Types of Botox in Suwon: how do Korean and imported products differ, and how do you choose?

If you are getting it for the first time, or feel the effect has become shorter than before and are confused about which product to choose, it helps to first know how the products differ. Botulinum toxin products, commonly called Botox, work on the same principle whether Korean or imported: they block the contraction signal that travels from nerve endings to the muscle, reducing muscle movement.

What differs between products is the strain and purification method, and especially whether the complexing proteins surrounding the toxin are retained or filtered out, and this difference is related to the burden of resistance with repeated injections. That is why products are chosen based on the treatment area, dosage, and how often you will receive injections going forward rather than the country of manufacture. At our Suwon clinic, during consultation we first look at the area, dosage, and records of previous treatments, then decide on the product and package.

In this article, we outline in order how Botox works, the criteria that separate Korean and imported products, why resistance develops and the criteria for choosing a product, the process and recovery care, and side effects.

Types of Botox: key points

• Korean and imported products work on the same principle of blocking nerve signals to the muscle.
• The biggest criterion separating products is whether the complexing proteins around the toxin are retained or filtered out.
• Frequent injections at short intervals or repeated large doses can lead to antibodies forming, which may weaken the effect.
• Products are chosen by looking at the area, dosage, repeat cycle, and whether the effect has become shorter before.

How does Botox work?

Muscles contract when they receive a signaling substance called acetylcholine released from nerve endings. Botulinum toxin blocks the release of this signaling substance, so the injected muscle moves less. Wrinkles that fold every time you make an expression, such as on the forehead or between the brows, fold less deeply as muscle movement decreases, and developed muscles such as a square jaw go through a process in which their volume gradually decreases as periods of less use add up.

The effect appears gradually over several days and is often most noticeable around 2 weeks. Muscle movement returns as nerve endings form new connections; for wrinkles, it lasts about 2 to 3 months on average, and it becomes shorter the more you use your facial expressions or the stronger the muscle.

Types of Botox: what separates Korean and imported products?

Botulinum toxin originally takes the form of a cluster in which other proteins surround the toxin component. There are products that keep these proteins as they are and products that filter them out and keep only the toxin component, and the table below classifies them by that criterion.

When an appropriate dose is placed precisely in the same spot, the time it takes for the effect to appear and how long it lasts do not differ much between products. What has a greater impact on the result is the injection depth and dose tailored to the position and thickness of the muscle.

How are Botox products chosen, and how is the treatment performed?

Why resistance develops and the criteria for choosing a product

When the body's immune system recognizes the injected protein as a foreign substance and makes antibodies, the toxin injected next time is blocked before it reaches the nerve endings, weakening the effect. Antibodies are more likely to form when injections are frequent at short intervals, or when large doses are repeated at once in areas such as a square jaw, trapezius, or calves.

That is why we first look at whether the area takes a small dose, such as the forehead or around the eyes, or a large dose, such as a square jaw or the body. If you plan to receive injections regularly over several years, we also weigh the burden of resistance, and if the effect has become shorter than before, we look again not only at the product but also at the interval and design. This is because other muscles next to the injected muscle may take over the movement, making the effect seem weaker.

Treatment steps at our Suwon clinic

1. Personalized Consultation
2. Numbing Cream
3. Design
4. Disinfection
5. Treatment

The order above is based on wrinkle Botox; the treatment takes about 10 minutes, and you can return to daily life right away. Products are divided into Korean, Korean low-resistance, and German low-resistance; wrinkle Botox is offered for 1 area or 3 areas, square jaw Botox at 50 units, and body Botox at 100 units for one of the trapezius, calves, or thighs. If you want several areas done together, the areas and products are decided with Bespoke Botox, in which the appropriate options among wrinkle, square jaw, and skin Botox are chosen after an examination.

View Wrinkle Botox Procedure Information

View Bespoke Botox treatment information

Recovery and care after Botox

• You can wash your face and wear makeup from 2 to 3 hours after the treatment.
• For 3–7 days after treatment, avoid heavy drinking, smoking, saunas and jjimjilbang, hot baths, and strenuous exercise to prevent inflammation.
• Do not rub the injected area hard, and avoid intense massage or meridian massage for a month.
• The bumpy swelling at the injection points subsides within 2 to 3 hours, though depending on the skin it may last 1 to 2 days.

For wrinkles, it lasts 2 to 3 months on average, so to maintain the effect, we consult based on receiving it again at 3- to 4-month intervals. Repeating at too short an interval can increase the burden of resistance, so it is best to schedule the next treatment after the effect has sufficiently worn off.

Botox side effects and precautions

Mild bruising and swelling at the injection site may occur depending on skin condition, but they are usually slight and soon fade. The bumpy reaction also subsides within a few hours to a day or two, and the degree and duration of reactions vary from person to person.

Rarely, the drug can spread to neighboring muscles, causing drooping eyelids or asymmetric expressions, and chewing strength may weaken temporarily after square jaw treatment. Rubbing or massaging the injection site hard right after the treatment increases the risk of the drug spreading, and if you have experienced the effect becoming shorter, letting us know during consultation helps in deciding the product and interval. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neuromuscular disease such as myasthenia gravis, or are taking certain antibiotics, please let us know before the treatment.

If you have difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, shortness of breath, or double vision after treatment, please contact the clinic right away.

What should I check before choosing a Botox product?

If these apply to you, start by discussing the product and interval

• With the same dose as before, the effect seems to come slowly or wear off quickly.
• I plan to receive injections regularly in areas that take large doses, such as a square jaw or trapezius.
• I have frequently received injections in several areas at short intervals.
• It is my first time for this area, so I have not decided how to set the dose and design.

If two or more apply, it is best to first check the area, dosage, and repeat cycle rather than the product name. Whether to proceed, the method, and the scope are decided together in consultation after the medical team examines you.

In short, Botox products are divided by whether the complexing proteins are filtered out, and the key is to choose according to the area, dosage, and repeat cycle and to keep to the interval.

FAQ

Q. Is there a big difference in effect between Korean and imported Botox?

A. When an appropriate dose is placed in the precise spot, the time it takes for the effect to appear and how long it lasts do not differ greatly. The difference lies in whether the complexing proteins have been filtered out, which is related to the burden of antibody formation with repeated treatments.

Q. If I get low-resistance Botox, will resistance never develop at all?

A. Products with complexing proteins filtered out are made with the aim of reducing the burden of antibody formation, but it cannot be said that resistance will not develop. Care that allows enough interval and uses only as much dose as needed is also necessary.

Q. Can I switch Botox products each time I get injections?

A. Switching products itself is possible. However, if the effect has become shorter, the cause may be the interval or design rather than the product, so we check the areas and doses you received before, the dates, and how long the effect lasted before making the next plan.

Q. When does the Botox effect appear, and how long does it last?

A. It appears gradually over several days after injection and is often most noticeable around 2 weeks. For wrinkles, it lasts 2 to 3 months on average, and it may be shorter if you use your facial expressions a lot or have strong muscles.

Q. What is the difference between Botox and filler?

A. Botox reduces muscle movement to address wrinkles that fold with expressions, while filler fills hollow areas with substances such as hyaluronic acid. If wrinkles that appear with movement and hollowing that is visible even at rest are mixed, we sometimes plan them together on the same day.

Q. How can I find out the cost of Botox?

A. The cost depends on the treatment area, product, and dosage. We guide you after deciding together in consultation which product and how many units will be used in which area, and you can also check the items by area and product on the treatment information page.