Dr. Sylvia Ramirez is the Medical and Scientific Director of Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore. She is US Board Certified and a Harvard-trained physician who also completed a degree in Dermatology from Cardiff University in the UK.
1. How does a Botox procedure work?
Dr. Sylvia: Over the years, repeated frowning, lifting and creasing of the skin because of normal facial expressions result in wrinkles that may give us an appearance of anger or worry. Botox, which is a brand of botulinum toxin temporarily weakens the signal from a nerve to a muscle so that the wrinkle formed by muscle contraction relaxes and softens. Creams may temporarily “fill in” the appearance of the wrinkles but it’s minimal effect will disappear once the cream is washed off and it will not reduce the deepening of the wrinkle.
On the other hand, depending on the depth of the expression lines, Botox will temporarily reduce or even remove the wrinkle(s). With repeated treatments lower doses of Botox may be required as the muscles become less prominent from less use. The actual treatment takes only a few minutes. Botox is injected into the skin using very fine needles that feel like tiny ant bites. The effects of Botox will start about 5-7 days after injection.
2. Should Botox be injected by a doctor only?
Dr. Sylvia: In some countries, Botox can be injected by a licensed physician or registered nurse with direct supervision depending on the regulations. Botox is a powerful neurotoxin and should only be administered by a specialist who has long years of experience with the treatment to avoid any negative side effects.
3. Is there any risk for those who start very young on Botox? Is there an ideal age?
Dr. Sylvia: Botox or botulinum toxin is a safe and effective product that is US FDA approved to treat not just skin concerns like wrinkles but also spasms and excessive sweating. For aesthetic purposes, I cannot say that there is an ideal age to start using Botox. However, the ideal person that should start this treatment is someone who is bothered by having wrinkles and looking older that his or her actual age.
4. Does Botox hurt, and is it more painful at certain areas?
Dr. Sylvia: The discomfort after a Botox treatment is very minimal. The treatment is done using very fine needles that will feel like an ant bite.
Dr. Sylvia: Botox is also used to lift the eyebrows, to correct lines around the lips and neck, and in Singapore, a common use for Botox is to “slim” the face when it is injected into muscles that we use for chewing along the angles of the jaw. Botox may also be used to manage excessive sweating, muscle spasms, muscle stiffness, and chronic migraine. Botox is proven safe for everyone. It is US FDA approved and was used before to treat children with spasm disorders.
Dr. Sylvia: It depends on the amount of Botox that were used. The important thing to remember is that Botox should be done in moderation. The right amount of Botox can make a big difference just enough to smoothen your wrinkles without the artificial look. This way, people will never know that you did anything; they will just assume that you appear well-rested and more youthful.
The wrinkle-preventing effect of Botox normally lasts about three to four months, but can last up to six months. However, there is no specific activity that you can really do to prolong the result of Botox. You can try to avoid vigorous muscle movement in the treatment area so that wrinkles will not appear quickly.
7. Does Botox have side effects like bruising? Can I apply makeup right after my Botox appointment?
Dr. Sylvia: Yes, there may be bruising in the treated area that will subside the next day but it can be easily concealed with mineral make-up. We usually use glominerals makeup to a patient after a Botox treatment to conceal the red spots and mild bruising.
Dr. Sylvia: In Cutis Medical Laser Clinics, our price for Botox is $18 per unit. For a normal wrinkle treatment of frown lines (angry 11), we use about 12 units above that cost around $216 and more.
9. If I am preparing to look my best for an upcoming event, when should I do Botox?
Dr. Sylvia: You may do a Botox treatment one week before your event. Although Botox is well known as the “lunchtime treatment” because it just takes a few minutes and the result can be seen instantly, it’s better to do it early so that the redness and swelling have totally faded.
10. What will happen to my skin if I were to stop Botox injections?
Dr. Sylvia: Once you stop having your Botox treatment, your skin will still look much better than before when you just started.
