Improve the shape of your face and jaw starting at $650
Contents
- 1 What is Botulinum Toxin?
- 2 How Does Botulinum Toxin Work?
- 3 What Areas Can Botulinum Toxin Treat?
- 4 Conditions Treated by Botulinum Toxin
- 5 How Much Does Botulinum Toxin Cost?
- 6 Why is there a difference in Botulinum toxin costs / prices?
- 7 How Long Does Botulinum Toxin Last?
- 8 Benefits of Botulinum Toxin
- 9 Side Effects and Risks of Botulinum Toxin
- 10 Who is Suitable for Botulinum Toxin?
- 11 Conclusion
Botulinum toxin injections use a toxin called onobotulinumtoxinA to temporarily prevent muscles from moving. This toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
What is Botulinum Toxin?
The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin is a widely used cosmetic injectable that temporarily reduces or eliminates facial wrinkles. This minimally invasive procedure utilises a type of toxin derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The areas most commonly treated include frown lines, forehead creases, and crow’s feet near the eyes.
Botulinum toxin is also one of the common facial treatments in Singapore, often grouped with other aesthetic services such as acne scar treatments and skin rejuvenating treatments, catering to a broad range of skincare needs.
What is Botulinum TGoxin made of?
Botulinum toxin is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It’s the same botulinum toxin type that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism. Many people often ask, “Is Botulinum toxin safe?” The answer is yes; Botulinum toxin is FDA-approved and considered safe when administered by a qualified healthcare professional. It is widely used for both medical and cosmetic purposes.
How Does Botulinum Toxin Work?
Neurotoxins like Botulinum toxin injections disrupt nerve signals that stimulate specific muscle contraction. This temporarily paralyses the facial muscles so they cannot contract, causing wrinkles to soften and relax. The treatment works best on forehead lines, crow’s feet, skin folds, and frown lines. By relaxing these targeted muscles, Botulinum toxin helps to smooth out existing lines and wrinkles, enhancing the skin’s appearance and preventing the formation of new lines from muscle movement.
What Areas Can Botulinum Toxin Treat?
Botulinum Toxin is commonly used to treat several areas of the face to create a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. The most popular areas include:
- Forehead: Botulinum toxin can soften horizontal lines that form across the forehead due to repetitive facial expressions.
- Outer Eye Corners: Commonly known as crow’s feet, these fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes can be smoothed out.
- Between Eyebrows: Vertical lines, known as frown lines, can create a stern look and are often treated with Botulinum toxin.
In addition to the common treatment areas for facial wrinkles, Botulinum toxin is also effective on other parts of the face and neck:
- Upper Lip: A “lip flip” subtly enhances the upper lip’s appearance for a fuller look without fillers.
- Nose Sides: Bunny lines, which appear when sniffing or scrunching the face, can be softened with Botulinum toxin.
- Chin: Botulinum toxin can improve the appearance of a dimpled or orange-peel texture by relaxing the mentalis muscle.
- Neck: Vertical platysmal bands on the neck can be treated with Botulinum toxin for a smoother neckline.
- Undereye: While delicate, small amounts of Botulinum toxin can be used carefully to reduce fine lines under the eyes, requiring skilled application.
Additionally, Botulinum toxin has shown potential in treating acne scars by relaxing surrounding skin tissue, which may help reduce the prominence of scarred areas and improve skin texture.
Conditions Treated by Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin can be used to treat a number of conditions, including:
- Eyelid spasm (blepharospasm)
- Involuntary blinking or squinting
- Excessive sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis)
- Migraine headaches
- Muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders (cervical dystonia)
- Overactive bladder
- Strabismus (lazy eye)
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
How Much Does Botulinum Toxin Cost?
In Singapore, the first method of Botulinum toxin pricing is charging by “areas”.
Cost by Area
| BOTULINUM TOXIN (BY AREA) | UNITS |
|---|---|
| Forehead lines (horizontal lines) | 8 – 25 units |
| Glabellar lines (frown lines) | 8 – 20 units |
| Crow’s feet lines (lines beside eyes) | 8 – 20 units |
| Bunny lines (nose wrinkles) | 4 – 10 units |
| Gummy smile | 4 – 8 units |
| Downturned lips (sad looking lips) | 4 – 8 units |
| Chin dimpling | 4 – 8 units |
| Jaw Botulinum toxin (for face slimming) | 40 – 80 units |
Different muscle groups are responsible for different wrinkles on your face.
Some clinics offer “upper face” or “lower face” Botulinum toxin treatment packages.
If you have many areas that require Botulinum toxin, these packages can be a good value for money.
Cost by Units
Many clinics in Singapore charge based on the number of units used. The price differs based on the brand of botulinum toxin used.
Why is there a difference in Botulinum toxin costs / prices?
Three important factors affect the cost of your Botulinum toxin treatment:
1. The number of units used affects prices.
- Areas that require more units are generally more expensive. Jaw Botulinum toxin for jawline slimming costs the most because it requires the most Botulinum toxin units. Botulinum toxin medical aesthetic treatments for forehead lines, frown lines, deep lines, and facial wrinkles do not require as much dosage of botulinum toxin.
- The number of units required for each treatment area also varies between individuals. For example, the jaw masseter muscles of Person A may require only 24 units, whereas the same muscles in Person B may require 40 units.
Your doctor’s proper consultation, assessment, and tailored treatment plan are more important than the number of units actually given.
2. Doctor’s experience affects costs.
Your doctor’s expertise matters with botulinum toxin injections.
A proper understanding of medical anatomy is crucial for safety and natural-looking results.
Experienced doctors tend to charge higher for their Botulinum toxin.
How Long Does Botulinum Toxin Last?
The effects of a Botulinum toxin treatment typically last between 3 to 6 months, providing temporary yet significant enhancement to facial features. The duration of Botulinum toxin’s effectiveness can vary based on several factors. One factor is the area treated; for instance, dynamic regions of the face, like the forehead, often see quicker effects due to constant muscle movement, necessitating more frequent touch-ups compared to less active areas.
The dosage administered is also critical, as higher doses may result in longer-lasting effects. Furthermore, individual metabolism can impact longevity; those with faster metabolic rates may process the botulinum toxin more rapidly, shortening its lifespan. Therefore, personal characteristics and the skilful determination of appropriate treatment approaches by a qualified aesthetic practitioner will influence how long a patient can expect to enjoy the results of Botulinum toxin injections.
Benefits of Botulinum Toxin
List the benefits of Botulinum toxin for both cosmetic use and medical
Cosmetic Benefits
- Smooth wrinkles and fine lines: Botulinum toxin effectively diminishes the appearance of existing wrinkles and fine lines, providing a smoother and more youthful complexion.
- Non-surgical with minimal downtime: As a non-invasive procedure, Botulinum toxin injections require no surgical intervention and involve little to no recovery time, allowing patients to resume daily activities swiftly.
- Prevents new wrinkles: By temporarily relaxing facial muscles, Botulinum toxin not only treats existing wrinkles but also prevents the formation of new lines as a proactive anti-ageing measure.
Medical Benefits
- Alleviates chronic migraines: Botulinum toxin has been proven to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines, offering relief for those suffering from chronic headaches.
- Reduces excessive sweating: Also known as hyperhidrosis treatment, Botulinum toxin can significantly decrease abnormal sweating, providing comfort and confidence in various social and professional settings.
- Treats muscle spasms and bladder issues: Botulinum toxin offers therapeutic effects by treating muscle spasms, such as those associated with cervical dystonia, managing overactive bladder conditions, and improving the overall quality of life.
Side Effects and Risks of Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin cosmetic treatments are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. Possible side effects and complications include:
- Mild pain or bruising at the injection site
- Headache or flu-like symptoms
- Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows
- Crooked smile or drooling
- Eye dryness or excessive tearing
Although it is very unlikely, it is possible for the botulinum toxin in the injection to spread in your body. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these effects hours to weeks after receiving Botulinum toxinx:
- Muscle weakness or numbness
- Vision problems
- Trouble speaking or swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Urinary incontinence
Doctors generally recommend against using Botulinum toxin when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. And Botulinum toxin should not be used in people who are allergic to cow’s milk protein.
Does Botulinum Toxin hurt?
There is no excessive pain associated with Botulinum toxin. You may feel some stinging at the injection site, but an anaesthetic cream or ice pack can numb the area.
Who is Suitable for Botulinum Toxin?
Botulinum toxin suits those with dynamic wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes and those who suffer from excessive sweating under the arms. Those with migraines, muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders, overactive bladder, lazy eye, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may also find relief with Botulinum toxin treatments.
Botulinum toxin is most effective on people aged 30 and above, as dynamic wrinkles tend to form around this age. However, Botulinum toxin has no upper age limit – as long as you are in good general health, you can undergo Botulinum toxin treatment.
Who should not get a Botulinum Toxin injection?
Your body health needs to be in good condition and at least 18 years old before you can get Botulinum toxin cosmetic injections.
Some people should not get Botulinum toxin treatments. These include those who:
- have a neuromuscular disease (such as multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis)
- are pregnant or nursing
- have weakness in certain facial muscle
- have ptosis (droopy eyelids), deep facial scars, or uneven facial features (when features are not the same on both sides of the face)
- have skin problems near the treated area
How often can I get Botulinum Toxin?
You should repeat your botulinum toxin treatment every 4 to 6 months.
Conclusion
When experienced clinicians perform the treatment, Botulinum toxin is a minimally invasive solution and safe for cosmetic reasons. It does not result in adverse side effects, according to clinical trials and peer-reviewed studies. Side effects are mainly minor and rarely occur in most clients.
In addition, we do not recommend Botulinum toxin for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. People with certain health conditions or who are taking any medications should discuss with a doctor or healthcare provider whether the treatments are safe for them.
Furthermore, the potential use of Botulinum toxin in acne scar treatments is being explored, highlighting its versatility beyond traditional cosmetic applications.
You must ensure that the clinic you are looking into has a qualified doctor administering the treatment, prescribing information regarding the client’s overall health, and a professional with in-depth anatomical knowledge, which is an even safer choice.
When experienced clinicians perform the treatment, Botulinum toxin is a minimally invasive solution and safe for cosmetic reasons.
