Botox® is one of the safest and most popular cosmetic treatments in the world. Its most popular use is to make the face look younger by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but it’s also used to treat medical conditions like excessive sweating, chronic migraines, neck spasms, twitching eyes, and overactive bladders. Botox® is so safe and effective that it was approved by the FDA back in 2002 for cosmetic use. Since then, Botox® has become a titan in the cosmetic industry.

Despite this, there are still many common myths and misconceptions about Botox® that keep people from trying out this revolutionary treatment. So today we’re going to take a look at some of the most common misconceptions about Botox® and answer any questions you might have about this treatment.

Botox® will freeze your face

We hear this myth all the time both in and out of the office. In fact, this myth is so common that you’ve probably seen this trope played out in movies and tv. The truth is that the stereotypical frozen look only happens when the person administering the Botox® either uses an excessive number of Botox® units or if they don’t use the proper technique when performing the treatment.

When done correctly and with the proper number of units, Botox® looks very natural and gives the client a fresh and youthful appearance.

Botox® is only to treat wrinkles

Even though Botox® is mostly used as a cosmetic treatment for wrinkles, its uses span a wide range of cosmetic and medical treatments. Some of the more common uses for Botox® are:

• Raising the corners of the mouth
• Lifting the eyebrows
• Treating dimpled chins
• Alleviating migraines
• Reducing excessive sweating
• Treating overactive bladders
• Correcting crossed eyes
• Reducing neck spasms
• Treating depression
• Treating people with excessively cold hands

Botox® is toxic

This misconception comes from the fact that Botox® is derived from botulinum toxin, which people most commonly associate with food poisoning.

The truth is that Botox® is a purified protein version of botulinum toxin, meaning it is largely non-toxic. Botox® is injected into the muscles, not the bloodstream, and is done at levels too low to have any toxic effect on the body. In fact, you would need to receive 200 to 300 times the number of units used for Botox® to see any negative effects.

Botox® is an FDA-approved treatment that has been used safely by millions of people around the world for the past 20 years.

Only women use Botox®

While it’s true that women make up a larger portion of those who use Botox®, the same is also true of most cosmetic treatments. However, men are increasingly more open to trying out cosmetic procedures like Botox® to reduce signs of aging. Botox® is a treatment used by all genders, ages, and demographics.

Botox® injections are painful

Many people believe that Botox® is painful and can lead to severe bruising on the face. The reality is that most people will only experience mild discomfort while getting a Botox® injection. Bruising is extremely uncommon and only occurs when the practitioner doing the injection uses poor techniques. The needles used during the treatment are very thin and typically only cause a slight pinch.

I only need to start Botox® AFTER wrinkles have formed

While Botox® is mostly used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles you already have, it’s becoming increasingly more popular to start doing Botox® for wrinkle prevention. The reason for this is that it’s difficult to impossible to completely remove wrinkles after they’ve formed.

Using Botox® for wrinkle prevention helps to train the facial muscles to avoid the repetitive movements that cause wrinkles to form in the first place.

It’s easy to get addicted to Botox®

Botox® injections don’t have any addictive ingredients, meaning it’s impossible to become physically addicted to it. Some people require regular Botox® injections to treat medical issues, but doing so is to keep the body healthy, not because they have an addiction.

There are also people who regularly use Botox® to keep themselves looking young, but that’s due to loving how Botox® treats their wrinkles, not because they’re addicted to Botox®.

Botox® is permanent

This is the farthest from the truth. Botox® is a temporary treatment that lasts between 3 to 6 months after a session. Botox® treats the muscles in the face, and because we use our face to talk and express ourselves, the muscles will always bend and move to create new wrinkles.

This is why people usually combine Botox® injections with other forms of cosmetic treatments. Keeping the skin looking young requires healthy lifestyle choices, great skincare, and treatments like Botox® to keep wrinkles away.

The bottom line

Botox® is a safe and effective treatment for anyone looking to keep their skin looking wrinkle-free AND those who have medical conditions that Botox® can alleviate. While there are still people who carry stigmas about Botox®, more and more people are learning about its amazing benefits and trying this procedure out for themselves. If you still have questions about Botox®, we recommend you speak to your doctor or a Liquivida wellness coordinator to learn more.