Botox is a widely-popular procedure used to smooth out lines and wrinkles on the face.
It is typically administered by cosmetic doctors on areas like the face or neck.
Originally developed for medical purposes in the 1980s, Botox was officially approved for cosmetic use in 2002.
Many people around the world, including celebrities, have turned to Botox in an effort to slow facial aging and maintain their looks.
But it has not been without controversy.
From its effects to its safety, critics have continually cast doubts on Botox, fueling taboos and misconceptions over the years since it was approved for aesthetic use.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) talked to Dr. James Co about Botox at the launch of his beauty clinic, Cosma Aesthetics & Lifestyle Institute.
Dr. Co is an aesthetic doctor and expert injector who trained and worked abroad, specializing in non-invasive procedures.
He shared with PEP that he studied Human Biology at De La Salle University, where he was part of an accelerated program
“So, it's just two years of pre-med. And then, diretso, third year ko, first year med [medical course] na agad at De La Salle Dasmariñas. And then, I graduated 2014.”
After graduation, he immediately went into aesthetic practice.
Before the pandemic, he traveled abroad—working and training in Germany, Italy, and Thailand over the course of two years.
Dr. Co has also been mentoring other doctors in his clinic the way he was trained abroad.
The aesthetic doctor had some training in cosmetic surgery, but his field of specialization is mainly non-invasive treatments for skin rejuvenation such as botox, fillers, and other enhancements through injection.
His philosophy is built around the idea that beauty enhancements can look natural, offering an alternative for patients who want to improve their appearance without going under the knife.
“Mayroon kasing patients that don’t want the change [via surgery]. So, gusto lang nilang maintain or maganda lang sila. Naturally looking pa rin.”
As Botox is one of his specialties, PEP asked Dr. Co to address common misconceptions surrounding this popular cosmetic procedure.
MISCONCEPTIONS about botox
Truth be told, Botox has a wide range of medical applications.
It is used to treat conditions such as upper limb spasms, crossed eyes, severe underarm sweating, migraines, overactive bladder, and eyelid spasms, among others.
However, it is more popularly known for its cosmetic use—smoothing out facial wrinkles to create a younger, more refreshed appearance.
However, there are still many misconceptions about Botox. Here are some of the most common ones.
Botox is toxic and has long-term effects On the body
The doctor debunked this.
While it’s true that Botox is derived from botulinum toxin, a type of toxin, it can be beneficial when used properly and in small doses.
According to an article published in National Institutes of Health in the U.S., the safety of Botox is “well established.”
Dr. Co said: “What it does, it relaxes the muscles. So, it inhibits your muscles to contract. Parang pipigilan niya yung sarili niya, yung skin mo, mag-contract.
“So, nawawala rin siya after sometime. Pag nawala na siya, you can do it again. So, wala siyang longer effect.”
He also explained how Botox was originally used for medical purposes before it became popular in cosmetics.
“It started when we used it for yung mga nag-stroke. Yung mga nagkaroon ng mga muscle problems. Yung mga matigas yung muscle. We use it before, medically...
“So what it does, it inhibits the muscles from contractions. Parang nire-relax niya yung contraction.
“Kunyari, yung may mga problems with migraines, with headaches…”
Eventually, Botox was used for beauty treatments.
“Yung pampaganda na parang kaya palang panipisin yung face, kaya palang pa-relax-in yung mukha. So, nag-evolve lang siya doon.
“Pero, the side effects, wala.
“Toxin kasi, it's a substance. It's a substance that could inhibit something. Hindi siya technically toxic.”
Botox freezes facial expression
Dr. Co stressed the importance of consulting only licensed and experienced doctors.
“You can get that, kumbaga, kung hindi expert yung injections. Kaya siyang gawin [na frozen], but it doesn't really have to look that way.”
He pointed out that used to be the case in the early years of Botox injections.
“Matapang kasi before. It's not well-studied before.”
However, he noted that over the past two decades, more studies have been conducted on Botox to help prevent the "frozen" look.
“Kasi marami nang studies na how to do it well, how to do it properly,” Dr. Co said.
“Kasi nga, before, it's used for muscle relaxation ng talagang may problema sa muscle.”
Erases all wrinkles
This is false, according to Dr. Co.
“Not everything, not every wrinkle can be cured... Kasi usually dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic meaning, pag gumagalaw ka, ‘tapos may wrinkle, kaya nating tanggalin.
“Pero pagka yung hindi gumagalaw yung face mo, ‘tapos may wrinkle, hindi siya puwedeng... I mean, hindi siya matatanggal.”
It's painful
He assured, “Not so much. Mas masakit pa ang mga extractions."
Botox is permanent
“No. Definitely not,” Dr. Co began.
He added taht botox typically lasts up to six months on the face, meaning patients need another injection if they wish to maintain the results.
Once you start, you can't stop
The doctor offered an explanation for this: once the effect wears off, patients who are happy with the results are likely to seek the treatment again.
“Kasi, they like what they see. And then pag nakita nilang nawala, they want more. Yun kasi yun. Kumbaga they want to get it back.
“Di ba, na-feel nila na parang mas maganda sila.
"Pero, misconception lang rin yun. Kasi nasanay kang okay yung face mo. Tapos pag nawala na, parang, ‘Ay, kailangan ko ulit.’
“Kumbaga, they just want it maintained.”
Botox only treats wrinkles
Dr. Co said, “May iba pa siyang ibang kayang gawin. So, there are lots of, that's why I'm saying maraming studies...
“Ngayon, may mga newer studies that it could even treat yung mga hyperpigmentation. And it could even lift… hindi lang siya wrinkles, nagli-lift din siya ng skin.”
Botox affects my body
The doctor said this is false.
He further explained, “It's more on localized lang talaga siya. So, where you put it, that's where it goes.
"Hindi siya yung buong katawan. Hindi siya magsi-circulate sa body mo. Kahit may injection siya sa ugat, wala.
“So, where you put it, mas doon lang siya. Parang localized treatment.”
Botox will cause keloid scar in injection
“Hindi siya nagke-keloid. So, anything injections, usually don't turn into keloids kahit keloidal ka."
As for the recommended age for those who wish to undergo Botox, Dr. Co suggests starting at 30 and above.