What You Want To Know About Botox

What you Want to Know About Botox

You have probably heard of Botox, or maybe even considered it for yourself. It has been incredibly popular amongst the rich and famous for many years, now it is becoming more affordable for all people. There are definitely many of us that wish we didn’t have a wrinkle here or a line there. But what is there to know about Botox? What is it? What exactly does it do and why do we all want it? Dr. Thom Roger’s of Core Vitality is here to fill in some blanks about the questions we have about Botox.

What is It used For?

Dr. Thom uses the very popular brand of Botulin toxin called Botox from Allergan, it is the most well known botox injectable. Botox has medicinal uses for spasms, migraine headaches, clenching jaw, and much more. Although it does have medicinal uses, when using it for cosmetic purposes it is FDA approved for 3 different uses. These uses include frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet. It can also be used for smokers lines on the lips, however that is not FDA approved. Crow’s feet are on the side of the eyes and they are often called laugh lines or smile lines.  Some people love getting Botox because it helps them look younger and fresher. They feel better without their wrinkles.

What Exactly Is Botox?

Botox is an isolated and purified botulinum toxin, meaning that it is only the toxin and  not in the Botulinum Bacteria. It is a safe toxin that weakens or temporarily paralyzes muscles depending on the dosage. Aesthetically, Botox is for weakening or paralyzing certain facial muscles. As we get older and use those muscles, our skin loses elasticity and leaves a wrinkle line. 

What does the Process Look Like?

Botox is injected with a very small needle, just a bit larger than an acupuncture needle.  Dr Thom then draws the amount of Botox that is estimated to be the appropriate amount to achieve the results wanted. After it is drawn, it is then injected very specifically into certain muscles that create the frown lines, forehead wrinkles, or crow’s feet. It takes about 4 or 5 days to fully kick in, people will notice a slow progressive weakening to that muscle. Without the use of the underlying muscle they won’t be able to make the wrinkle line form.

Is it Permanent or Temporary?

Botox is temporary, it lasts anywhere from 2.5 to 5 months. However, the average length is 3 to 3.5 months. It needs to be redone for the desired effect to continue. Some people receive Botox as a preventative measure to decrease the possibility of wrinkles from coming on.  The pain of the injections is very minor, it is much less painful than a bee sting, more similar to acupuncture. If people have a low pain threshold we can pre-treat you with a local anesthetic to take away the injection pain.

Will my insurance cover it? What are the costs?

Botox injections for cosmetic use is an out of pocket cost because it is not considered medically necessary. The cost is per unit, which depends on the area and the strength of the muscles. Part of Dr Thom’s job is to assess the musculature, and the strength of the muscle. Once he does this he will have to estimate on the required number of units to get the desired result.  The cost is generally $150-$650 depending on the strength of the muscles and the areas that the client wants done. Each person has a different facial structure and a different amount of muscle tone, it is not something that can be accurately estimated without the Doctor’s assessment.
If you have any questions on Botox or any of our other various treatments please give us a call at Core Vitality at (541) 602-0260 in Corvallis, Oregon