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All of your magnificence questions—answered. Our resident dermatologist, Dr. Geddes Bruce breaks down the most important subjects in magnificence, from hair loss to Botox and every thing in between. Ship us a DM @camillestyles with your personal burning q’s and we might handle it in a future column.
My algorithm thinks I want Botox. Scrolling via social media, I see adverts, testimonials, and earlier than/afters all to persuade me to make an appointment at my nearest medspa. I’m on the age the place a lot of my pals have injected a syringe or two of Botox into their effective traces, foreheads, and even their armpits (apparently it may well cease sweating)! However even with all of the hype, Botox continues to be misunderstood. Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Elizabeth Geddes Bruce, agrees. Past its aesthetic advantages, Botox is gaining extra recognition as a wellness device. Stunned? I used to be too! However as a painkiller, Botox for muscle rigidity could possibly be the factor you’re in search of to ease your discomfort. Let’s examine.
Featured picture from our interview with Cyndi Ramirez by Belathée Photography.
Everything You Need to Know About Botox For Muscle Tension
I’ve starting hearing about people using Botox for muscle tension. I’m Botox-curious, but how do I know if this treatment is for me? And is it something that derms recommend?
As a beauty editor, I know the buzz around Botox is real. But could it be too good to be true? Or worse, could Botox be dangerous? Botox for muscle tension might be the next big thing, but it’s imperative to understand what you’re getting into. So I invited Dr. Geddes-Bruce to share her insights.
First things first, she told me that what we think of as “Botox” isn’t always… Botox. “Botox is a trademarked name but is used colloquially to refer to all neuromodulators,” Dr. Geddes-Bruce explains. It’s a brand, albeit the most popular, not the name of the treatment. Whether you’re opting for Botox or another neuromodulator, the possibility of an injectable painkiller might be right for you. But as with all treatments, be sure to consult a derm.
Why are patients using Botox for muscle tension?
Neuromodulators like Botox prevent muscles from contracting too strongly, thus causing a relaxing effect. We’ve capitalized on this effect in medicine and use it to safely treat painful conditions ranging from migraines to teeth grinding or jaw clenching, and much more.
How do you know if you need Botox for muscle tension?
This is subjective and depends on how your pain and tension affect YOU and your quality of life. Different tools help us as clinicians assess this in the office. In general, you should consult the appropriate specialist for evaluation before using Botox for muscle tension. For example, see a neurologist for migraines.
Which muscles can benefit most from Botox?
Neuromodulators work by binding to receptors on the muscle and blocking the signal sent from the nerve to “move.” The muscles that benefit the most are those that are contracting so strongly that they create medical issues, or those that can create a softer expression when weakened.
One of our most popular treatments is treating the masseter muscles of the jaw. We can improve tension headaches and save your tooth enamel by relaxing those muscles. Not to mention, an added benefit is a more tapered jawline and facial slimming. Another, newer treatment is injecting the superior portion of the trapezius muscle to relax the shoulders, elongate the neck, and relax muscle tension of that region. This has been popular for our patients who spend a lot of their day sitting at a desk, working on a computer.
How lengthy does Botox take to calm down a muscle?
Relying on the precise model of neuromodulator, you can begin to see outcomes a few days after the injections. Nevertheless, full outcomes normally take about two weeks to visualise. And full weakening of the muscle can take as much as a month to completely admire.
The enjoyable impact is twofold. First, we see an preliminary enjoyable of the muscle when the neuromodulator absolutely kicks in round two weeks. Then, we see additional leisure when that muscle is not getting used prefer it had been beforehand, which normally occurs round one month after therapy.
How usually do you might want to get new Botox injections?
A number of components decide how steadily you might want to get new injections. Everybody metabolizes them a little bit otherwise. Crucial is: how lengthy does the impact final for you? On common, we see it final anyplace from 2.5-4 months. There are a couple of outliers that will undergo it faster or have it final nearer to six months. And we’ve realized that the dosage used impacts the length—the extra models, the stronger the preliminary impact, and the longer it would final.
Is Botox FDA-approved for tight muscles? Do Derms recommend it?
Yes! Botox is FDA-approved for the treatment for several conditions, including
- Cervical dystonia, in which the neck muscles are involuntarily contracted and cause the head to twist to one side)
- Overactive bladder leading to urine leakage
- Prevention of chronic migraines
- Blepharospasm and strabismus, aka involuntary blinking or crossing of the eyes).
All of these conditions stem from tight or overactive muscles. As dermatologists, we use many medications “off label” in the treatment of disease, as long as they have been proven safe for our patients. This includes neuromodulators for teeth grinding or jaw clenching, shoulder tension, excess sweating, and many different cosmetic benefits such as softening a gummy smile or frown line.
Are there any risks to using Botox for muscle tension?
Thankfully, neuromodulators like Botox are pretty low risk because they are temporary. If Botox is placed incorrectly or diffuses into an unwanted muscle, then you can get undesirable effects like the dreaded eyelid drop or an asymmetric smile!
However, these things are rare with an experienced injector. Patients with baseline medical conditions involving muscle weakness (such as myasthenia gravis, for example) avoid neuromodulator injections, as well as anyone who has had a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to neuromodulators, or pregnant women.
Are there any similar treatments to consider instead?
There are muscle-relaxing medications that are most often used temporarily after an acute injury, like a back strain. For chronically tight muscles, one can also consider gentle massage, physical therapy, targeted exercise, mindfulness, meditation, and acupuncture.
What else should we know before we go?
It’s not necessary to fully weaken or paralyze a muscle to see the cosmetic and medical benefits of Botox. We can tailor the dosage to your desired effect, and the results can be as subtle or strong as you please! Also, know that there are five different FDA-approved neuromodulators for use in the United States: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeaveu, and Daxxify. Each one has subtle differences in effect (and price) and you can discuss which one is best to fit your needs with your doctor.
If you can, it’s best to avoid any blood thinners before receiving injections to minimize any risks of bruising. Things like aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, and even alcohol can thin the blood. After the injections, you can expect some mild swelling that will mostly dissipate in about 20 minutes, so it truly is a “lunchtime procedure.”
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