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2026.07.02
What Are Botox Injections? A Simple Explanation of the Expected Effects, Benefits, and Drawbacks
My journey into aesthetic medicine stems from a desire to help enrich and beautify lives beyond simply treating illness. My specialties include hyaluronic acid, Botox, and thread lifts. I provide treatments that enhance each individual's unique qualities and bring out an elegant, natural beauty. For concerns around the eyes that are difficult to improve with dermatology alone, I also perform surgical procedures. By integrating dermatology and surgery, I holistically balance the entire face. With three periods of overseas study, I am also able to provide consultations in English.
Botox injections are expected to temporarily weaken the signals sent from nerves to muscles, thereby reducing the appearance of expression lines and a square jawline. They are used not only on the face but also on a wide range of areas—such as the shoulders, calves, and underarms—depending on the desired outcome.
On the other hand, many people worry about whether their facial expressions will look unnatural or whether they can revert to their original appearance if the treatment is too strong.
At BIANCA CLINIC, we place great importance on carefully assessing muscle movement and your specific concerns before precisely adjusting the injection site and dosage.
In this article, we’ll explain how Botox injections work, the different types of formulations available, the expected results, and the pros and cons from a doctor’s perspective.
What kind of procedure is a Botox injection?
Botox injections are a treatment that weakens the signals sent from nerves to muscles and sweat glands, temporarily reducing muscle tension and sweating.
It suppresses the release of neurotransmitters to relax muscle movement
Botox injections use a preparation containing botulinum toxin type A, which is derived from Clostridium botulinum. Although “Botox” is technically the brand name of a specific product, it has become widely established in cosmetic medicine as a general term for botulinum toxin injections.
Botulinum toxin works by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. By making it harder for signals that move muscles to be transmitted, it temporarily relieves excessive muscle contractions.
In treatments for expression lines, small amounts are injected into the facial muscles of the forehead, between the eyebrows, and at the outer corners of the eyes. The key difference from hyaluronic acid injections is that, rather than filling in the wrinkles themselves, this treatment works to reduce the repetitive muscle movements that occur when making facial expressions.
It is used on a wide range of areas, from the face to the body
Botox injections aren’t limited to the forehead, between the eyebrows, or the outer corners of the eyes. Taking advantage of its ability to relax muscle tension and suppress sweat gland activity, Botox is used on a variety of areas, including the jawline, chin, corners of the mouth, neck, shoulders, calves, and underarms.
However, even within the same area, the location and thickness of muscles, differences between the left and right sides, and facial expression patterns vary from person to person. For example, when administering Botox injections for forehead wrinkles, if the function of the muscles that raise the eyebrows is weakened too much, the eyelids may feel heavy.
Therefore, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach—such as “this amount for this area”—we determine whether the procedure is appropriate only after carefully assessing the patient’s facial features, muscle movement patterns, medical history, and desired results.
We offer three types of formulations to suit your needs
At Bianca Clinic, we offer the following three types of botulinum toxin products. (As of July 2026)
- BOTOX Vista® (BOTOX Vista)
- CORETOX®
- INNOTOX®
Botox Vistais a drug approved in Japan that contains Type A botulinum toxin. Its key feature is that its efficacy and safety have been confirmed in Japanese patients. It also has a track record of use spanning more than 25 years worldwide.
Core Toxis a South Korean-manufactured botulinum toxin product. Its high-purity formulation removes the complex proteins that cause resistance, thereby reducing the risk of diminished efficacy due to antibody production. It contains no animal-derived ingredients and is a next-generation product approved by the South Korean MFDS in 2016.
Inotoxis a liquid-form botulinum toxin product manufactured in South Korea. Since it requires no dilution, it minimizes variations in concentration and reduces the risk of infection. It contains no animal-derived ingredients and is formulated with allergy concerns in mind. Phase III clinical trials conducted by the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) have also reported that its effects last for an extended period.
Choosing a treatment shouldn’t be based solely on price. It’s important to consult with your doctor and make your decision based on your treatment history, the area to be injected, the desired results, and how previous treatments have worked for you.
For detailed information on the procedure and precautions for each product, please refer to the Botox Injections page.
▶Botox Injections Treatment Page
What results can I expect from Botox injections?
Botox injections are used to treat concerns related to muscles and nerve transmission, such as expression lines, a square jaw, muscle tightness, and excessive sweating.
The main changes you can expect from Botox injections are as follows.
- Makes expression lines—such as those on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and at the outer corners of the eyes—less noticeable
- Relieves tension in well-developed muscles, such as the jaw and calves
- Balancing facial features such as the corners of the mouth, the jawline, and a gummy smile
- Relieve tension in the shoulder and neck muscles
- Reduces sweat production in areas such as the underarms
Reduces wrinkles caused by facial expressions
Wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and at the corners of the eyes tend to become more noticeable due to repeated movement of the facial muscles. Botox injections can moderately weaken muscle movement, which can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles that form on the skin when you make facial expressions.
On the other hand, for wrinkles caused primarily by deep-set lines that remain visible even when the face is expressionless, as well as sagging skin and loss of volume, Botox injections alone may not produce sufficient results. In such cases, other treatments—such as hyaluronic acid injections or devices designed to address sagging skin—may be more appropriate.
Relieves muscle tension and refines facial contours and lines
For people with well-developed masseter muscles (the muscles used for chewing), injections into the jawline area can gradually reduce muscle tension, resulting in a sleeker-looking jawline.
Using the same mechanism, treatments can also be performed on areas such as the shoulders, neck, and calves. However, if the primary cause of the bulk is skeletal structure or fat, Botox injections—which act on the muscles—alone may not produce the desired results.
The same applies to stiff shoulders: while relief can be expected if the cause is excessive tension in muscles such as the trapezius, no improvement may be seen if the cause is related to posture, skeletal structure, or eye strain.
As you can see, the cause of your concerns isn’t necessarily limited to your muscles. It’s important not to decide on your own whether Botox injections are the right treatment for you; instead, you should determine the cause through a consultation before making a decision.
Reduces sweating by inhibiting nerve signals to the sweat glands
Botulinum toxin not only blocks muscle contractions but also inhibits the nerve signals that instruct sweat glands to produce sweat. For this reason, it is also used to reduce sweating in areas such as the underarms, palms, and soles of the feet.
However, the appropriate treatment varies depending on the cause of the sweating and the severity of the symptoms. If you are concerned about the amount of sweat you produce, it is important to consult a doctor to determine whether Botox injections are appropriate for you.
What are the pros and cons of Botox injections?
Botox injections do not require incisions and can address a wide range of concerns, but they carry risks such as excessive effects, asymmetry, and bruising.
Benefits of Botox Injections
The main benefits are as follows:
- Can be performed without an incision
- Relatively short treatment time
- It can be used on multiple areas, from the face to the body
- You can aim for natural-looking results by adjusting the amount injected
- Relatively short downtime
Since Botox injections involve injecting the medication with a fine needle, they do not require any incisions. Depending on the number and location of the injection sites, the procedure itself is often completed in a relatively short amount of time, making it a convenient option with minimal disruption to daily life.
In addition, even with the same botulinum toxin product, the injection sites can be varied depending on the intended purpose—such as the forehead, between the eyebrows, the jawline, shoulders, calves, and underarms. Another key feature is that you can discuss multiple concerns during your consultation, rather than focusing solely on one part of the face.
However, just because the treatment can be administered to many areas does not mean it is suitable for everyone. Since it may affect daily activities by weakening muscle function, it is necessary to carefully determine the appropriate treatment sites and dosage.
Disadvantages and Risks of Botox Injections
The potential drawbacks and risks are as follows.
- Redness, swelling, pain, and bruising
- Facial stiffness or discomfort
- Left-right difference
- Heaviness in the eyelids and eyebrows
- Difficulty chewing, difficulty applying force
- The effect may be too weak or too strong
- The effect is not permanent
Unlike hyaluronic acid products, botulinum toxin products cannot be dissolved and reversed immediately after injection. If the effect is too strong, the general approach is to wait until the effect wears off.
Common causes that can lead to complications or regret include injecting too much filler, injecting into areas that are not suited to the muscle’s location or function, and failing to communicate the desired outcome with the doctor.
To preserve a natural appearance, it is important to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to injections. Instead, we assess your natural facial expressions, any asymmetry, and your history of previous treatments to ensure the right amount is injected into the exact locations needed.
At Bianca Clinic, when you continue receiving treatments, you will generally be treated by the same doctor. Based on the results and progress from your previous session, we adjust the injection site, depth, and number of units accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
We answer common questions about Botox injections, including when the effects take effect, how long they last, which areas they treat, side effects, and causes of treatment failure.
Q. What are the effects of Botox injections, and how long do they last?
A. Generally, the effects begin to appear about 2 to 3 days after the procedure and stabilize in about 2 weeks. The effects typically last about 3 to 4 months, but this varies depending on the treatment area, the amount injected, muscle development, and individual physiology.
Q. Does it have any other benefits besides reducing facial wrinkles?
A. It is used to treat muscle tension in areas such as the jawline, shoulders, and calves; to improve facial symmetry around the corners of the mouth and jawline; and to address excessive sweating in areas such as the armpits. However, if the cause of the problem is not related to muscles or nerve transmission, a different treatment may be more appropriate.
Q. On which areas are Botox injections effective?
A. Treatment can be performed on the forehead, between the eyebrows, the outer corners of the eyes, around the nose, the corners of the mouth, the chin, the jawline, the neck, the shoulders, the calves, and the armpits. Since the appropriate injection sites and dosage vary depending on the area and the desired outcome, these will be determined during a consultation after assessing muscle movement.
Q. What are the side effects and risks associated with Botox injections?
A. Redness, swelling, pain, bruising, facial stiffness, and asymmetry may occur. Depending on the injection site, symptoms such as heavy eyelids or difficulty chewing may also develop; therefore, it is important for a doctor to determine whether the procedure is appropriate for you.
Q. What causes Botox injections to go wrong?
A. Possible reasons include injecting too much, injections that don’t match the muscle’s location or function, or a lack of communication with the doctor regarding your desired results. The key to avoiding complications is to start with a small amount and communicate everything—from your past treatment history to your facial expressions—to the doctor.
To avoid regrets after Botox injections, consult a doctor first.
Botox injections are a treatment that temporarily blocks nerve signals to muscles and sweat glands, helping to address expression lines, a square jawline, muscle tension, and excessive sweating. While the procedure can be performed on a wide range of areas without incisions, depending on the dosage and injection site, it may result in facial stiffness or asymmetry.
To achieve a natural-looking result, it is important to discuss not only the type of product but also muscle movement, how the treatment has worked in the past, and your desired outcome with your doctor.
At BIANCA CLINIC, we offer consultations for multiple areas—from the face to the body—and determine the appropriate treatment method based on the results of your examination. If you’re wondering whether Botox injections are right for you, please feel free to discuss it with us during your consultation.
▶Botox Injections Treatment Page
▶Counseling Appointment Page
