What Is “Trap Tox”?
“Trap tox” is short for “trapezius Botox”. The trapezius muscle is a larger muscle that spans from the neck, shoulders, and down the upper portion of the back. It has several functions such as aiding in head movements, lifting shoulders, and even rotating the arm. Therefore, treating the trapezius muscle with a neurotoxin like Botox requires a skilled provider.
Generally, trap tox only treats the upper portion of the muscle near the neck and shoulders. Additionally, because the muscle is so large, it would require a large amount of Botox to fully disable it. This amount of Botox is never injected into any muscle of the body. Though, proper administration of Botox by injecting it into the right areas is vital for obtaining the desired results.
Why It’s Done
Providers administer trapezius Botox for medical and/or cosmetic reasons. Firstly, Botox is widely used and FDA-approved for some other areas of the body to treat muscle spasming and pain. This includes the treatment of cervical dystonia which sometimes injects Botox into the trapezius muscle along with other neck muscles. Overuse of the muscle—which is common with modern life because of phones and office chairs—can also cause pain in the area which trap tox may help treat.
Sometimes called “tech neck,” a visible change in posture or a hump can form due to overuse and stress on the trapezius muscle. This is becoming more common because of the way we hold our necks when working on a computer or phone. While it can be prevented and treated with some at-home remedies and exercises, Botox can help quickly treat the current cosmetic appearance.
Benefits & Risks
Trapezius Botox injections come with many possible benefits considering that it can help treat both medical and cosmetic conditions. Regardless of the patient’s reasoning for seeking the treatment, benefits a patient may enjoy include:
- Appearance of a longer neck
- Slim the neck and shoulder contour
- Contribute to better posture
- Alleviate neck or shoulder pain
- Reduce and prevent “tech neck”
- Feminizes the shoulder contour
- Help correct a developed “rounded” shoulder appearance
- Treat certain medical conditions such as cervical dystonia
- May help reduce migraines
- Quick treatment
- Virtually painless
- Little to no recovery
- See initial results within a few days and final results in two weeks
- Customizable based on the patient’s needs and anatomy
- Performed by qualified, experienced injectors
All medical treatments—including non-invasive ones—do come with some inherent risks. For Botox shoulder slimming, the risk of complications is very low for the average patient. However, certain patients may be at a higher risk of adverse reactions or events. Possible risks or complications of trapezius Botox may include:
- Infection
- Overtreatment of the muscle
- Asymmetry
- Could hinder long term strength with consistent overtreatment or overuse of Botox in the area
- Results in the incorrect area
Major issues or complications of trapezius Botox are rare. Seeing a qualified injector who performs thorough patient screening helps prevent adverse events.
