[Lari Plastic Surgery] You Need to Know About Botox to Get the Right Results (+ Side Effects and Precautions)

What Is Botox?

Botox is a procedure that uses an ingredient called botulinum toxin to temporarily weaken (paralyze) muscle movement.

It was initially used for medical purposes, such as treating facial spasms and strabismus, but it is now widely used as a cosmetic procedure to improve wrinkles, refine facial contours, and reduce muscle size.

It is commonly used not only to improve expression lines such as forehead wrinkles, glabellar lines, and crow’s feet, but also for reducing a square jaw, reducing the salivary glands and trapezius muscles, and improving a bumpy chin (dimpled chin).

Botox does not require incisions and has the advantage of a short treatment and recovery period. However, if it is injected excessively or administered in the wrong location without an understanding of facial muscle anatomy, side effects such as unnatural facial expressions, asymmetry, or drooping eyelids may occur. Therefore, it is important to receive treatment from an experienced medical professional.

Muscles move in response to acetylcholine, a signaling substance released by nerves.

Botox temporarily blocks this nerve signal, weakening muscle contractions.

In other words, it softens expression lines that form through repeated movement, while excessively developed muscles gradually decrease in size.

The effects usually begin 2–3 days after the procedure,

are most noticeable around 2 weeks,

and generally last about 3–6 months.

Botox generally has three main effects:

Improvement of expression lines // Facial contour improvement // Relief of muscle tension

1. Improvement of expression lines

Wrinkles that repeatedly form on areas such as the forehead, between the eyebrows, around the eyes, and on the bridge of the nose when making certain expressions, such as smiling or frowning, are softened, helping prevent larger and deeper wrinkles from developing.

2. Facial contour improvement

Botox reduces the size of muscles that have become enlarged, such as the masseter, salivary glands, and temporalis muscles, even without any particular activity, creating smoother and softer facial lines.

A square-jaw Botox treatment is especially popular because it can create the appearance of a slimmer face without shaving the bone.

3. Relief of muscle tension

In addition, for people who unconsciously clench their teeth, grind their teeth, or experience jaw-joint tension, masseter Botox may help relieve muscle fatigue or discomfort.

Standard Facial Botox Dosage (General Guidelines)

Botox dosage may vary depending on the product used (domestic or imported), dilution concentration, the patient’s muscle size, and sex.

The following is an average range commonly used for adults.

The dosage may vary depending on the individual’s muscle activity and the degree of correction needed.

Facial Botox Treatment Areas

The main facial Botox treatment areas are as follows.

1. Forehead Botox

Forehead Botox is administered to the frontalis muscle, which raises the eyebrows. Because this muscle is large and broadly distributed, small amounts should be injected across multiple points to achieve good results.

This can help prevent deep horizontal forehead lines and fine lines. However, excessive treatment may make it uncomfortable to open the eyes and cause the expression to appear heavy, so caution is needed.

2. Glabellar Botox

Glabellar Botox is injected from the procerus muscle at the center between the eyebrows along the corrugator muscles extending upward toward the eyebrows. It helps prevent and reduce the deep vertical lines that appear between the eyebrows when frowning.

People with drooping eyelids require more careful treatment planning when receiving Botox in areas such as those described in Sections 1 and 2.

If the appropriate amount is not injected into the muscles needed for each individual’s condition, it may affect eye opening and cause eyelid ptosis.

3. Crow’s Feet Botox

Crow’s feet Botox is injected superficially in small amounts along the outer area where wrinkles form at the corners of the eyes when smiling.

If necessary, it can also be applied to fine lines near the inner corners of the eyes, so the treatment should be performed while carefully observing the action of the muscles around the eyes.

Although it can clearly improve fine lines around the eyes, excessive treatment or injection into the wrong area may make the eyes look awkward when smiling and result in unnatural facial expressions.

4. Square-Jaw Botox

Square-jaw Botox is the most representative type of facial contour Botox.

It is primarily injected into the masseter muscle, which protrudes when the teeth are clenched, with the goal of softening the lower facial line and reducing the apparent width of the face.

It is also used to help relieve jaw-joint discomfort and improve teeth grinding and clenching.

However, side effects such as cheek hollowing, asymmetry of the corners of the mouth, or temporalis muscle enlargement caused by compensatory muscle activity may occur if the injections are placed too high or an excessive dose is used. Appropriate dosage adjustment is therefore important.

5. Dimpled-Chin (Chin Tip) Botox

Dimpled-chin Botox is performed when frequent tension in the chin causes the chin tip to appear bumpy.

It is usually administered to the mentalis muscle at the center of the chin.

Once the treatment takes effect, the uneven chin tip becomes smoother.

Excessive injection may make lip movement unnatural, while injection into the wrong area may pull down the corners of the mouth and make the shape of the mouth look unusual.

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Botox treatment can sometimes cause side effects,

but as the effects of Botox naturally decrease over time, the condition generally returns to its previous state.

Even if a problem occurs, try not to worry too much, and visit the clinic where you received the Botox treatment to have your progress checked.

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Precautions After Botox Treatment

To prevent the medication from spreading to unwanted muscles, do not rub the treated area on the day of the procedure, and it is best to avoid meridian massage.

Because increased blood flow may cause swelling or increase the possibility of medication diffusion, avoid alcohol, saunas, jjimjilbangs, and high-intensity exercise for several days.

Botox treatments are generally repeated at intervals of 3–6 months.

Repeating treatments at intervals that are too short or continuously using excessively high doses may, although rarely, lead to resistance. Therefore, it is important to follow the recommended intervals and dosage.

Although Botox may appear to be a relatively simple procedure, a natural result actually requires a detailed understanding of the movement and balance of the facial muscles.

To maximize the benefits of Botox, it is important to receive treatment using an appropriate dose only in the necessary areas, at appropriate intervals, while taking facial balance into consideration.