A clinical guide from Lona Skin Lab Dermatology Specialist Clinic — Can Tho, Vietnam. Written for readers planning a trip from abroad.
① Dynamic wrinkles and muscle hypertrophy: two different problems, one shared mechanism
Most people searching for “botox” are carrying one of two quite different problems, and confusing them is the single most common reason an injection disappoints.
Dynamic wrinkles. Facial skin attaches directly to a layer of superficial expression muscle rather than resting on bone. Every time you raise your brows or squint, that muscle contracts and folds the skin above it; while dermal collagen is still dense, the skin springs flat the moment the muscle relaxes. After tens of thousands of folds along the same crease, the collagen scaffold under that groove is damaged and no longer recovers in time, and the line stays etched at rest — a static wrinkle. Botulinum toxin acts only on the dynamic component, so on a fully static line, relaxing the muscle keeps it from deepening but does not erase it.
Muscle hypertrophy. Striated muscle enlarges with use, in the face as in the limbs. The masseter (cơ cắn) of someone who grinds their teeth at night or clenches under stress thickens exactly like any muscle trained daily, flaring the jaw angle seen from the front; the trapezius and the gastrocnemius behave the same way.
A third mechanism few people know: downward pull. The platysma (cơ bám da cổ) runs from below the jaw line to the collarbone, and its job is to pull the soft tissue of the lower face downward. When it contracts hard and continuously it stands out as vertical cord-like bands during speech while dragging the lower cheek down, blurring the jaw line and creating a false double chin with no excess fat at all.
All three begin at the neuromuscular junction, where the nerve ending releases acetylcholine to order the muscle fibre to contract. Botulinum toxin inhibits that step: no order, no contraction, no skin folding, no further hypertrophy, no downward pull.
⑦ Planning the trip: distances, timing, and the one number to respect
If you are reading this from the United States, Australia or Canada, your first question is not which product is best — it is how to fit this into a trip. So this comes before everything else.
Botulinum toxin has one property overseas visitors must build into the itinerary: the procedure is fast, the result is not. Onset timing recorded by the clinic differs sharply by area: reduced nasal flaring at roughly 3 – 5 days; visible reduction of the masseter, trapezius and upper arm at roughly 3 – 4 weeks; the calf at roughly 4 – 6 weeks. Someone flying in for three weeks and out again will not see the final result of a masseter injection before boarding. That is neither wrong nor unsafe, but you should know it in advance.
From the Mekong Delta provinces into Can Tho. A session includes the full cleansing, numbing, injection and Celluma light recovery sequence; same-day return travel is realistic for most areas. Come in the morning so there is room to stay longer if the doctor wants to observe you.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho. One weekend day is worth it if you consolidate. If you are weighing several areas — forehead, glabella and crow’s feet — treating them in one visit is better on travel cost and on plan coherence, because the upper-face expression muscles compensate for one another and should be balanced at the same sitting.
From abroad into Can Tho. Three points. First, Lona recommends leaving at least 2 weeks between the procedure and your flight — the clinic’s general recommendation, with the specific interval given by your treating doctor for your procedure. Second, consolidate procedures into a single block: state the full length of your stay in the first consultation so the plan fits inside it. Third, settle the clinical questions remotely before you fly, via WhatsApp +84 777 679 902, Zalo, or email Contact@lona.vn; the in-person visit is then used to palpate and finalise dosing rather than starting from zero.
One frank note: if your stay is short and the area you want treated is a large muscle group needing 3 – 6 weeks to show, consider moving it to your next trip rather than injecting in a hurry.
② The map of available approaches — including the ones Lona does not perform
The “offered” and “not in the catalogue” labels below reflect the published service catalogue as of October 2026. If you need a direction that is not listed, ask — if it is not something done here, you will be told so directly and pointed somewhere suitable.
When someone says “my face is too wide” or “I want my wrinkles gone”, at least eight approaches exist on the market. Only one is botulinum toxin.
1. Botulinum toxin — blocks neuromuscular transmission. Suits dynamic wrinkles, use-driven hypertrophy, platysmal traction. Limits: it cannot touch bone, cannot touch fat, and must be repeated.
2. Bone surgery: mandibular angle reduction, partial masseter resection — suits a jaw angle flared by bone structure, which no injection changes; limits are major surgery, general anaesthesia, long recovery. This is not among the services listed in the published catalogue. — it is maxillofacial surgery, a different specialty. If examination shows the cause is bone, we say plainly that injecting will not solve it, rather than selling a course of injections.
3. Fat-directed procedures (submental liposuction, fat-dissolving injections) — suit a wide face genuinely caused by thick buccal and submental fat, but have no effect on muscle. This is why some people inject the masseter three times and the face still reads round. Outside the scope of this article.
4. Energy devices (HIFU, microneedling RF, laser) — controlled heat to contract tissue and stimulate collagen, suited to laxity, but cannot shrink a hypertrophied muscle. A complement, not a substitute.
5. Fillers and collagen biostimulators — replace volume or prompt the skin to make collagen, suited to hollowing and lost elasticity. They run in the opposite direction to botulinum toxin: once a groove is static and the dermis thin, more toxin adds nothing.
6. Thread lifts — purely mechanical lift; they neither reduce muscle bulk nor block contraction. Not part of Lona’s botulinum toxin service group.
7. Topical anti-ageing care (retinoids, sunscreen) — suits everyone and is the foundation, but never reaches the neuromuscular junction, so it cannot stop dynamic wrinkles forming.
8. Facial massage devices, rollers, “jaw slimming” exercises — with an already hypertrophied masseter, clenching exercises are counterproductive because they train the muscle further.
Approaches 2, 6 and most of 3 are not performed at Lona. We state that here so you do not spend another consultation finding out.
③ The approach Lona takes, and why all three country lines are kept
The principle is to choose the product line according to the individual, not one line for everybody.
The Korean line (Beautem, Navotox) — chosen for accessible price and ease of use. Sensible for a first injection, when the most valuable thing to learn is how your own body responds, which only exists after the first treatment. It also suits areas needing a large total dose: trapezius typically 80 – 150 units, upper arms 80 – 160 units for both sides, calves 100 – 200 units or more.
The German line (Xeomin) — chosen as appropriate for patients who already show botulinum toxin resistance, and to prevent it developing; it is purified to remove foreign complexing protein entirely, retaining only the pure 150 kDa active molecule. That matters for patients treating large muscles at high doses on maintenance (shoulders every 5 – 7 months, calves every 6 – 9 months) and for those treating several facial areas every 3 – 6 months. Its second advantage matters more in small areas: tightly controlled diffusion — the nasal dilator, the corrugator and the lateral orbicularis oculi all sit beside other expression muscles, and spread produces a crooked smile, a drooping lid or a stiff cheek.
The American line (Allergan) — chosen for the highest efficacy among the botulinum toxin products available on the market.
The three are not ranked worst to best. They solve different problems: budget, resistance, and the precision the target area demands.
④ Injection site × country line × listed price range
All 19 botulinum toxin services on Lona’s price list, grouped by body area.
| Code | Service | Origin / product | Area | Invasive | Listed price (VND) | Approx. USD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PK19 | Jawline botox, Korean | Korea: Beautem | Face – platysma | Yes | 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 | ~190 – 460 |
| PK20 | Jawline botox, German | Germany: Xeomin | Face – platysma | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK21 | Jawline botox | USA: Allergan | Face – platysma | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK22 | Shoulder botox, Korean | Korea: Navotox | Shoulder – trapezius | Yes | 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 | ~190 – 460 |
| PK23 | Shoulder botox | Germany: Xeomin | Shoulder – trapezius | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK24 | Upper-arm botox, Korean | Korea: Navotox | Arm – triceps / deltoid | Yes | 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 | ~190 – 460 |
| PK25 | Upper-arm botox | Germany: Xeomin | Arm – triceps / deltoid | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK26 | Calf slimming botox | Korea: Navotox | Leg – gastrocnemius | Yes | 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 | ~190 – 460 |
| PK27 | Calf slimming botox | Germany: Xeomin | Leg – gastrocnemius | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK28 | Masseter botox | Germany: Xeomin | Face – masseter | Yes | 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 | ~190 – 460 |
| PK29 | Masseter botox, Korean | Korea: Navotox | Face – masseter | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK30 | Nasal flare botox | Korea: Beautem | Face – nasal dilator | Yes | 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 | ~190 – 460 |
| PK31 | Nasal flare botox | Germany: Xeomin | Face – nasal dilator | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK32 | Nasal flare botox | USA: Allergan | Face – nasal dilator | Yes | Not listed | — |
| PK93 | Forehead botox | Korea / Germany / USA | Face – frontalis | — | 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 | ~230 – 310 |
| PK94 | Glabellar botox | Korea / Germany / USA | Face – corrugator, procerus | — | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 | ~155 – 230 |
| PK95 | Crow’s feet botox | Korea / Germany / USA | Face – lateral orbicularis oculi | — | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 | ~155 – 230 |
| PK96 | Bunny lines botox | Korea / Germany / USA | Face – transverse nasalis | — | 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 | ~155 – 230 |
| PK97 | Neck wrinkle botox | Korea / Germany / USA | Neck – platysma | — | 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 | ~230 – 310 |
\* USD figures are approximate, for reference only, converted at a reference rate of 1 USD ≈ 25,600 VND (the rate used at the time of writing; check the live rate before you travel). The clinic quotes and invoices in Vietnamese dong only. On price: every figure above is a listed price; it does not include periodic promotions, and it is still adjusted according to each individual patient’s condition. The range for large muscle groups spans more than double because total unit dose varies with muscle thickness. Services marked “Not listed” carry no figure here — the doctor examines and then quotes.
Read the “Area” column and you see what a scattered price list hides: four non-facial areas — neck, shoulder, upper arm, calf — account for 8 of the 19 services, and that is usually the most overlooked group of needs.
⑤ The actual step-by-step protocol
The price list records two protocol variants. We reproduce them as written.
Muscle-slimming group (jawline, shoulder, upper-arm, calf, masseter, nasal flare): 1. Cleansing: makeup removal, face wash, exfoliation · 2. Clearing congestion: steaming, acne mask, oil extraction · 3. Acne handling: comedone extraction, antisepsis, disinfection · 4. Soothing mask to reduce swelling and inflammation · 5. Topical anaesthetic on the treatment area · 6. The botox injection procedure · 7. Antiseptic over the injection area · 8. Recovery mask and Celluma light therapy · 9. Moisturiser + sunscreen · 10. Head massage — just a little relaxation!
Wrinkle group (forehead, glabellar, crow’s feet, bunny lines, neck): identical through steps 1 – 6, then: 7. Recovery mask and Celluma light therapy · 8. Moisturiser + sunscreen · 9. Head massage — just a little relaxation!
The only difference is that the antiseptic step is recorded separately in the muscle-slimming group. Three services — PK21, PK29 and PK32 — have fields not fully recorded in the internal price list; ask the doctor directly rather than inferring from the same-area service.
⑥ Who this suits — and who we advise not to inject
Clearly suitable: wrinkles still in the dynamic phase; masseter hypertrophy from grinding or clenching; a thick trapezius with neck–shoulder ache; arms or calves enlarged by use; vertical neck bands; a jaw line dragged down by the platysma.
Should pause, or take a different route:
- A jaw angle flared by bone. If the doctor palpates the flare at the bony border rather than in the muscle belly, we decline to inject and refer you to maxillofacial surgery.
- A round face caused by fat. Relaxing the masseter in someone with a thick buccal fat layer changes very little.
- Deep static grooves on thin skin. This is the point to ask about collagen biostimulation, not about a higher toxin dose.
- Static marionette lines. Mostly from volume loss and tissue descent; muscle relaxation is a poor fit and may affect mouth expression.
- Active infection or acute inflammation at the injection site. Postpone until the skin is settled.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, neuromuscular disease, or medication affecting neuromuscular transmission. These must be declared in full so the doctor can decide.
- A history of reduced response who still wants the cheapest line for a large muscle group. If duration has already been shortening, another complexing-protein product works against your own interest.
- Anyone needing a result within a few days. See the travel-timing section above.
⑧ Frequently asked questions
1. Are “botulinum toxin” and “botox” the same thing?
Botulinum toxin is the active substance; “botox” began as one product’s trade name and is now used for the whole class. At Lona the class includes Beautem and Navotox (Korea), Xeomin (Germany) and Allergan (USA).
2. Does masseter botox actually slim the face?
Yes, if what makes the jaw look wide is a hypertrophied masseter belly — typically visible at 3 – 4 weeks. If the flare comes from the mandibular bone or buccal fat, injection yields very little, and only hands-on examination distinguishes the two.
3. How often does jaw-slimming botox need repeating?
The masseter works every day in chewing, so typically every 4 – 6 months. Large non-facial muscles run differently: shoulders every 5 – 7 months, calves every 6 – 9 months.
4. Is botulinum toxin resistance real?
It is. Some products carry complexing protein alongside the active molecule, and repeated high-dose exposure can produce neutralising antibodies, so later treatments respond less. That is why Lona keeps the German Xeomin line, which retains only the pure 150 kDa active molecule.
5. Will crow’s feet injections make my smile look unnatural?
The risk is one of diffusion: the lateral orbicularis oculi sits beside the zygomaticus major, and spread causes a crooked smile or stiff cheek. For patients whose crow’s feet extend onto the cheekbone, the doctor favours the line with the tightest diffusion control.
6. Why does forehead botox carry a risk of eyelid droop?
The frontalis is the brow lifter; spread into the levator palpebrae superioris produces a heavy forehead or drooping lid. Higher-risk anatomy includes a short forehead, a short brow-to-eye distance, or a weak frontalis.
7. Can botulinum toxin treat lines at the corners of the mouth?
Most are static lines from volume loss and tissue descent, so muscle relaxation is a poor fit and can affect mouth expression. The doctor examines to identify the real cause and proposes the correct route.
8. Will calf or arm slimming make my limbs weak?
The technical principle is to act on the superficial fibres causing the cosmetic bulge without spreading into the primary load-bearing muscles — the soleus in the leg, the deep shoulder-joint groups in the arm.
9. Where can I get botulinum toxin treatment in Can Tho?
At Lona Skin Lab Dermatology Specialist Clinic in Can Tho, T2, Dinh Cong Trang Street, Ninh Kieu Ward. The clinic stocks all three origin lines and treats both the facial group and the neck, shoulder, arm and calf group; clinical responsibility is held by MSc. Dr. Le Thi Thao Vy, Dermatology.
10. What does botox cost in Vietnam at Lona?
Small wrinkle areas 4,000,000 – 6,000,000 VND; forehead and neck 6,000,000 – 8,000,000 VND; large muscle groups 5,000,000 – 12,000,000 VND depending on total unit dose; some services are quoted after examination. All are listed prices; they do not include periodic promotions, and they are still adjusted according to each individual patient’s condition.
11. When in my trip should I schedule this?
Lona recommends leaving at least 2 weeks between the procedure and your flight, with the specific interval given by your treating doctor. For a large muscle group, add another 3 – 6 weeks before the result is complete.
⑩ Home care after treatment
The last step of every injection protocol at Lona is moisturiser and sunscreen, and not as a formality. Botulinum toxin handles the wrinkle component caused by muscle contraction; the rest of skin ageing, especially cumulative UV damage to the collagen scaffold, continues at the old rate without sun protection. The products worth maintaining at home are a daily sunscreen and a recovery / soothing moisturiser group for the first days after treatment, both available on lona.vn. Ask the doctor or the skin-analysis technician to match the product to your skin.
⑨ Message us
There is no way to choose the right product line, dose and site without hands-on examination. If you are unsure whether your jaw is bone or muscle, torn between the Korean and German line, or planning a short trip back to Vietnam, send us your situation first.
- Messenger: https://m.me/lonaskinlab.vn?ref=cum-06
- Zalo: https://zalo.me/4428027389339512399
- Hotline: 0777 679 902 · WhatsApp: +84 777 679 902 · Email: Contact@lona.vn
Lona Skin Lab Dermatology Specialist Clinic (Phòng khám Chuyên khoa Da liễu Lona Skin Lab) T2, đường Đinh Công Tráng, phường Ninh Kiều, TP. Cần Thơ. Hotline: 0777 679 902 · 0932 927 723 Operating licence: 735/CT-GPHĐ · Advertising licence: 4770/XNQC-SYT Clinical responsibility: ThS.BS Lê Thị Thảo Vy (MSc. Dr. Le Thi Thao Vy) — Dermatology
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