Botox, Dysport, Nuveiva, Letybo, Xeomin… all of these are what is called a neuromodulator. Botox is the brand name for Botulinum Toxin Type A and is the most popular brand of neuromodulator. If you didn’t know, Botulinum Toxin Type A works by temporarily relaxing the muscles that cause wrinkles and fine lines by blocking the nerve signals that tell these muscles to contract.
There are a ton of uses for this amazing product, both medical and cosmetic! Note that certain brands have been medically and/or cosmetically approved for different areas on the body. In this article, we will lump all brands of Botulinum Toxin Type A together and call them all ‘Botox’ for simplicity, although the specific brand approval on different areas may vary. Here are 16 ways we regularly use it.
This is one of the most common areas our clients want treated!
Also called laugh lines, these lines form at an angle outside of the eyes. Treating the muscle that encircles the eye on the outer corner prevents it from contracting when we laugh or smile.
The two vertical lines that form in between the eyebrows when we frown can make us look angry when we are not. This is another common one we treat!
Botox can be used to lift the tail of the eyebrow slightly to enhance the arch and open the eye.
The ‘jelly roll’ is what we call the creased/thickened area under the eye that forms on some of us when we smile or laugh. Injecting Botox here can help to prevent creasing in this area and undereye wrinkles from forming over time. This one is tricky though as not everyone is a great candidate.
A gummy smile refers to the way the upper lip moves upward when we talk or smile, exposing the gums of the upper teeth. Botox is injected just under the nose to prevent this tissue from rising upwards.
Similar to gummy smile, a lip flip can help to show less gum tissue when smiling. However, with a lip flip, the Botox is injected lower down onto the upper boarder of the top lip, preventing it from curling under when we smile and talk. This makes the upper lip appear thicker, and is a great addition to lip filler or alternative for someone who is not ready to try lip filler.
Botox is used to prevent Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (commonly referred to as TMJ). Botox is injected into the masseters (our strongest chewing muscles on our lower cheeks) to prevent us from clenching and grinding our teeth, thus injuring the TMJ joint. This injection also helps to slim the lower face as the bulky muscles atrophy over time!
Botox is injected into several muscles on the head/scalp to prevent chronic migraines. This is a common treatment in Calgary, where the large weather fluctuations contribute to migraines for many people!
“Bunny lines” refer to the vertical lines that form on the sides of the nose when we scrunch our nose, just like a bunny! These lines only take a very small number of units.
When injected into the muscles at the lower corners of the mouth, Botox prevents the muscles from pulling the lips downwards. This muscle is called the DAO, and can prevent individuals from looking sad by slightly lifting the corners of the mouth.
We can inject Botox into the chin to relax the muscle and prevent the cobbly orange peel texture from forming when the chin is contracted. This also helps to project the chin very slightly and elongate the side profile.
In this injection, Botox is used to relax the vertical neck bands. These bands can cause pulling on the lower face and contribute to jowling over time.
In this injection, Botox is injected superficially into the neck skin along the horizontal neck lines to prevent creasing or folding of the skin.
There we have it! There are several more medical indications for Botox that we did not discuss, but that is a lot of uses! Did you know all of these injections existed?
To discuss any of our neuromodulator treatments, book a complimentary consultation for Botox treatments in Calgary with one of our injectors!
Bank up to 3 months of membership fees towards a different purchase of your choice once per year. Some restrictions apply.
