Botox® is a non-surgical injection treatment that can help provide a long-term reduction in the appearance of dynamic wrinkles or those that develop over the course of years from repeated movements. These include crow’s feet, areas around the forehead and smile lines.
This is in contrast to static wrinkles, which are caused by exposure to UV radiation from the sun, as well as the natural aging process. These include wrinkles at the corners of the mouth, on the cheeks and along the neck.
Why outline this difference? Here at Nuvell Clinics in Scottsdale, AZ, one of the most common misunderstandings is that Botox® can address all wrinkle types. Next, we’ll explore three more common myths surrounding this procedure.
Myth #1: Botox® Is Unsafe
There’s no getting around the fact that Botox® is derived from botulism, a neurotoxin that can cause food poisoning. Although the mere mention of this might cause your eyes to widen, it’s important to emphasize that this is an extremely safe treatment that’s been FDA-approved for cosmetic uses since 2002.
In fact, instead of making patients ill, botulism’s neurotoxic effects relax underlying wrinkle-causing facial muscles, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and dynamic wrinkles. These effects remain only at the site of injection for several months and do not impact any of the surrounding tissue.
In most instances, because we use very fine needles and inject only a small volume of liquid, our Scottsdale patients typically only report mild discomfort during their treatments, such as a slight pinch.
Regardless of the number of injections required based on your specific goals, you won’t have to worry about scarring, general anesthesia, or downtime with Botox®.
Myth #2: Botox® Injections Are Only Suitable For Facial Purposes
Although Botox® was originally FDA-approved for cosmetic purposes, the medical community has since learned that it’s often effective for many medical conditions.
These include eye misalignment (formally known as strabismus), eyelid spasms caused by muscle twitching, chronic migraines, involuntary neck muscle contractions (cervical dystonia), overactive bladder, stiff arm muscles (called upper limb spasticity), and even excessive underarm sweating.
Myth #3: Botox® Treatments Are Expensive
The overall cost for your Botox® treatments can vary depending on a variety of factors, although the two biggest determinants are the number of injections you need (typically measured in units) and the areas treated. We’ll discuss pricing at the time of your initial consultation, which is completely free, whether you live in Scottsdale or elsewhere.
Nuvell Clinics also offers financing through CareCredit® for qualified patients, which can split the cost of your treatment into affordable payments.
Contact us for additional details about how we can help you address common signs of aging, as well as overcome three of the most common myths related to Botox®. Our experienced, qualified staff will be more than happy to help.
