One of the most common misconceptions about Botox injections is the concept of "Weak Botox". Patients will ask me if I use the strong kind, or the will complain that a previous physician used diluted Botox and that it didn't last very long. But as long as you always think about your Botox in terms of units, then you don't have to worry about its strength.
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When I pull a new vial of Botox out of the freezer (it has to be stored cold), I have to reconstitute it. It comes as a dry powder in an otherwise empty bottle. I have to add saline solution to the bottle, in order to be able to inject it in the liquid form. This reconstitution process is where the idea of dilute Botox comes from. Because an physician has to add saline to the bottle, it seems like the physician can then determine how dilute (weak) or concentrated (strong) the Botox will be.
But every bottle of Botox has the same number of units in it - 100. So as long as your Botox is injected in and priced by units, it really doesn't matter how much liquid the provider reconstitutes it with. If a small amount of saline is used to reconstitute, then only a small amount of volume will be needed per unit. If a large amount of saline is used to reconstitute, then a larger volume of solution will be injected per unit. I personally reconstitute my Botox with a very low amount of saline. This means that my concentration is strong but since I inject by unit rather than by volume, it really doesn't matter in terms of effect. It does matter however in terms of patient comfort. Lower injection volumes are more comfortable.
Its the number of units injected by the physician that determines the degree of muscle relaxant effect and the length of that effect. The more units that I inject into the brow, the more relaxation will be achieved and the longer it will last.
Where the unit concept is most important for the consumer is when it comes to pricing Botox. Always choose a provider who prices their Botox by the unit. Then you will know exactly how much you are getting. If you buy your Botox injections based on a per area price Botox in Edmonton (i.e. $200 for the brow and $150 for the forehead), this allows the provider the opportunity to use fewer units than actually needed, and you very well may find that your Botox doesn't last nearly as long as it should.
Facial Botox injections are the most common cosmetic procedure done in the United States, but also the most frequently misunderstood. Most patients contemplating Botox injections for the first time express a fear that their face will be paralyzed and expressionless. They do not want to look like a "Stepford Wife". I always reassure my patients that this, in fact, won't happen. Botox is instead be a great way to minimize deep facial wrinkling and give your face a more rested, youthful appearance, while preserving both your natural look and the ability to express yourself. We can also use Botox to shape eyebrows, lift the corners of your mouth, and enhance the appearance of your lips.
Botox Cosmetic is a purified and diluted form of Botulism toxin. However, the doses used are so minuscule, that there needs to be no fear of ever having any effects elsewhere in your body. Botox should be thought of as a natural muscle relaxant. It is an extremely safe and reliable procedure.
Botox is typically used to relax the major muscle groups in the forehead and eye regions. The end effect is to minimize the frown lines between the eyes, the surprise lines in the forehead, and the crow's feet lines around the eyes. With time these lines can become permanently ingrained into your skin. Regular use of Botox will keep you skin smooth in these areas. If those lines have already starting to deepen, regular use of Botox can significantly reduce their appearance.
Botox can also be strategically placed in the eyebrow region to shape the eyebrow. Using this technique, eyebrows can be arched, flared, or lifted. Also, some people have eyebrow asymmetry - one side, for example, will be naturally more arched than the other side. Botox can be used to "equalize" the eyebrows and restore symmetry.
Botox has traditionally been used for the upper face, but now we are using it on the lower face as well. Botox can be injected around the lips to increase their "poutiness" (it will also decrease the lines that can form above the lips). We can inject Botox under the mouth to lift sagging corners. We can inject Botox in the chin to minimize "bumpiness". We can inject Botox in the nose to get rid of "bunny wrinkles". And we can inject Botox into the neck to minimize the "cords" that can come with age. You can see that cosmetic Botox injections have become extremely versatile.
Botox is injected using an extremely small needle and only a small amount of fluid is injected with each shot. Discomfort is therefore minimal. Botox should last anywhere from 3-4 months if done correctly. I find that most people who try Botox love it so much that it becomes a regular 4 month event for them.