used to treat migraines, wrinkles, trigger points and/or muscle pain, one cannot separate the therapeutic effects from the cosmetic effects of Botox. With repeated treatments you could remain virtually “age-less.”

Awe! Botox... Let me say, I absolutely do love Botox. It has minimal side effects and a whole lot of therapeutic effects. The perfect combination and scenario for any therapy.

According to the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, Botox can be quite safe and rewarding—I’m already hooked and a fan. If you want to know more about Botox and if it is the right treatment for you, schedule your free consultation today.

Before proceeding, here are some nuances about Botox you should know: First of all, there is a delayed onset with Botox. Meaning it can take 3-10 days before effects can begin to manifest. So I say to my patients, “Don’t love it or hate it for 2 weeks and then we evaluate for enhancements.” Also, sometimes small bruising around the injection sites can occur. We discourage anyone getting Botox within 2 weeks of any major event like a wedding or family reunion. It is advised not to touch or manipulate your face right after getting Botox to prevent damage and migration of the solution into unwanted areas. The Botox protein is very fragile, and it’s very important to keep your skin cool and away from sunlight and heat for at least 24 hours after receiving Botox therapy. Even saunas and facial massages can damage the Botox protein. There is also a small chance of temporary eyebrow or eyelid drooping that can occur if the solution is manipulated accidentally in the wrong place. However, if it does, it is not harmful and it usually goes away within a couple weeks. The chances of this is very minimal but as with all procedures, it is important to assess all the risks and benefits of any procedure before moving forward.

Dr. Misty Seale is the dentist behind iHeart Dental in Rincon. iHeart Dental has been in business for two years. Dr. Seale has been in the dental industry for seven years. She love helping people and transforming lives along the way.