Content Officer

Sydney Botulinum injections (Botox for short) is now a necessity in Sydney society and now it has become an important part of grooming for individuals in the Harbour City.

Nevertheless I am always dumbfounded when I hear the stories about the treatment.

Here I have included a few of the myths which I encounter all the time at Star Cosmetic Medicine, where I work as a physician.

Fallacy # 1: I might not have the ability to use my facial muscles normally!

The human face has around sixty muscles. They usually work in harmony, however over a period of time lines can form. Too many doses of Botox can result in the facial musculature becoming less expressive. Most doctors would use relatively small quantities to make you look well rested, but still you will always keep your natural expression.

So the correct amount of Botox in the proper site means you will get a softening of any wrinkles without reducing facial expression.

Fallacy # 2: Botulinum is poisonous!
This to some extent is correct. Its medical term is Botulinum Toxin Type A. Too great a quantity can relax facial muscles that you do not want loosened or can cause sickness.

However to put everything into perspective – a well known pharmacist’s saying is that ‘everything is a poison – all depending on the dose’. A large dose of any medicine may bring on sickness. If you drink too great a quantity of water you will die.

Fallacy # 3: Botox hurts!
The hypodermic needles we use at Star Cosmetic Medicine have a diameter smaller than a human hair. A lot of individuals say that the shots are not worse than bug bites. Definitely not as sore as getting a blood profile.

Fallacy # 4: I will lose feeling in my face!
This is completely incorrect. Botox acts on the neuromuscular junction, not sensate nerves. Botox only impacts on the ability to relax muscles.

Fallacy # 5. Once you begin Botox you must keep it up or else you will develop worse wrinkles than before!
This is also wrong.

A Botox treatment is effective for approximately three months. Any treatments after the first one normally last a few weeks longer. The wrinkles will gradually reappear as the muscle returns to normal. But they will definitely not be any deeper than before.

In fact the lines will more often than not be softer than if you hadn’t had Botox injections – even if you never continue the injections. Due to the fact that you have given your skin a ‘wrinkle holiday’ for a few months.