Botox is a popular cosmetic procedure searched by over 18,000 Canadians each month. However, there’s a new trend that has people all across Canada interested: baby botox. But, don’t worry: this isn’t a procedure for babies.
Let’s find out what baby botox is, how botox works in general and the benefits of this procedure.
What is Botox and How Does it Work?
Botox is made from the botulinum toxin, and when used in cosmetics, it’s injected into specific facial muscles. The injections work to “paralyze” the muscles, allowing the face to relax and help with smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
As the toxin wears off, additional procedures will be necessary to keep the smooth wrinkle-free face that you want.
Botox has also been used to help with:
- Overactive bladders
- Neck spasms
- Lazy eyes
- Migraines
- Much more
Botox works by blocking the chemical signals from your nerves to certain muscles. When the signal is blocked, the muscle cannot contract, helping to combat many of the contractions responsible for wrinkles.
When you want to reduce facial wrinkles and fine lines, a quick injection into your facial muscles is all that’s needed. The procedure is fast and easy, but in higher doses, the face can look very stiff.
Baby botox aims to solve the unnatural appearance that regular botox creates.
What is Baby Botox?
Baby botox is an interesting procedure because it’s not clearly defined in medical books. The key idea behind this concept is that fewer units of botox are injected into the muscle. How few? That’s up to the professional performing the procedure.
Think of baby botox as “micro botox,” where the muscles in your face are:
- Relaxed
- Still flexible
Instead of the muscle being 100% relaxed like with a full dose of botox, baby botox relaxes the muscle but does not paralyze it.
How is Baby Botox Different From Regular Botox?
Compared to traditional botox, this procedure does require fewer units of botox and may cost slightly less than regular botox. You will require less maintenance, so you will only need to go back for subsequent procedures every 4 - 5 months.
The results of baby botox are more subtle, and they will not provide the same level of wrinkle flattening as regular botox. If you have minimal fine lines and wrinkles, baby botox is certainly a good option and a “baby” step into the world of botox.
Many people considering botox are afraid of how they’ll look afterward, and baby botox allows them to “test drive” botox with results that are subtle yet often enough to make the person look younger.
What are the Benefits of Baby Botox?
Baby botox has a few key benefits over regular botox, including:
- Botox often creates an unnatural, “plastic” appearance. Baby botox creates a more natural look that, for many people, will not cause anyone to question whether a procedure was done or not.
- Lower dosages of botox help alleviate many of the potential risks of this procedure.
- Facial movement is retained, allowing you to use the muscles in your face still.
- Wrinkle formation is halted, but you’re still able to move your facial muscles and maintain your natural look.
- Jaw tension is relieved, which is crucial for anyone who clenches their jaw often.
Young patients who want to care for their appearance and look more youthful as they age are the most frequent patients seeking baby botox. Anti-aging measures tend to work better the earlier a person begins fighting back against fine lines and wrinkles.
Baby botox also offers the benefit of being a low dose, allowing us to use it on more areas of the face. Greater control over each injection enables us to achieve the desired look that our patients want in ways that are not possible with traditional botox.
You may or may not be an ideal candidate for baby botox, which is why it’s essential to consult with us first before deciding if this is the proper procedure for you.
Who is a Good Candidate for Baby Botox?
Botox is generally considered a low-risk procedure, so most people are technically good candidates for baby botox. Whether or not this procedure is right for you will depend on:
- Your personal preference
- Your goals
Baby botox works best for people who want to soften their fine lines and wrinkles but aren’t looking for a drastic change.
If you’re just starting to notice signs of aging, then you may find that this procedure is a great choice for you.
But if you want a more dramatic change or you have more advanced signs of aging, baby botox may not be the right option for you.
Of course, if you have a known allergy to botox, you will not be a good candidate for this procedure.
You should also avoid baby botox if:
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have an infection
- Have a neuromuscular junction disorder
It’s always good practice to consult with your healthcare provider to discuss whether baby botox is right for you.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The baby botox procedure is quick and simple. It all starts with a consultation, where we’ll discuss your goals. We’ll talk about how many units of botox we’ll need to achieve the results you want, how long the results will last and how dramatic the change will be. The consultation is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and voice your concerns.
Baby botox is typically used to target areas of the face with subtle fine lines and wrinkles. Some of the most common targeted areas of the face for this procedure are:
- Forehead (usually requires 10-30 units)
- Brow lift (usually requires 2-5 units)
- Around the lips (usually requires 3-6 units)
- Lips (usually requires 2-4 units)
Once we’ve created a treatment plan, we can begin the procedure. Prior to your appointment, we’ll ask you to avoid blood thinners, ibuprofen or aspirin for two weeks. Here’s what to expect during your appointment:
- First, we ask that you arrive at your appointment with a clean, make-up-free face.
- Next, we’ll clean the injection areas.
- Now, we’ll use a small needle to inject botox into the targeted areas. You may feel a small pinch during the injection.
- Once we’ve finished the injections, you can leave and get on with your day.
Because we use such a small amount of botox for this type of procedure, most patients find that they don’t need any topical numbing agents.
Baby Botox Aftercare
Baby botox has zero recovery time, which means that you can get right back to your regular routine. Many patients come in on their lunch breaks for treatment because it’s quick and painless.
But it will take about a week for the results to settle and start showing effects. So, keep this in mind when you leave your appointment.
Immediately after the procedure, make sure that you avoid rubbing or massaging your face. We also recommend avoiding intense exercise for the first few days. Rigorous activity can redistribute the botox and leave you with undesired results.
The results of the procedure last about three months, after which you can decide whether you want to continue with the treatment. Wearing sunscreen daily and incorporating a hydrating moisturizer into your routine can help extend the results and keep your skin looking youthful.
What are the Risks of Baby Botox?
The great thing about baby botox is that it has even fewer risks than regular botox, which is already considered a low-risk procedure. That said, no cosmetic procedure is risk-free, and some people may experience side effects.
Common side effects of baby botox include:
- Eyebrow drooping
- Dry mouth
- Swelling or bruising at the site of the injection
- Flu-like symptoms or headaches
- Muscle weakness
While rare, some people may experience more severe side effects, such as:
- Fatigue
- Neck pain
- Double or blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rash or allergic reaction
If you experience any of these serious side effects, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
It’s important to remember that these side effects are rare. Most patients have no issues with baby botox and can jump right back into their usual routines quickly and with minimal discomfort.
When Should You Start Baby Botox?
Any adult can start using baby botox whenever they want. If you start in your mid-to-late twenties, you can soften and maybe even prevent future fine lines and wrinkles.
Of course, many people also choose to wait until they’re in their 30s, 40s and beyond to start getting baby botox injections.
But it’s important to keep in mind that more dramatic fine lines and wrinkles may need regular botox injections. Many patients choose to start their treatments at a young age so that they can avoid needing more intense treatments in the future.
Final Thoughts
Baby botox can help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles without creating a dramatic change in your appearance. It’s a simple procedure that requires no downtime and is virtually pain-free.
If you’re interested in baby botox, call our office today to schedule a consultation and explore your options.
