The Pros and Cons of Botox

The Botox industry has grown over recent years. More and more people, and increasingly younger people, are using this procedure to enhance their facial features. In the west, Botox is most often used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the face. In Asia, as well as wrinkle reduction, it is often targeted at the muscles in the jawline to create the appearance of a slimmer face.

What does Botox involve?

Botox is the industry name for Botulinum toxin type A. Your Botox practitioner will discuss the areas that you want to target before the procedure. After that, tiny injections of Botox are inserted into those areas. The whole procedure may only take about 20 minutes, depending on the number of injections you have.

The pros of Botox

Botox is most widely known for its aesthetic effects. Many people choose it as a less invasive alternative to a procedure such as a face lift. Benefits include reduction in the appearance of crow’s feet and wrinkles, and as a treatment for drooping brows.

With repeated injections over time, lines and wrinkles can become less severe as the muscles in those areas are trained to relax.

There are lesser known medical benefits to Botox, including the following:

• Reduction in the symptoms associated with migraines, such as sensitivity to light, and nausea
• As an effective treatment for people who experience excessive sweating
• To prevent muscle spasms in people with certain medical conditions

 The cons of Botox

Botox is generally considered to be a safe procedure for the general public. It usually requires little or no recovery time. However, there are downsides to the treatment, and potential risks that need to be considered.

• Results from treatments usually last around three or four months. Therefore, if you want to keep the effects ‘topped up’, you’ll probably need to repeat the procedure every four to six months. The costs of this will add up over time. As mentioned above, there can be some cumulative effect of regular injections, although more studies are still needed in this area
• Be aware that some people can get ‘hooked’ on procedures such as Botox. Ask yourself how far you really want to take it. If you go overboard, you could end up looking quite a bit different from your original self. Additionally, overdoing it could mean that you won’t be able to show expressions properly because your face appears ‘frozen’
• Although side effects from injections are not common, they are possible and you need to be aware of them. These include things like headaches, flu-like symptoms, eyelid twitching, facial pain and muscle weakness. There are also people who should avoid having injections due to associated risks. Check with your Botox practitioner to find out if it’s safe for you.

Find out more

Whether it’s for an aesthetic or medical procedure, there are a number of clinics around South East Asia that offer Botox treatments. Get in touch with a qualified and experienced practitioner to find out more about your treatment options.