While scrolling through IG you may have seen the latest trend in Botox use;
slimming treatments! Before and after photos of women showcase the versatility
and power of this wonder drug. Bulky muscles transformed into willowy, slender
silhouettes seemingly overnight. Does this treatment really work? I am happy to
let you know that it actually does.
With continued use, over the course of time, it will absolutely yield results.
With the onset of warm weather and wedding season on the horizon, many
women can utilize this procedure if they are planning to wear a strapless gown,
or wish to bare their shoulders at their special event.
How does it work you may ask? The same neurotoxin that is injected into the face
to eliminate wrinkles, correct asymmetry, and treat blepharospasm can also be
used to create a temporary partial paralysis of a bulky muscle group.
Botox, Xeomin, or Dysport are the medications commonly used.
It provides a similar effect to casting an arm or a leg for 6 weeks, rendering it
immobile. When the cast is removed, the diminished muscle size of the casted
limb is noticeable. Similarly, by creating a temporary partial paralysis of bulky
muscles, they can be temporarily immobilized, thereby reducing their size over
time.
This technique can be utilized almost anywhere in the body, but the most popular
cosmetic reductions for women are the masseter muscles in the jaw, as well as
the muscles of the shoulders, thighs, and calves.
What to expect:
The appointment is typically about 20 minutes to perform photos, asses weight,
and inject the desired areas. The injections are relatively pain free. Your skin will
be sanitized, marked to identify the injection areas, and then a tiny needle is used
to infiltrate the toxin into the muscle. Normally, two treatment sessions are
performed, about three months apart.
Results are typically best seen after 6 months. The treatments carry a very low
risk of complication, similar to a typical facial toxin injection, and include bruising,
redness, sensitivity at the injection site. These reactions are usually brief and
transient, resolving in a few days in most cases.
It is important to utilize a trained and licensed practitioner who is trained in the
appropriate dosing and placement of the toxin. You don’t want to wind up with a
drop foot in pursuit of slim calves, just because you went to an untrained
provider. This treatment is a great way to achieve a slighter silhouette should
you desire one. I love the creative utilization of this technique and offer it in my
practice. National average pricing is $12/unit for the toxin and depending upon
the size of the area being treated will require about 25-30 units for the jawline
and up to 100 units for large areas like bilateral thighs.
Author Bio: Heidi Lindner has been an aesthetics expert for over 17 years specializing in all aspects of non-surgical aesthetics and plastic surgery. She is sought out for her techniques that focus on a natural-looking approach to facial balancing, restoration, and beauty optimization. Follow her on Instagram @j_derme