We know that everyone has heard of B-tox before, but do you have the right understanding about it? Let’s find out with a list of “10 Myths about B-tox”.
As its name suggests, many believe that injecting “Botulinum toxin” into the body is poisonous. It’s common to believe that B-tox can get into the bloodstream or even stop your heart from beating. However, that’s not true. B-tox has been proven as a safe and effective drug used to relax the muscles. It efficiently treats the appearance of facial lines and has no negative long-term side effects (Satriyasa, 2019).
Unfortunately, the results of B-tox are only temporary, lasting up to a maximum of 3-6 months. After getting B-tox, common side effects include minor headaches, bleeding, bumps, redness, and discomfort where the drug is administered (Satrisaya, 2019). These types of B-tox-related problems are usually not serious, do not require any treatment, and go away on their own within a few days (Witmanowski, 2020).
People believe that B-tox can completely erase their crows’ feet or smile lines, giving them immediate baby-smooth skin within seconds. That is sadly not the case. B-tox is “preventive” rather than “restorative”, meaning that it can prevent new wrinkles from developing, or stop existing ones from getting deeper, but it does not fix every single line on your face. So, the earlier you start getting B-tox, the better it is.
It’s less common to see men visit skin clinics because they think it’s more of a girl’s thing. While self-love may be seen as more of a girl-like activity, there shouldn’t be any gender restrictions on taking care of yourself. If there’s a shortcut for women to minimize wrinkles, why shouldn’t men be able to get them too? Studies have shown that most men have chosen B-tox as their first clinical procedure (Flynn, 2007), and the number of men involved in cosmetic treatments is rapidly rising (Rasmusen, 2021).
Have you ever seen your favorite celebrity smiling weirdly into the camera? That’s when someone walks over to tell you that B-tox injection has gotten them to smile like that. They are half right about this. Here’s a simple explanation…the two primary muscles responsible for smiling are orbicularis oculi (muscle at the side of the eyes) and zygomatic major muscles (muscle at the lip corner). When B-tox is incorrectly injected into these areas, it may cause a droopy mouth, a crooked smile, or even prevent someone from smiling altogether (Jonov, 2023). So, as long as B-tox is injected correctly into the right muscles by a certified professional, you shouldn’t be worried about showing your best smile.
B-tox has only begun to gain traction in 2010, but it has rapidly become more and more popular ever since, particularly among people in their 20s (Valenti et al., 2023). More than 4 million people in the U.S. get B-tox injections every year as it’s so much cheaper, safer, and consumes less time when compared to plastic surgery. So, if celebrities have long been using B-tox to help with anti-aging, why shouldn’t we all have access to B-tox to achieve younger-looking skin?
We often see people use B-tox to reduce face wrinkles, but did you know that it can also be used to treat other conditions? B-tox can also be administered in the underarms, palm, or scalp to reduce excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis, or contour different areas of the body, including the lower face, neckline, and calves (Park & Ahn, 2021).
As explained, the effects of B-tox don’t last forever, so B-tox will need to be regularly injected to maintain youthful skin. However, if you don’t like the results, you can always discontinue. After the toxins wear off, your fine lines will gradually re-appear over time, and everything will return to normal (before you got the B-tox). So, to answer this question, no, you do not need B-tox forever. Once you stop, your skin will go back to how it was before you got the B-tox.
Some people think that they will see instant results after getting B-tox. However, B-tox is obviously not magic. Like any type of drug, it needs time before you can see improvements in skin condition. According to Satriyasa (2022), the maximum results of B-tox are often seen 1-4 weeks after injection and often wear off after 3-6 months. If you’d like to extend the life of your B-tox beyond the actual length, it’s advisable to repeat the treatment for at least once a year.
Since B-tox must be injected with a needle, people often believe that it is a painful cosmetic procedure. While it’s true that there can be minimal pain involved with needles, it’s usually so minor you can barely feel anything. The needles are so small that some people have even mentioned it as a painless procedure. In fact, it’s so much more painful to get your blood drawn or get a flu shot. However, if you’re still worried about pain while getting your B-tox, you can always request skin-numbing cream at the skin clinic. It can help with relieving pain and discomfort, giving you the much-needed peace of mind.
How many of these B-tox myths did you use to believe? We hope that we have clarified some of the misconceptions that have deterred you from exploring the benefits of B-tox. Now that you have a clearer picture that B-tox is in fact, a safe, effective, and painless procedure to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles when administered by a certified professional, the next step is to consider whether B-tox is right for you. Before making any decisions about which beauty procedure to undergo, it’s always important to discuss your options with skin experts.
If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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References
Flynn, T. C. (2007). B-tox in men. Dermatologic Therapy, 20(6), 407-413.
Jonov, C. (2023). Can you still smile after masseter B-tox?Seattle Plastic Surgery. Retrieved from https://www.seattleplasticsurgery.com/can-you-still-smile-after-masseter-B-tox/#:~:text=A%20droopy%20mouth%2C%20lopsided%20smile,muscles%20primarily%20responsible%20for%20smiling
Park, M. Y., & Ahn, K. Y. (2021). Scientific review of the aesthetic uses of botulinum toxin type A. Archives of craniofacial surgery, 22(1), 1.
Rasmussen, S. R. (2021). ‘Men don’t do B-tox, they do Brotox’–Emerging Configurations of Masculinity in the Marketing of Cosmetic Treatments Online. Somatechnics, 11(1), 27-47.
Satriyasa, B. K. (2022). Botulinum toxin (B-tox) A for reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles: a literature review of clinical use and pharmacological aspect. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 223-228.
Valenti, L., Atkins, C., Noble, A. (2023). Do You Need Preventative B-tox? Experts Break It All Down. Vogue. Retrieved from https://www.vogue.com/article/preventative-B-tox-injections-twenty-somethings-expert-guide-wrinkles-fine-lines-eyes-lips-forehead
Witmanowski, H., & Błochowiak, K. (2020). The whole truth about botulinum toxin–a review. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology/Postępy Dermatologii i Alergologii, 37(6), 853-861.
