BoTox is fast becoming established amongst Sydney’s stylish crowd in fact it is becoming an essential part of a beauty routine for those in Sydney.
Nevertheless I am always surprised by the various urban legends which have been heard about the procedure.
I have included below a selection of the myths that we come across daily in Star Cosmetic Medicine, where I practise as a physician.
Misconception # 1: The muscles in my forehead might freeze!
Research indicates there are 60 or so muscles in the human face. The extensive use of these muscles may result in expression lines to form. When surplus BoTox is used facial muscles may become less expressive. The amount used by nearly all physicians make you look refreshed, nevertheless you will of course keep your facial expression.
By using the right dosage of the BoTox in just the right tissues facial expression is preserved whilst any fine lines undergo a softening effect.
Misconception # 2: Botulinum is a toxic substance!
There is a grain of truth in this assertion. Botulinum Toxin Type A is the exact medical nomenclature. An overdose can loosen facial muscles that you do not want loosened and even may cause sickness.
Pharmacists have an old saying that ‘everything is poisonous - it all depends on the dose’. A large dose of any medicine can result in illness. If you drink too much water you will die.
Misconception # 3: BoTox is painful!
The needles we use at Star Cosmetic Medicine have a diameter smaller than your hair. Several people have compared the treatments to being bitten by a mosquito. For Certain not as painful as having a blood test.
Misconception # 4: BoTox will deaden my face!
Completely untrue. BoTox affects the neuromuscular junction, not sensate nerve fibers. BoTox just targets the ability to relax muscles.
Misconception # 5. Once you begin getting BoTox you have to keep it up or you will get worse fine lines and wrinkles than before!
This is also untrue.
One set of injections lasts about 3 months. Any further treatments after the initial consultation should be effective for a few weeks longer. Gradually as muscle strength builds up again - the wrinkles will eventually reform. But your lines definitely will not be any worse than when you began your treatment.
In fact the lines should be be less evident than if you had never undergone BoTox - even should you never persevere with the therapy. In the main due to the fact that your skin has had a ‘wrinkle holiday’ for a few months.
