Botox®: Myths to Stop Believing

Botox® is, by far, the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic treatment performed in the United States, with millions of men and women turning to the treatment every year. In fact, in 2020, nearly 4.5 million Botox treatments were performed — and that was at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are lots of reasons why Botox is so popular, but the biggest reason is simple: because it works. Still, despite its popularity, plenty of people think about getting Botox, but never act on that impulse. That’s probably because they’ve heard some myths that have them holding back.

As a leading provider of Botox treatments in Salem, Virginia, Starkey Medical Esthetics believes patient satisfaction is grounded in an understanding of what a procedure can and can’t do. In this post, Michele Meinhart, FNP, and her team reveal the truth about some of the most common Botox myths.

Myth 1: Your face will look “frozen.”

Sure, if you have too much Botox injected or it’s injected in the wrong areas, your expressions can look a little wooden. But you can forget about those “mistakes” by selecting an experienced Botox provider, like Ms. Meinhart.

With an experienced provider, treatment begins with a review of your treatment goals and an analysis of your facial anatomy. Then, each injection is precisely placed, and the optimal amount of Botox is administered, based on your unique goals. The end result: natural expressions that look less stressed and less tired (and less old).

Myth 2: Botox treats all kinds of wrinkles.

Botox treats dynamic wrinkles — lines and folds that form as a result of facial expressions. That includes wrinkles around your eyes, your brows, your forehead, and your mouth. Wrinkles that happen from gravity, loss of facial volume, sun exposure, and genetics are called static wrinkles, and they’re best treated with dermal fillers.

Myth 3: If you stop Botox treatments, your wrinkles will be deeper.

The effects of Botox are temporary, and having regular “touch-up” treatments is necessary to maintain your results. If you decide to stop treatments, no worries: Your skin will continue to age normally. Yes, you’ll notice your wrinkles again — but that’s because you aren’t having Botox treatments anymore, not because Botox made your wrinkles worse.

Myth 4: Botox injections are really painful.

Few people look forward to getting injections. With Botox, however, there is some good news: The needles used during Botox treatment are extremely thin — thinner than needles used in most vaccine injections. They also don’t go as deep as vaccine injections. 

Most people have little to no discomfort during their treatments, and what discomfort they do have is brief. Our team can apply a topical anesthetic prior to treatment if you’re nervous, and you can also gently apply ice afterward to reduce swelling. (Just don’t rub the area, since that can cause the Botox to disperse and be less effective.)

Myth 5: You need to plan for downtime afterward.

Nope. With Botox, you can go right back to your regular activities. There’s no downtime, and any minor swelling or redness you have will clear up within a short time. In fact, you can have Botox treatment on your lunch hour and return to work the same afternoon.

Myth 6: You can’t combine Botox with other treatments.

Actually, Botox injections can be a perfect complement to fillers for treating wrinkles from your forehead to your chin. By using fillers to treat static wrinkles and restore volume, plus Botox to treat dynamic wrinkles around your eyes, forehead, and lips, you can achieve what many patients refer to as a “mini facelift,” for a smoother, more youthful complexion without surgery.

Myth 7: You’ll see results right away.

Botox takes a little while to take effect after it’s injected. Most people see initial effects within a few days, with those results lasting for about three months. Bonus: When you have regular treatments, your results may last longer.

Get the real scoop on Botox

Botox is a great choice for most people looking for a time-tested treatment for dynamic facial wrinkles, offering predictable results and high patient satisfaction with no downtime. If you’re ready to learn more about Botox injections and how they can help you achieve your aesthetic goals, call 540-389-0909, or book an appointment online at Starkey Medical Esthetics today.