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There are many minimally invasive cosmetic treatments you can consider before resorting to surgery to treat wrinkles and fine lines. Botox injections – as well as other botulinum toxin injections – are popular options for treating dynamic wrinkles. The best Botox results come from experienced providers, but if you’re hesitant about ending up with an unnaturally frozen appearance, you might want to try baby Botox injections.
So what are baby Botox injections? Baby Botox injections give you a smaller taste of what Botox injections can do. It’s a good choice if you want to experience its effects first before committing to a regular Botox injection. But can Baby Botox injections treat wrinkles like crow’s feet? Absolutely! Here’s what you need to know about Baby Botox injections.
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Baby Botox (or micro-Botox) is a cosmetic treatment that can reduce the appearance of wrinkles that’s usually done by regular Botox treatments, including crow’s feet. The aesthetic procedure behind Baby Botox is similar to that of regular Botox, except it uses less units of Botox per injection.
This is different from preventative Botox, since Baby Botox is best used for finer and more subtle facial lines. Preventative treatment is for younger adults with no wrinkles who want to avoid getting wrinkles in the first place.
Botox and other botulinum toxin injections like Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin can effectively treat dynamic wrinkles because of the controlled amount of botulinum toxins in them. This toxin is an active ingredient that can freeze muscles by temporarily blocking your nerve signals from triggering muscle movement. That’s why botulinum toxin injections can treat dynamic wrinkles caused by repeated muscle movement, but not wrinkles made solely from aging.
Baby Botox is similar to regular Botox, except there are smaller amounts of Botox used in every injection compared to the standard dose. The result is a micro-dose that doesn’t completely relax or freeze up the muscle, giving you slight movement but just enough to prevent your facial muscles from creasing your skin too much and causing the wrinkles and fine lines to get deeper.
How much Botox is needed for crow’s feet can vary between patients. The FDA recommends a 12 unit dose of Botox per side or 24 units for both eyes. Some patients may need more or less, depending on the size of the treatment area and how deep the wrinkles are.
When it comes to Baby Botox, there’s no standard of how small a micro-dose has to be. But expect that your provider will use less than 12 units per side for every intramuscular injection. In terms of cost, Baby Botox isn’t as expensive because you don’t have to pay for the usual number of units. However, the additional costs from your provider may not be different from getting regular Botox injections.
Just like Botox, it can take up to two weeks for the toxin to set in and show visible results. Using less Botox doesn’t make the treatment less effective, but the results of Baby Botox aren’t as prominent as regular Botox. This is because smaller doses don’t completely freeze your muscles and allow minimal movement. For some, this can be enough to promote a youthful appearance.
Just like Botox, Baby Botox is temporary and requires additional injections to maintain its effects. This effect lasts much shorter than regular Botox injections. How long Botox lasts can vary from three to six months. Expect Baby Botox to last around 2 to 3 months before you notice full movement in your treatment area again.
There’s no wrong answer choosing between Baby Botox and regular Botox injections. They are the same treatment with botulinum toxin injections, except Baby Botox uses smaller doses and is usually applied for limited types of facial wrinkles for certain injection sites, including:
Ultimately, your decision should be based on what you want to achieve. If you’re not sure about which one to get, it’s best to schedule an initial consultation and discuss your beauty goals with a cosmetic doctor.
Some of the additional benefits to choose Baby Botox over Botox injections include:
Consider the pros and cons of getting either treatment. Consider these pros and cons:
| Botox Injections | |
| Pros | Cons |
| More prominent changes. This makes it the better option for those who want to minimize their deeper wrinkles. Lasts longer. Botox can last up to 6 months when maintained carefully. More range. Baby Botox is limited to areas with more subtle lines, while Botox can be used for various dynamic facial wrinkles around the face such as marionette lines, bunny lines, etc. | More expensive. The average cost of Botox in the United States is $311 per procedure. Less flexible. You’re likely to feel stiffness for a few days while the Botox sets in. Risk of unnatural results. If you’re not getting your Botox from an experienced provider, there’s a chance your face may produce unnatural facial expressions. |
| Baby Botox Injections | |
| Pros | Cons |
| More affordable. You use less units for the whole procedure compared to the same treatment with regular doses. More natural-looking. Baby Botox injections don’t completely freeze muscle movement. Less subtle changes. Those with fine lines who don’t want a drastic change can benefit from subtle changes. | Shorter lifespan. Baby Botox injections have a shorter lifespan of 2 to 3 months. Less effective than just getting the right provider. You can still avoid getting an unnaturally frozen appearance with a regular Botox injection by finding the right provider. Limited treatment areas. While regular Botox doses can effectively treat dynamic wrinkles around your face, baby Botox injections are best for subtle lines like crow’s feet, glabellar lines, and frown lines. |
If you have deeper wrinkles and want to see more visible results, it’s best to get regular Botox cosmetic injections. But if you’re only starting to show fine lines and early signs of facial wrinkle formation and only want a subtle treatment without any drastic changes, then Baby Botox may be the better option for you.
Baby Botox has the same procedure as Botox injections, except using smaller doses. Before your procedure, you’ll have an initial consultation with your provider to see if you’re a good candidate for Baby Botox or any other botulinum toxin type (to avoid any adverse effects from the treatment). An initial consultation can also help you set your expectations about the results.
Baby Botox injections take less than an hour. Your provider will first apply a mild topical anesthetic to the injection sites to minimize the pain of the injection on the muscle location. They will then inject a micro-dose of Botox into the target muscle location. For crow’s feet, your provider will inject at the sides of your eyes.
After the procedure, you can resume your daily activities. However, avoid practicing strenuous activities (which can increase your blood flow and promote bruising) or touching the injection sites to avoid any undesirable effects.
Over the next few days after injection, it’s common to experience minor pain, discomfort, and signs of inflammation like bruising and swelling on the injection sites. These are common side effects that disappear after a number of days. You can use home remedies or common pain relievers to manage these side effects.
There’s still much research to be done on baby Botox and the clinical effects it can have on wrinkles and fine lines. It might not be the best option for those with deeper wrinkles, but for those with subtler lines they want to treat without the risk of drastically altering their appearance, it might be worth looking into.
If you’re considering baby Botox simply to avoid unnatural results, your best option is to find an experienced Botox provider that has helped many patients achieve their treatment goals. At Dr. V Medical Aesthetics, our team of outstanding cosmetic doctors has the experience and skill to give you youthful and natural-looking results through Botox and other minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Book a consultation with us today.
Dr. V Medical Aesthetics is ready to help you achieve your beauty goals. Contact us today to learn more about any of our services, and exactly what our team can do for you.
