Botox. What is it? How do I know if I’m ready for it? How young is too young? 

Finally all your questions… answered.

First off, Botox is the branded name for the pharmaceutical drug Botulinum toxin which is a neuromodulator also known as a neurotoxin.

Jillian – speak in normal words please.

Okay okay let me break it down! Basically a neuromodulator blocks a receptor for a muscle to fire which slows down the activity of the muscle. So over time, the muscle weakens and therefore the muscle activity slows down and decreases visible fine lines at rest. Think about it this way: when you lift weights at the gym the more you are utilizing those muscles and the more pronounced they become. Neuromodulators are great because they prevent this from happening. This is where prevention comes into play. 

There are other types of neuromodulators on the market such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. The decision on which neuromodulator is used varies from provider to provider and the patients’ preference. Each product differs slightly in the trace proteins which can cause more spread of the product and/or potency.

So how do you know if you’re ready?

While there is no right or wrong answer here, it is best to start once you start to see lines at rest. This is where the prevention aspect comes in! By starting earlier when the lines are still soft but visible, you are preventing the lines from setting in which deepen as you age.

One common misconception is people think that they will have a “frozen” look but that is really all dependent on the dosage you are given per the provider and your aesthetic goals.

Neuromodulators are priced out based either by unit or area and can range anywhere from $200-$1,300 depending on how many areas you choose to treat.

Neuromodulators are primarily used in the facial muscles but can be used off label to treat conditions such as hyperhidrosis, migraines, TMJ, and more! Here are some keywords to note before your first appointment… a cheat sheet if you will:

Frontalis: expands across your forehead and can be seen when raising your eyebrows

Glabella: commonly known as the “11 lines” which consists of the procerus and corrugator muscles and can be seen when furrowing your brow

Obicularis Oculi: commonly known as the “crows feet” which causes your eyes to squint when you smile

Levator labii superioris alaeque nasi: referred to as LLSAN for short & can be injected to fix a gummy smile

Nasalis: commonly known to form the “bunny lines” in the nose when squinting and scrunching your face

Masseter: this is the jaw muscle that when injected can relieve pain and tension caused by TMJ and also can slim the face

Obicularis oris: the muscle that encircles the mouth that can be injected to treat lip lines or create a “lip flip”

Mentalis: muscle that moves the chin that when treated can reduce dimpling of the chin

Depressor angularis oris: as we age, our face tends to droop which can cause our lips to depress downwards which can be fixed with a little botox

Platysma: if you look in the mirror and say “E” and strain your neck, you will be able to see those platysmal bands activating that can be relaxed with botox

It is always important to keep in mind that these are elective procedures that are meant to make you feel your best self! However, you would truly be surprised about the number of men and women that get botox without passerbys even noticing. At the end of the day, beauty radiates from within and it is however you choose to define it!