What is “Skin Botox?” While you may be familiar with Botox injections (the number one most administered aesthetic treatment in the world), you may have never heard of “Skin Botox.” This is simply a term for meso-Botox, where Botox is hyper-diluted and injected superficially in tiny microdroplets all across the skin. This can give a beautiful, shiny, “glass skin” effect, and is all the rage in Korea.
Traditional Botox
Traditional Botox for cosmetic use, as most people understand it, is injected into facial muscles to temporarily smooth and soften facial wrinkles. As you animate and emote, underlying facial muscles push and pull facial skin, creating lines and wrinkles that are known as “dynamic lines” (lines only present when animating). Over time, sun exposure, aging, and repeated movements etch these dynamic lines into the skin, which is what are known as “static lines.” Botox works at the junction of nerves and muscles by blocking acetylcholine, which is what nerves use to communicate with muscles. Blocking acetylcholine uptake allows facial muscles to remain relaxed, preventing dynamic movement and even softening static lines.
Botox treatment in this manner necessitates injection in specified areas and usually lasts around three to four months. Common treatment areas include: the forehead, crow’s feet, frown lines (11’s between eyebrows), bunny lines/wolf lines (lines that form from scrunching the nose), masseter muscles to slim the face, DAO (to relax downturned mouth corners), the upper lip for a “lip flip,” the chin to prevent orange peel dimpling, and the platysmal bands of the neck for a “Nefertiti lift.”
Depth of treatment will depend on the specific treatment area. For example, the masseter muscles are quite deep and require deeper injection for proper treatment depth, while treatment of the forehead doesn’t require as much depth to reach the muscle since there is understandably much less tissue. This type of treatment usually involves a few injection points in each treatment area, with a few units of Botox injected per point.
Read More: What is Botox?
Skin Botox
In contrast, “Skin Botox” is extremely superficial, primarily targeting the arrector pili muscles that are responsible for erecting hairs (goosebumps). Some basic skin anatomy is required in order to understand the mechanism of Skin Botox and how it differs from traditional Botox injections. Every pore in the skin actually contains a hair, and is known as a “pilosebaceous unit.” Each is comprised of a hair follicle, the hair shaft, a sebaceous gland, and an arrector pili muscle. This is true even if the hair is invisible to the naked eye (like peach fuzz on the face). Pilosebaceous units are also where sebum is excreted, with more active sebum output leading to pores that look “enlarged.” Of course, sun exposure, aging, genetics, and other factors can contribute to this as well.
Superficial meso-injection of Botox (aka Skin Botox) specifically targets the arrector pili muscles and helps smooth superficial skin. This is what helps refine skin texture, helps reduce oil production, and can give a beautiful glassy appearance to the skin. Skin Botox is different from traditional Botox in that: only a few units are required for treatment of the face but they must be highly diluted (as compared with traditional Botox injection dosage and dilution), and it requires many superficial injection points all across the skin (if injecting by hand with a syringe and needle). It is also possible to use a micro-channeling vial with a stamping action like “AquaGold” to deliver the Skin Botox or a multi-injector (aka a skin booster device) to deliver meso-injections all over the face. These device-driven methods may be preferable over hand injection due to reduction in discomfort and evenness of delivery. However, just like traditional Botox injections, the effects of Skin Botox generally last for a few months.
Skin Botox is NOT a replacement for traditional Botox injections because the two treatments target different muscles. It utilizes a different injection method (meso-injection) and dilution ratio of the same product to achieve a different effect. Both treatments can be done depending on the desired outcome and condition of the treated skin. Skin Botox can also be combined with other treatments, such as Skin Booster treatments.
If you are interested in Skin Botox or Botox treatments in Los Angeles, give DSC a call! Our dedicated consultants can give personalized treatment plans for your skin goals!
DSC Laser & Skin Care Center
www.dscbeauty.com
(626) 285-0800
info@dscbeauty.com
889 S. San Gabriel Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
