Common misconceptions
The facial aesthetics industry is full of conflicting and incorrect information. This makes it very hard to decide if Botox treatments or Fillers are right for you. Let’s address some of the most common myths:
Myth 1: Botox will freeze your face and leave you expressionless
We’ve all seen people on TV or in magazines who literally can’t move their faces. Botox works by relaxing muscle movement, reducing the frequency and severity of line and wrinkle formation in the skin. ‘Frozen Face’ is caused by practitioners administering an excessive number of Botox units and is easily avoidable if you go to a provider with the proper expertise and training.
Myth 2: Cosmetic injections are very painful
Botox injections are very quick so any discomfort is only felt for a few seconds. For most people, it’s no more than a little pinch and the needle used is very fine so the trauma to the area is minimal. For those who are concerned, topical anaesthetic can be applied beforehand.
Myth 3: Botox is toxic
Botox is the purified protein version of the true Botulinum toxin which means it is largely non toxic. This is true of many different medications and does not affect their safety or integrity. The protein is inserted directly into the muscles to help relax them and is not systemically absorbed into the blood stream. In fact, you would need 200-300 times the number of units of the actual toxin to cause any problems.
Myth 4: Dermal Fillers are permanent
There are two types of Filler - permanent and temporary. Dr. Lucy only uses temporary filler products which last on average 6-12 months. They can also be reversed so if you really dislike the effects treatments can be dissolved with an enzyme called Hyaluronidase.
Myth 5: Botox is only used for cosmetic and aesthetic reasons
Botox was originally approved by the FDA to treat eye flickering and spasms. It did not become a cosmetic treatment for fine lines and wrinkles for a number of years. Since then, its application has expanded profoundly. We now prescribe injections for patients suffering from migraines, excessive underarm sweating, TMJ and bruxism symptoms and over active bladders.
Myth 6: Botox and Filler treatments are just for women
Although Botox treatments are more commonly requested by women, these treatments are also popular with many men too. This misconception may simply be that women talk more openly about having these treatments. Men also tend to be a little more conservative with the treatments they have, with just the one area of upper face treatment on the frown lines or hyperhidrosis treatment being the most common Botox choices. On the other hand, women often choose to have all three areas of frown, forehead, and crow’s feet, often with an added brow lift for a more noticeable effect.
Filler treatments however are becoming more and more popular with men. Fillers can be used to enhance or produce more masculine features such as widening the chin and creating a stronger jawline.
Myth 7: Botox and Dermal Fillers are the same
Botox and Fillers are cosmetic injectable treatments that are frequently offered practitioners, however they are different products and are used for different outcomes. Botox is a muscle relaxant used to soften the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, as well as to prevent wrinkles from forming. It can also be used cleverly to lift or drop certain features, for example to lift a brow or to drop a top lip in order to fix a gummy smile. Dermal fillers are used to build up an area, whether that is to restore lost volume, for example in the tear troughs under the eyes, or to completely reshape a feature such as the nose and chin. Dermal fillers last longer than Botox and consist of hyaluronic acid.
Myth 8: Botox treatments are immediate
On average, Botox treatments take about 14 days to take full effect, and in some treatments such as jawline slimming and the neck lift, may take between 4 and 6 weeks as the treatment area and muscle is much larger. This is because the treatment works by changing the size/strength of the muscle injected which does take some time, in the same way, if you had your arm in a cast and did not move it, the muscle would gradually decrease in size and strength, not overnight. Everyone is different, so this is a general time frame. You may see results sooner than the 14 days, however nobody will ever see immediate results.
Fillers DO have an immediate effect but you usually have slight swelling following treatment so you don’t see the full effects for about 7-10 days after treatment.
Unfortunately, misconceptions about Botox and Fillers are likely to always exist. This is why I consult with each client, on a one to one basis, to identify and develop the best course of treatment and use a conservative approach to achieve very natural looking, beautiful results.
