When to Consider “Baby” Botox®

Botox basics

Before we dive into baby Botox, here’s a brief refresher course on original Botox.

Botox is the brand name of a prescription medication derived from Clostridium botulinum toxin. Of course, it’s thoroughly purified and rendered safe. In fact, Botox has undergone extensive clinical research and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating dynamic facial wrinkles in your forehead and around your eyes.

The medication temporarily halts the contraction of your targeted facial muscles, stopping the creases from forming in your skin. The effects last for an average of three months, at which point you can receive another injection to extend your results.

Many report that the results last longer and longer with each treatment because their facial muscles learn to contract less.

How is baby Botox different?

Baby Botox uses the exact formula we use in a regular Botox treatment, but the dose is smaller. Although traditional Botox injections are completely safe and deliver beautiful results, baby Botox ratchets down the power of a maximum dose by using a micro-droplet technique rather than a full injection.

Baby Botox also targets a more shallow location under your skin. The more superficial injection reduces the effect and only partially relaxes the underlying muscles.

When should you consider baby Botox?

The gentler effect of baby Botox may be desirable for several reasons.

You’re new to Botox

We often recommend baby Botox to people who are just getting started with Botox. If this is your first time, and you’d like to dip your toes in the Botox pool before you commit to the full version, baby Botox is the ideal starter treatment.

You’re trying to prevent wrinkles

Although Botox is great at smoothing out dynamic wrinkles, it’s also effective at preventing them. Many of our patients in their 20s use baby Botox to stop wrinkles before they start.

You have light wrinkles

If you only have “baby” lines and wrinkles, you only need a baby dose of Botox. No need for overkill with a full dose — ask Dr. Polavarapu which treatment you need to get the job done.

You don’t want a drastic change

As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Polavarapu understands facial anatomy better than aestheticians and other Botox administrators, so you can rest assured that you’ll always look natural after Botox under her care. But make no mistake — you will see a dramatic difference.

If you’d like a more subtle change, baby Botox may be the better choice.

Baby Botox benefits

To recap, baby Botox is simply a lower dose of regular Botox, injected more slowly and at shallower depths. The potential benefits are:

• You retain more facial movement
• You look even more natural
• More subtle effects

Another bonus is that baby Botox has fewer side effects, such as minor swelling and redness.

To find out which version of Botox is right for you, call or click to request a consultation with Dr. Polavarapu today.