Why Use Botox?

The main reason for using Botox is to smooth facial wrinkles and reduce signs of aging.

However, Botox has other purposes, such as treating hyperhidrosis (too much sweating), bladder problems, contracted muscles, and more.

At Mirror Mirror Med Spa, we apply Botox for cosmetic reasons.

Many people get Botox for cosmetic reasons and to feel better about themselves, which is why we offer this service.

Contact us today if you look in the mirror and see frown lines and wrinkles that you want to be gone. Our Botox injections might be the right solution for you.

You’ll be happy to know that our Botox injections are fairly priced!

We offer Botox at $12 per unit and also offer customizable treatment options so that you can select the number of Botox injections that you feel is most beneficial to you.

Mirror Mirror Med Spa Botox Injections

Botox injections at Mirror Mirror Med Spa are designed to improve your quality of life.

Our Botox procedures are fast and don’t take up your entire day. Best of all, you don’t need to go through a long recovery process after visiting us for your procedure.

If you’re interested in treating chronic pain with Botox, we encourage you to speak with your doctor, as they may be able to find another solution for you.

What Is Botox?

Botox uses a toxin produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. The name of the toxin used in Botox is onabotulinumtoxinA, which is effective at freezing your facial muscles.

There are different types of products on the market today that now use different forms of Botulinum toxin, including Xeomin.

Here are the different forms:

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
Jeuveau (prabotulinumtoxinA)
Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA)
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)
Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB)

The C. Botulinum bacteria is found in natural areas, such as forests and lakes. The good news is that C. Botulinum is usually benign.

The bacteria can become problematic, however, when the cell population grows and produces the toxin Botulinum.

Botox manufacturers add extremely small amounts of Botulinum toxin to Botox so as to benefit from the effects of the toxin in a controlled manner.

How Botox Works

Botox works by stopping your body from sending signals that allow your muscles to contract.

For muscles to contract, they must receive a signal from your nerves in the form of a chemical called acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine’s role in the body is to attach to the receptors in muscle cells and cause them to contract.

By preventing the release of acetylcholine, Botox keeps your muscles from contracting.

Botox reduces the appearance of wrinkles by causing your facial muscles to relax.

How Long Does It Take Before Botox Injections Work?

You will see results within three days after your injection.

How long your Botox injections last depends on the health of your skin, your lifestyle, genetics, and other factors.

Call us and tell us about your needs to get an estimate on how long your Botox injections will last for you.

How To Prepare For Botox Injections

Before getting a Botox injection, you’ll want to go over a number of important considerations with your treatment provider, such as:

The date of your last injection, how many injections you’ve had in total, what kinds of medications you are using if any, and what you want to see out of your treatment.

Before your appointment, you’ll also want to avoid wine for a week, as this can increase your chance of facial bruising.

You’ll also want to avoid anti-inflammatory medications a week before getting Botox.

Important Note: Before stopping any medications, please first consult with your doctor and see if doing so is right for you.

After Your Botox Injections

After receiving Botox, you’ll want to wait to put on makeup for 24 hours after your visit, as makeup can infect the injection areas and cause swelling, pain, and redness.

You’ll also want to hold off from exercising for 24 hours since exercise can raise your blood pressure and increase your chances of inflammation.

Lastly, you’ll want to avoid using facial cleansers for 24 hours.

Where Are Botox Injections Performed?

Your injection will take place at your medical spa of choice or your doctor’s office.

As for where on the face or body Botox injections can be applied, the areas include:

Forehead
Eyebrow area
Glabellar lines between the eyebrows
Edges of the mouth
Upper lip
Chin
Jaw/masseter muscles
The bridge of your nose
Temples
Neck
Back of your head
Area above your shoulder blades
Underarm

Do Botox Injections Hurt?

Botox injections can hurt a little bit, but most people don’t experience much pain. You may experience some stinging during your procedure.

If you are concerned about your Botox injections hurting, talk to your treatment provider about using a topical anesthetic.

Botox Injection Needles

A lot of people immediately think of pain when they hear of Botox because of the needles required to inject it.

But Botox needles are very small, which makes the injections less painful than you might expect.

Botox also doesn’t typically hurt after the procedure unless you experience a negative reaction, which is all the more reason to work with an experienced and qualified medical spa.

How Many People Use Botox?

According to UCSF Health, an estimated 11 million people around the world have used Botox.

Meanwhile, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons states 4.4 procedures with Botulinum toxin type A were performed in 2020 alone.

These estimates show that Botox is one of the most common cosmetic procedures today, and demand is rising.

Today, there are millions of people getting Botox annually, up from 800,000 in the year 2000 (Source: PlasticSurgery.org).

Dr. Smita Ramanadham believes that increased demand for Botox could be linked to Zoom meetings and the frequency with which people look at their reflections.

She says, “[Doing] hours of Zoom calls [is] now part of our everyday lives. We are seeing the stress of the past year on our faces and we want to do something about it.”

As a general rule of thumb, those who are middle aged and in their golden years use Botox the most.

But a fair number of those in their twenties and thirties have turned to Botox to maintain their youthful appearance rather than try to reverse the signs of aging after those signs have already manifested.

Most Botox procedures are done by women, but men do make up 6% of those who received Botox in 2020. (Source: PlasticSurgery.org).

Botox Risks and Side Effects

Botox injections are fairly safe and are FDA approved to treat a variety of issues. However, they should always be performed by a qualified medical practitioner.

Side effects of Botox include:

Pain and swelling
Problems with how wet or dry your eyes are
Making your eyelids look heavy and droopy
Making patients feel ill like they have the flu

In rare cases, Botox can cause trouble speaking, issues with breathing, problems with your vision, and some other issues.

Note: After your procedure, please avoid rubbing the injected area for 24 hours.

If you have any other questions about what to do and not do before, during, and after your Botox procedure, call us today at 323.897.8726.

When Not To Use Botox

According to the Mayo Clinic, you don’t want to use Botox if you are allergic to cow’s milk protein, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding a child.

Other reasons not to get Botox include:

Poor health
If you have serious skin conditions that could be made worse by the injections
If your skin is very thick and leathery from years of exposure to the elements

What Does Botox Treat?

Botox has a wide range of uses and is used to treat the following conditions:

Acne (treats it by reducing the oil production that causes acne)
Migraines (some researchers believe that Botulinum toxin injectables interrupt pain transmissions between the brain and spinal cord)
Excessive sweating (Botulinum toxin injectables block the nerve signals that cause sweating)
Muscle spasms (Botox interrupts the nerve signals that cause your muscles to contract)
Excessive bladder activity (treats excessive bladder activity by stopping the bladder wall muscle from contracting too much)
Cross eyes/strabismus and eye twitching (Botox relaxes the muscles that are causing your eye to twitch. Botox can also target the muscles that cause your eyes to become misaligned in order to improve strabismus)

Contact Mirror Mirror Med Spa

Mirror Mirror Med Spa is an experienced and friendly medical spa located in Los Angeles.

We offer minimally invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures designed to improve your look and your self-confidence.

We deliver real results and use innovation proven to reduce treatment times and recovery times.

Our medical spa offers a variety of treatments, including body sculpting, cellulite treatment, lip injections, Botox, and more.

We have many happy clients who have had positive results, thanks to our skilled staff.

Our staff includes Nadya, our master esthetician and patient coordinator, Colleen French, our nurse practitioner, and Dr. Brian Levine MD, our Medical Director.