When I talk about the subject of Botox and express my love of it, people often respond with “You’re crazy! You don’t need Botox!” And they’re right. There is one huge reason why I do not, in fact, need Botox:

I ALREADY HAVE IT!

I started getting treatments when I turned 30 earlier this year and I am so far thrilled with the results. In 2018 over 7.4 million Americans had Botox injected into their faces which is an 845% increase in use since 2000 in the United States according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Although Botox is certainly not for everyone, it is a really great option for those looking to smooth out existing wrinkles or avoid getting wrinkles all together before they have a chance to form. There are lots of preconceived notions about this practice so let me help clear up a few things before you decide.

First off, what is Botox?

 Botox is a type of drug called a neuromodulator which is made from a neurotoxin called clostridium botulinum. Yes, this is the same neurotoxin that can cause a commonly known type of food poisoning called botulism. This drug works by preventing signals from nerve cells from reaching muscles which results in the muscles not being able to contract. Botox was first approved by the FDA for cosmetic use in 2002 but has been used for many other medical purposes since the late 1980s.  Since Botox is technically a BRAND, the same drug is also sold under the brand names Xeomin, Dysport and Myobloc. For the ease of this post, we’ll refer to all types as simply “Botox”.

Cosmetically, what does Botox help with?

Botox is used to fix “11 lines” between the eyes, horizontal lines across the forehead, and “crow’s feet” on the outside of the eyes. Some people incorrectly believe that Botox can get rid of “smile lines” around the mouth, however, that is not true. That would be a job for fillers which is a completely different animal.  

You said Botox is used for other medical purposes. Like what?

Along with cosmetic uses, Botox is also used for cervical dystonia (a very painful spastic condition where your neck muscles contract involuntarily and cause your head to twist to one side, forward or backward), treatment of a lazy eye, muscle contractures often associated with cerebral palsy, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), chronic migraines, bladder dysfunction and eye twitching.

Where can I get Botox injections?

In the United States, Botox is injected for cosmetic purposes by a physician, dentist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or specially trained registered nurse ONLY. Becoming certified to perform this procedure takes approximately 2 days of training in most states and is relatively easy to acquire in most states. Some states have extra rules like Florida where RNs cannot become certified for Botox administration. Make sure whoever is injecting you is QUALIFIED!! Especially if you are participating in the increasingly popular Botox home parties.

Who are all these people getting injected?

In the United States, 41.3% of Botox users are between the ages of 35-50 and 33.1% are 51-64 years old according the Mayo Clinic website. The national average spending for each treatment session is $420 and Americans spent a total of $650,398,461 on Botox alone in 2017. Botox treatments are becoming a rising trend among men and women in their upper 20s into early 30s due to a lessening stigma surrounding the procedure. The benefit of early Botox is that it will prevent deep wrinkle lines from ever occurring in the first place, however, long term effects of starting Botox earlier in life has not been adequately studied. Based on the information I found, experts widely believe that no negative effects will likely come of this.  As long as you don’t have an allergy to Botox (which is possible although uncommon), anyone wishing to reverse visible wrinkles or prevent deep wrinkles from forming is eligible to get it done.

What is the time frame for all this?

Well, it only takes 5-15 minutes to inject the Botox into your face, but you will not see immediate results. It typically takes 1-2 weeks for your results to show; for reference, mine took 9 days before it started to take effect and about 12 days for the final results to show. Typically, results last for 3-5 months, depending on your metabolism, your smoking status, how much you drink alcohol, how much sun exposure you get, how much stress you are under, and what your facial muscle strength is like. The good news is your first treatment will last the least amount of time; if you continue to get regular treatments the life span of the Botox will be longer and longer.

Sounds like an expensive habit. How much is this going to cost me?

Botox is measured in units, exactly how insulin is measured. Everyone gets a different amount injected depending on their needs, however, 10-25 units/treatment is most common. If necessary, you can get up to 20 units in the forehead and 20 units in the “11 lines” between the eyes. In the US, the average cost is $10-$15 per unit.

But does it hurt?

Personally, I don’t think Botox injections hurt at all which is helped by the fact that my dermatologist uses a numbing cream before-hand. Most places offer this, and I highly recommend you do it! I have a friend who thinks around the eyes hurts quite a bit but the needle is so thin that the pain is pretty minimal either way. It is also worth mentioning that sometimes the needle going into the skin produces an audible *crunch*!! This is just the needle going through your fascia and is 100% no big deal.

What are the side effects?

Potential side effects include mild pain/swelling at the injection site, numbness, headache, mild nausea, hives/rash (if allergic), temporary weakness/paralysis of nearby muscles to the site of injection. Rarely, the toxin can spread in the body and cause serious problems; this is exactly why the injections need to ALWAYS be done by a professional with professional supplies and medication. Injecting your face with a toxin is not the area you want to be cheap in!! If the toxins spread, they can cause muscle weakness, a “frozen” expression, eye drooping, vision problems, trouble speaking/swallowing, breathing issues and loss of bladder control. Not exactly youthful and glamorous…

So, I got the injections, now what?

Immediately after getting Botox injections, there are a few rules. First, some mild bruising and blotching to the area are common and expected; personally, I did not experience this at all. The Botox solution takes approximately 20 minutes to set so staying upright for the first 20-30 minutes is essential. No blood thinning medication should be taken afterwards but that is something that needs to be thoroughly discussed with your doctor. Post-procedure you should avoid exercising, rubbing or massaging your face and laying on your face (like for a back massage) for 24 hours to avoid the toxins spreading to areas of your face where you don’t want them. This is what can cause that droopy eye issue or even the frozen face problem. These have been guidelines set forth by the 2 people I have had inject Botox into me (1 was a dentist treating my TMJ and the other was a physician assistant doing cosmetic work on me). The Mayo Clinic website, however, states that there are no restrictions post injection. Just to be safe, I’d avoid all the above anyways!

Youthful Travels <3