Botox Myths Worth Busting

Poor Botox. Seriously, is there any cosmetic treatment (aside from lip fillers, perhaps) that takes more of a beating in popular culture? Celebs deny using it. Memes have a field day with it. And because of a host of misconceptions, myriad myths have emerged. 

Luckily, we’re here to set you straight regarding some of the most popular — and preposterous — Botox myths. Read on as we debunk a few myths about one of our favorite wrinkle-busting treatments:

Myth 1-Botox is Super Painful: Let’s be real: Any procedure involving a needle is going to cause a little pain, so there will be a bit of discomfort. However, it’s quite minimal and only lasts for a few seconds. The best part? There’s no recovery time for Botox treatments, though it’s possible to experience a pinpoint bruise or minor swelling near the affected area after your treatment. And of course, it will take three-to-five days before results start (and continue to evolve for up to two weeks!). Keep in mind that Botox needles are super thin because they’re meant to inject tiny amounts of liquid into the targeted facial muscles. You can always reach for a stress ball to squeeze it out … but most don’t even need it.

Myth 2-Botox Isn’t Safe: First let’s look at what Botox actually is. Botox is the popular brand name of a drug derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The injectable botulinum toxin helps to prevent muscles from moving, which explains why Botox treatments produce great results that suppress or maintain the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. But did you know Botox has been the No. 1 nonsurgical procedure since 2000? As of 2015, there have been 4 million procedures performed. Knowing that Botox is made from a bacterial toxin may alarm you at first. However, thanks to the long history and extensive research Botox has undergone, it’s one of the safest cosmetic procedures available today. FDA approved and backed by more than 16 years of published studies, Botox is the most widely researched and studied treatment of its kind — approved for use in 95 countries. 

Myth 3-Botox Will “Freeze” Your Face: Thanks to a million memes and jokes on TV, many people assume Botox will make your face appear frozen or paralyzed. However, Botox will look natural when dosed by a talented injector and only affects the targeted muscle groups. Botox relaxes the muscles and can give people a more youthful, refreshed and rejuvenated appearance. Of course, it’s critical to do your research and find a qualified injector — like our aesthetic nurse specialists at A360— with experience giving Botox injections.  

Myth 4-Botox Is For “Mature” Men and Women: You don’t need to see an abundance of wrinkles to begin your Botox journey. In fact, it’s common for people in their 20s to start getting Botox injections as a preventive treatment to suppress fine lines and wrinkles — you know, instead of waiting for them to appear. Along with reducing signs of aging, preventative Botox can also train the muscles to stop making certain facial expressions, which may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that can form due to these movements. (Learn more about preventative Botox here …)