Hangers&Hangers

“The Botox isn’t working like it used to.”   “Are you using a different kind of Botox?”  “This last treatment didn’t work like the last times, what’s wrong?”

It’s an epidemic.  Three patients this week.  Two last week.  Four the week before.   WHAT’S GOING ON?!  Well, it’s the economy, stupid.     WHAT??!!    Yep.  Believe it.

No, there is nothing wrong with the Botox and we haven’t changed our uniquely, specialized, highly proprietary treatment technique either.  We’ve noticed many patients have been putting off and delaying their regular Botox treatments, because of the economy, trying to get the extra week, 2 weeks, or even an extra 2 months out of the last treatment.  Well, if you’ve been treating regularly and finally have worked up to a reduction of units and/or extended your regular treatment intervals by a couple of weeks you might think you can keep those great results even a little longer.  And you can/did.  ONCE.  Very unlikely twice.  Dr. C gave an example of working out in the gym.  It takes a lot of work over many weeks to get yourself in shape and you’re able to start lifting, let’s say, 50 lbs.  You’re lifting 50 lbs. quite easily now several times a week.  Then you go on vacation.  Two weeks later you’re back lifting 50 lbs.  You maybe a little sore after and maybe you don’t want to do it again for a couple of days but then the kids are sick and you miss a few days at the gym.  By the time another week goes by, the 50 lbs. is turned back to 45 lbs., with effort.

The first time you get Botox, it’s really working hard to relax muscles that have strengthened themselves over years to the point of displacing collagen and creating wrinkles and deep lines.  It will take weeks to get the full effect of first time Botox and it will start to wear off early.  With regular treatment, those muscles start to ‘give it up’ and the Botox effect will start to last a little longer.  A few more treatments and maybe you can use fewer units.  But, as soon as you break the cycle those muscles start to come back.  You won’t see them initially because they’re masked by the new collagen you’ve rebuilt in the wrinkles; but, these stronger muscles are already starting to displace the new collagen and your next ‘reduced’ unit or ‘late’ treatment won’t be able to keep up with momentum already created by the strengthened muscles.  You’re starting over.  :-(   Sorry, can’t help it.  Can’t predict it well either.  Dr. C has to ’see’ the muscle reaction to be able to adjust.  (You probably wouldn’t want us to use electrodes to measure the muscle strength.)

So, there you have it.  When a medicine gives the definitive results that Botox does, not using it also gives definitive results.  That being said, these are trying times and we’re all trying to stretch our dollars.  If longer times between treatments are necessary then by all means do it.  Prioritizing your cosmetic needs may also help.  When things improve, remember, the results can too.  The Botox is the same.