Botox areas: where else can it be used besides forehead wrinkles and a square jaw?
Beyond the forehead and square jaw, Botox is also used for the salivary glands, sweaty underarms and hands, overdeveloped body muscles, neck skin, and the corners of the mouth.
Botulinum toxin blocks acetylcholine released from nerve endings, reducing the activity of the receiving tissue for a certain period. When the receiving tissue is muscle, it reduces movement; when it is a sweat gland, it reduces sweating; and when it is a salivary gland, it works toward reducing its size. This is why, even with the same product, the injection depth and retreatment interval differ depending on where it is injected.
How Botox works depending on where it is injected
- Muscles: Muscles contract less, so expression lines soften, and muscles that are used less gradually become smaller.
- Sweat glands: Sweat gland function is temporarily weakened, so you sweat less. This treatment does not eliminate sweating altogether.
- Salivary glands: It works toward reducing the size of enlarged parotid and submandibular glands.
- Superficial skin layers: Rather than into the muscle, it is injected in small, closely spaced amounts into the skin layer to address texture and fine lines. This is how Skin Botox works.
In every case, the effect fades naturally over time. To maintain it, retreatment is done at the interval suited to each area.
Botox comparison by area
| Category | Injection site | Anesthesia | Changes and duration | Retreatment interval |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salivary gland Botox | Parotid and submandibular glands | No anesthesia step in the treatment steps | Returns to original size over 6~8 months | 4–5 months |
| Hyperhidrosis Botox | Areas that sweat heavily | Numbing cream for 20–30 minutes | Sweating decreases from day 2~3, with changes within 1~2 weeks; typically lasts 4~6 months | When the effect wears off, at least 3 months |
| Body Botox | Overdeveloped body muscles | No anesthesia step in the treatment steps | Muscles begin to reduce after 2 weeks, with lines refined in 1~2 months on average | 3–5 months |
| Skin Botox (including the neck) | Shallow layer of the skin | Numbing cream for 20–40 minutes | Lasts 1~2 months on average | 2 to 3 months |
| Specialty-area Botox | Wrinkles in areas not treated with wrinkle Botox | Numbing cream, except for some areas | Lasts 2~3 months on average | 3~4 months |
All are completed in about 10 minutes, with no need to set aside recovery time.
Botox guide by concern
1. When the sides of the jaw and under the jaw look wide
- Recommended treatment: Salivary Gland Botox
- Recommended interval: every 4~5 months
- Features: We look for salivary gland enlargement caused by frequently eating hard, chewy foods, frequent vomiting, or excessive saliva production. If the widened look is caused by the chewing muscle, square jaw Botox is considered, and when both causes are present, the two treatments are sometimes done together.
2. When sweat makes you self-conscious about your clothes and odor
- Recommended dosage: 50U or 100U
- Recommended interval: When the effect wears off, at least 3 months apart
- Characteristics: Considered when clothes need frequent washing or turn yellow. The dosage is chosen based on the size of the area and the amount of sweat.
3. When prominent body muscles keep your contours from looking refined
- Recommended dosage: 100u
- Recommended interval: 3~5 months apart
- Characteristics: Addresses contours that dieting alone does not refine, and muscles that have become prominent from long hours of smartphone and computer use.
4. When wrinkles and texture of the neck skin are a concern
- Recommended treatment: Neck Skin Botox
- Recommended interval: 2~3 months apart
- Characteristics: Injected in small, closely spaced amounts into the shallow layer of the skin rather than the muscle. It may also be combined with neck wrinkle filler.
5. When the corners of the mouth appear to droop
- Characteristics: Injected into the muscle that pulls the mouth corners downward to reduce its pulling force. We recommend combining it with lip volume filler and mouth corner filler.
View how mouth-corner Botox works and how it differs from filler
Precautions on the Day of Treatment (The Most Important 24 Hours)
- If treated on the face, you may wash your face and apply makeup 2~3 hours afterward.
- Do not rub or press the injection sites hard.
- Raised bumps (embossing) usually subside within 2~3 hours, but may last 1~2 days depending on skin condition.
What to Avoid for One Week
- For 3~7 days, avoid heavy drinking and smoking, as well as saunas, jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise.
- Forced vomiting after Salivary Gland Botox. This may shorten the duration of results and cause pain.
Aftercare
- Avoid vigorous massage and meridian massage for one month.
- After Salivary Gland Botox, the area may feel stiff for a short time. After body Botox, tightness and throbbing typically subside within 2~3 days on average.
- After Botox for hand hyperhidrosis, grip strength may rarely weaken temporarily. If you do fine work with your hands, please let us know before treatment.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a muscle or nerve disorder, please let us know before treatment. Please also tell us in advance about any medications you are taking and any allergies. If swelling or pain worsens day by day, contact us immediately.
Booking and consultation
FaceFilter Clinic Suwon performs salivary gland, hyperhidrosis, and body Botox using Korean, Korean low-resistance, and German low-resistance formulations. During a personalized consultation, we assess the muscles and glands in your area of concern to choose the treatment sites and dosage.
View salivary gland Botox treatment information
View Hyperhidrosis Botox Procedure Information
This content is provided as general treatment information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a medical professional to decide whether and how to proceed with a treatment.