As an adult human being alive on this planet, you’ve surely heard of Botox. Botox quickly grew to fame after becoming FDA approved for the cosmetic use of improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead and around the outside corners of the eyes. However, you know that Botox is also used for therapeutic use to treat medical conditions, such as migraines and excessive sweating? Read on to learn more about the differencing between Botox Cosmetic and therapeutic Botox.
What’s the Difference Between Therapeutic Botox and Botox Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic
Botox is a very popular cosmetic treatment – the latest figures show that upwards of 6.7 million Botox procedures were carried out in 2016 alone. That number is currently rising, too! As more and more people become interested in Houston Botox as an option for them, we would like to help out by answering some of the key questions that you might have about the application of this cosmetic procedure.
How does Botox work?
Botox is very safe and effective. Botox is a naturally derived toxin that, when injected into the skin, prevents neurotransmitters from triggering the movement of facial muscles. The repeated movement of facial muscles around the eyes, forehead, and mouth areas leads to wrinkles and fine lines. When, thanks to a Botox injection, these muscles stop moving, the wrinkles and lines appear to melt away.
How long does Botox last?
On average, the effects of Botox will last around 4 months. That means that you will only need approximately three Botox sessions a year to maintain its effects. The precise length of Botox’s effectiveness can depend on where the injections are targeted: around the eye area, it may last for 2-3 months, for example, while in the forehead its effects can linger for around for 4-5 months.
Is Botox safe?
Yes, Botox is very safe. In 2002, it was officially approved by the FDA and it was carefully tested and developed for around a century prior to this approval. Your practitioner will be highly trained in the use of Botox, and with DermaTouch RN, you can always be sure that they will be very experienced.
Does Botox hurt?
With Botox injections, you will only feel the slight pinch associated with any injection. If you need it, you can ask your cosmetician to apply a numbing cream or ice prior to the Botox injections to minimize discomfort even further. After the injections, you should experience no further discomfort, though a little swelling and bruising may occur.
How long does a Botox treatment take?
A Botox treatment takes just an hour or two, so you can easily fit it into your lunch break. There is no recovery time after a Botox session (though, as mentioned above, there may be a little swelling around the injection sites for up to four hours afterward) so you are free to return to any activities you please immediately. Please note that your very first Botox session could be a little longer than subsequent sessions: this is because your cosmetician will take the opportunity to get to know you, to explain the procedure, and to document your medical history.
Botox is the most popular cosmetic treatment for minimizing the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes (aka crows’ feet). The popular treatment, made by Allergan, is FDA approved to treat these two specific areas of the face.
Botox can be injected into other areas of the face, as well. However, when it is, it is considered an “off-label” use of the product because the area being treated lies outside of the FDA-approved treatment areas.
What are some Off-Label uses of Botox injections in the cosmetic field?
On the face, some practitioners inject Botox:
- into the chin to smooth out the area
- to minimize certain movements of muscles around the mouth that might cause more wrinkles down the road
- around the lip area to minimize the appearance of fine lines
- Along the jawline to provide a thinner appearance
- to improve skin quality
- to treat dynamic neck bands
- to life corners of the mouth that have turned down
Not all practitioners will provide all off-label uses of Botox. Ask what your options are when speaking to Houston MedSpas and cosmetic service providers. Regardless of who you choose, you want to ensure they’re experienced with hundreds of injections under the belt.
Therapeutic Botox
What are some uses of Botox in the medical field?
Botox has been FDA approved for non-cosmetic procedures, as well. In 2010, Botox was FDA-approved to treat migraines and headaches. Botox can also treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis, and urinary incontinence. Similar to the cosmetic arena, there are off-label uses of Botox in the medical field, including the treatment of neck spasms, depression, and more.
When therapeutic Botox is injected into the muscles, the muscles relax, which relieves tension that leads to pain. For muscle pain points, therapeutic Botox is used to treat:
- Neck pain
- Headaches and Migraines
- Trigger point muscle pain
- TMJ disorder
- Teeth grinding and jaw clenching (Bruxism)
Another benefit of therapeutic Botox is better sleep as a result of the reduction in pain. After injected, therapeutic Botox relief takes 2 to 10 days to kick in, and additional injections are need about every three months to maintain therapeutic relief.
DermaTouch RN is the top provider of Botox injections in Houston
DermaTouch RN is an Allergan certified clinic (Allergan is the maker of Botox and other popular cosmetic treatments, like Juvederm and CoolSculpting. With more than 15 years of experience in providing Botox injections for cosmetic purposes in the state of Texas, you can trust our team of professionals to provide results you can walk away feeling good about. Our team has injected 1000s upon 1000s of units of Botox for satisfied clients with positive results.
We also have some of the lowest pricing on Botox and other services with our DermaTouch RN specials, with Botox pricing starting at just $9 per unit. Book your San Antonio or Houston appointment or consultation online 24/7. Or, call 210.951.3520 (San Antonio) or 281.895.9090 (Houston) to schedule your Botox Cosmetic consultation or appointment today!
DermaTouch RN offers minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments for men and women in Houston, San Antonio, Spring and Cypress, as well as the surrounding areas of Texas. We are the largest aesthetic practice in the Houston area, and all of our medical spa treatments are performed by a team of nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and aestheticians who receive continuing education to remain abreast of emerging treatments that benefit our patients. We invite you to learn more about our office before your consultation.
