It's the same Botox, so why are the results different?

Hello! I am Kim Dong-hyun, the lead doctor at Sio Clinic.

I was reminded of a patient who visited Sio Clinic again after a month, so I would like to share some information about Botox today.

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The patient came in a month ago for jaw Botox, but I recommended salivary gland Botox instead.

They returned because, despite having had jaw Botox many times with ambiguous results, they finally saw the proper effects.

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Botox is a common procedure that everyone has heard of at least once.

Why do the results differ depending on the person, the timing, and the clinic?

And how should the procedure be performed to achieve accurate results?

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Many people consulting for Botox ask exactly what kind of procedure it is.

Let me explain the principle behind how Botox works.

Botox is a drug that "inhibits muscle movement."

In other words, Botox helps limit muscle movement by making muscles move less, which helps reduce muscle size.

Therefore, it is primarily effective for smoothing out shallow wrinkles or reducing a square jaw caused by muscle.

To explain a bit further,

Many of the wrinkles on our faces are created by the repetitive contraction of muscles.

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For example, using forehead muscles creates forehead wrinkles, and using glabellar muscles starts to create wrinkles between the eyebrows.

When you laugh or frown, the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eyes contracts, causing wrinkles to fold.

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Also, if you use your jaw a lot or grind your teeth occasionally, the jaw muscles are overused, which can change the shape of your face.

In this case, Botox treatment helps by reducing muscle movement.

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Ultimately, Botox is a procedure that softens wrinkles or lines by reducing muscle movement.

If you are better off with less muscle movement, then you should get Botox.

Where can Botox be injected?

Botox can be used in most areas where there is muscle.

Representative areas for wrinkle reduction include the forehead, glabella, eye area, and bridge of the nose; it can also be used for chin wrinkles, often called "walnut chin."

It is also used to reduce the size of muscles in areas like the trapezius, calves, and upper arms, not just the face.

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The key is not just "where to get Botox," but that it must act precisely where "muscle movement is the problem."

To achieve this, the experience and tactile sensitivity of the performing doctor are necessary, of course.

But in some cases, it is also necessary to check the muscles under the skin with ultrasound to understand the thickness and location of muscles, which vary from person to person!

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The patient I mentioned earlier who returned also had concerns about their jaw and said they had always received square jaw Botox.

However, upon checking with ultrasound, I found that the patient had very large salivary glands, which is why I recommended salivary gland Botox instead of square jaw Botox.

Then, how long does the effect of Botox last?

It is generally known that Botox lasts for about 3 to 6 months, but the effect varies for everyone.

In some cases, there are patients for whom it lasts over a year, and in others, it lasts less than 3 months.

Having performed over 10,000 Botox procedures in a year, I find that 6 months is the most common duration on average.

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The effect and durability vary depending on individual muscle mass, facial expression habits, constitution, and who performed the procedure and how :)

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I think of Botox as a "procedure to design facial expressions."

That is why I check the location and thickness of muscles with ultrasound, but there are things I always check before the procedure.

What are the patient's facial expression habits?

What is the movement and direction of the muscles?

And what is the balance of the entire face?

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If you are considering Botox, why not look in the mirror today

and think about where you need it while observing your expressions :)

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Sio Clinic will also be a clinic that observes expressions and muscles more carefully than anyone else and performs procedures with delicacy.

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