Botox (Botulinum Toxin) — What It Treats, Side Effects, Resistance

Botox is a procedure in which a drug called botulinum toxin is injected into a muscle to weaken that muscle's strength for several months.

Everyone knows the name, but let's start by clarifying it.

"Botox" was originally the name of a single product. Today it is widely used as a general term for botulinum toxin injections.

Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only drug (a drug that requires a doctor's prescription).

What Botox treats

Botox (botulinum toxin) is an injection used to smooth expression lines that form when you smile, frown, or scowl. When the jaw muscles are overdeveloped and the face looks wide, it is also used to reduce muscle volume without surgery and slim the jawline.

It is mainly used for shallow wrinkles; for deep wrinkles, a method combining Botox with filling the sunken area with filler is sometimes applied. After injection the wrinkles smooth out gradually, and it takes about 2 weeks for the change to show most clearly.

It is considered for wrinkles caused by muscle movement, such as wrinkles that appear only when you smile or frown.

Even though they are all called "wrinkles," the reasons they form differ.

Wrinkles have several causes. Wrinkles that appear only when you make an expression are mainly a muscle issue. Fine wrinkles that are present even at rest are mainly a skin issue.

Deep wrinkles like creases are often a problem of the tissue beneath having sunken or dropped. What Botox treats is the first kind.

A Word from the Doctor

"It is not easy to think that the cause of forehead wrinkles lies in the eyes. Carefully identifying the cause through an accurate diagnosis is important."

As for the areas where we use Botox at our clinic (e.g., forehead, between the brows, eye corners, jaw muscles),

A sagging face, such as sagging cheeks and jawline, is not lifted by Botox, and hollow areas are not filled by Botox either.

So that expectations and reality do not diverge, we state clearly at the outset what Botox does not do.

Botox is a drug that reduces muscle movement. It does not lift loose tissue or add volume.

It is hard to judge on your own which row of the table your concern falls into. So we first sort it out through an examination.

A Word from the Doctor

"At a consultation an examination is needed; after examining you, we judge whether the bone is prominent or whether there is excess muscle, fat, or skin."

At our clinic we use three botulinum toxin products from different manufacturers.

See more Botox and Coretox product photos

"Which product do you use?" is a question we often hear at consultations.

That does not mean one product is better than another. Products differ in the company that makes them, the manufacturing method, the amount in one vial, and the storage method.

Even if the unit used to measure the amount of drug has the same name across products, 1 unit of one product cannot be directly swapped for 1 unit of another.

As for which product is used in which case,

You are welcome to ask at your consultation which product you will receive.

At the consultation we look at how your muscles move, decide the areas and amount, and then inject at several points with a fine needle.

Since it may feel vague the first time, we have laid it out step by step.

1. Consultation

We have you make facial expressions and look at which muscle is creating the wrinkle. If we judge that another method suits you better than Botox, we will tell you so.

2. Explanation and Consent

We explain the treatment areas and the reactions that may occur. If you are receiving it in an area that is not an approved one, we explain that as well.

3. Preparation

We mark the injection sites and disinfect them.

4. Injection

We inject in divided doses at the chosen sites with a fine needle.

5. Aftercare Instructions

We explain the precautions and the symptoms for which you should contact us.

How painful is Botox?

Most people feel a pinprick sensation, but it varies by area and by person.

As for how long the procedure takes,

It is rare, but it can happen. If the body produces antibodies to the drug, the effect may weaken or disappear even with the same dose.

"I heard that if you get it often, it stops working later." This is a concern we often hear at consultations.

If the effect feels shorter or weaker than before, please tell us during your consultation. Together we will look at whether the cause is resistance, or the amount, area, or interval of the injections.

The standards we follow at the clinic to reduce resistance (minimum interval, amount per session, and when we change products) are

It is best not to rub or press hard on the injected area. Detailed instructions are given after the treatment.

Here are the questions patients often ask about daily life after the injection.

• It is best to avoid rubbing or pressing on the injected area.
• On the day of the treatment, it is best to avoid saunas, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouses), strenuous exercise, and alcohol.
• If bruising appears, please apply a cold compress for the first few days.

When you can wash your face and wear makeup, and how long to avoid lying down or lying face down, is

It depends on the type of procedure or surgery. Some are done on the same day, and others are scheduled on separate days.

If you are planning another procedure or surgery, you may first wonder how to schedule the dates.