What Is Baby Botox?
For over 20 years, Botox has reigned supreme as the go-to treatment for erasing fine lines, crow’s feet, and deep folds around the face. Although many tend to think that older patients are the only ones who use Botox to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles, many younger men and women are also getting on board with the Botox trend through ‘Baby Botox’. This FDA-approved treatment is a popular, quick, and non-invasive procedure that restores a more youthful appearance with no downtime.
For our Seattle patients who fear looking “frozen” or “unnatural,” a lower volume of botulinum toxin, Baby Botox, can be injected. Instead of using 25 units, for example, our nurse injectors can use 10 units of targeted micro injections. This ‘micro-tox’ is best suited for first-time users of botulinum toxin, for younger patients who use it preventatively, or for those seeking a more subtle result.
If you’ve been curious about whether the treatment is right for you, we’ve got the details you need to make an informed decision.
What are the benefits of Baby Botox?
Micro-tox treatment boasts a variety of benefits. One of our Polyclinic Plastic Surgery Center Nurse injectors, Brigid Moriarty, BSN, explains that Baby Botox is great for preventing crow’s feet, frown lines, and brow drooping. Baby Botox also allows younger patients to be proactive about treating facial wrinkles before lines appear so they can enjoy a youthful appearance for longer. Another major benefit Baby Botox has over traditional neurotoxin injections is that it allows for a more natural appearance. Baby Botox can even be injected superficially for pore reduction or to improve skin texture.
What differentiates Baby Botox from traditional Botox?
Simply put, the dose used for Baby Botox is much less. As the name implies, it is usually administered to younger people who are looking more for maintenance and prevention rather than full treatment of more prominent lines and creases. Because the desired results are more subtle, our Polyclinic Plastic Surgery Center plastic surgeons and nurse injectors use lower doses that are customized based on each patient’s unique muscular strength in order to achieve the desired, natural-looking result.
Who is a good candidate for Baby Botox?
Darcy Peterson, Nurse Injector, BSN, says she often uses Baby Botox for younger patients who are looking to prevent wrinkles. Additionally, some patients are simply better candidates for Baby Botox than for the larger does used in traditional Botox treatment. For example, patients with narrow foreheads or low-set brows often have better results with lower doses to soften expression lines while preventing droopy lids or flat brows.
Basically, anyone that wants an improvement in their eyelid or brow position and anyone interested in maintaining a youthful appearance may be a great candidate for Baby Botox. Those seeking a mild reduction of frown lines, crow’s feet, or forehead lines but still want some movement are ideal candidates. Patients who are looking for smooth skin, significant pore reduction, and a radiant complexion are all great candidates.
What can I expect during a Baby Botox appointment?
The procedure takes only a few minutes, and most patients describe the injections as nearly painless. Our plastic surgeons and nurse injectors use a very fine needle so that pain is minimal and bruising, while possible, is rare.
What is the recovery like following Baby Botox?
Patients can expect minimal to no downtime or discomfort. Small injection bumps appear for a few minutes following the procedure but quickly dissipate. If any bruising occurs, it typically resolves within a few days and can be covered with makeup.
How long will the results last?
While each patient metabolizes Botox differently, generally the results will last about three to four months.
You’ll want to keep these things in mind when considering Baby Botox:
There is no “formulaic” approach for Baby Botox injections. Besides the lower volume of product used, Baby Botox is really all about the technique. These super-targeted micro-injections require a more refined approach and a personalized strategy. Be sure to use an experienced injector with advanced training for the best results.
It’s important to understand that you will still need larger doses for larger areas. Larger muscles and deeper wrinkles require higher units of Botox than smaller lines and wrinkles. For this reason, men are more likely to need a higher dose because they have bigger muscles. The lower doses of Botox used may not remove all lines.
Think of Baby Botox as a prevention strategy. The results are always more subtle and may require more frequent touch-ups than traditional Botox.
Is it right for you?
Baby Botox is a fantastic option for those who are just starting out with Botox or for those who want a more natural-looking result. The subtle nature of Baby Botox makes it perfect for those in their 20s and early 30s who are hoping to prevent lines from forming in the first place. If you have shallow lines or want to prevent wrinkles down the line, this could be the perfect procedure for you. The downtime is limited, and you don’t need to do much to prepare or recover.
Ready to give it a try? We invite you to call our Aesthetic Center today to schedule a consultation or treatment with one of our talented and experienced Aesthetic Nurse Injectors, Dary Peterson or Brigid Moriarty. 206.860.5582.