You’ve probably seen the trend on social media. Based on calls to the Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills office, an increasing number of people are interested in a neck-slimming treatment known as “Traptox.” Los Angeles-area patients who want to get a longer-looking neck and relieve tension in their trapezius muscles tend to tell us that they learned about the treatment on Instagram. Our Board-Certified and Cosmetic Fellowship Trained Dermatologists know that social media has significant influence on the world of cosmetic treatments. In this post, we explain that Traptox may look promising online, but comes with some pitfalls for the real world.
While some so-called “off-label” advancements in treatments prove to be beneficial with minimal risk, that’s not the case with Traptox—also known as “Barbie BOTOX®.” We speak from experience, as we specialize in delivering exceptional BOTOX® treatments from Board-Certified and Cosmetic Fellowship-Trained Dermatologists who have unparalleled experience with the injectable. The team includes Dr. Derek Jones, whose work as an investigator for the FDA trial on using BOTOX®Cosmetic for crow’s feet ultimately led to an approval. The team’s experience includes treating BOTOX® Cosmetic print and television models, as well as collectively performing more than 100,000 injections.
Our observation is that adverse effects of off-label use of botulinum toxin injections to the trapezius muscles have not all made it to the published literature yet. Still, patients—and also injectors offering this treatment—should be aware of the potential risks!
While recent published reports have demonstrated some safety and efficacy of trapezius injections, the more serious adverse effect people should be aware of is potential nerve trunk damage, causing paralysis. This can happen due to injection of nerve entry points.
Destabilization of the larger important lateral and posterior neck muscles—which can happen due to the muscle-relaxing effects of BOTOX®—is also possible and can lead to spine and disk destabilization and emergency surgery. We are aware of this adverse effect occurring in a doctor we know and love!
Less serious potential adverse effects (besides potential temporary bruising, which may occur with any injection) include weakness of the neck and arms, reduced upper arm mobility, and reduced lifting capability.
When administered by a Board-Certified and Cosmetic Fellowship-Trained Dermatologist, BOTOX®is especially effective for diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, particularly in the forehead, around the eyes, and between the eyebrows. By targeting specific facial muscles, it relaxes the skin and smooths out expression lines, resulting in a rejuvenated and natural-looking appearance.
Contact Skin Care and Laser Physicians of Beverly Hills to schedule a consultation. Our knowledgeable staff will guide you through the process, address any inquiries you may have, and create a personalized plan to help you safely achieve your beauty goals. Message us today and discover the transformative power of this remarkable treatment.
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