Trapezius Botox for Shoulder Stiffness in Tokyo | Men’s Care Clinic Shimbashi

Is this you?

Men’s Care Clinic treats men only. The Shimbashi clinic is a one-minute walk from the Ginza exit of JR Shimbashi Station, and botulinum toxin injection into the trapezius is available until 21:00 on weekdays. People come to us with concerns like these.

• Massage and stretching help, but the tightness returns within a few days.
• After long hours of desk work, your shoulders are tight by the evening.
• You are bothered by how bulky the line of your shoulders looks.
• You are getting through the day on adhesive patches and over-the-counter remedies.
• You cannot find time for regular appointments and want something that is over quickly.

If you have pain with numbness, cannot raise your arm, or have strong pain even at rest, there may be an underlying condition of the cervical spine or the shoulder joint. We recommend that you first have the cause investigated at an orthopaedic clinic.

What trapezius botulinum toxin treatment is

Botulinum toxin is injected into the trapezius, the muscle that spreads from the neck across the shoulders, with the aim of easing excessive tension in that muscle. When desk work or phone use keeps you in the same posture for long periods, the trapezius tends to stay contracted. Acting on the way the muscle works is intended to relieve that continuously braced state.

How much difference it makes varies from person to person.

Price

Prices include tax and are self-pay. The number of units injected depends on the bulk of the muscle and on what you want from the treatment, so this is explained at the consultation. Payment is by cash, or by VISA, JCB, Mastercard, American Express and Diners Club credit cards and debit cards. No health insurance card is required.

What the appointment involves

You can go about your normal life and work from the same day. On the day of treatment, please avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol and anything that raises your body temperature, such as a sauna. Please do not rub or massage the injected area.

Repeating the treatment at short intervals is reported to make it less effective, which is why the doctor advises on when to come back rather than fixing an interval in advance.

How this compares with orthopaedics and massage

There are several ways of dealing with shoulder tightness and each has a different purpose. None is simply better than the others.

This comparison describes general tendencies. If your symptoms need a diagnosis, we will direct you to an orthopaedic clinic first.

Who cannot have this treatment

Botulinum toxin injections cannot be given to people in the following groups:

• Those with neuromuscular disease, including myasthenia gravis, Lambert–Eaton syndrome and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Those with hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin or to plasma-derived products
• Those with glaucoma
• Those taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication
• Those taking any medication that may affect neuromuscular transmission

If you have had this treatment at another clinic, an interval of two weeks to three months is required before it can be repeated here.

Possible side effects

Swelling or bruising at the injection site can occur. Some people find it harder to raise the arm, harder to hold the neck up, or find that the shoulder feels weak. If your work involves lifting heavy objects or holding your arms up for long periods, please tell the doctor before the treatment.

These effects settle over time, but if any symptom concerns you, please contact the clinic rather than deciding how to deal with it yourself.

Other botulinum toxin treatments at this clinic

Botulinum toxin is used for different purposes depending on which muscle it is injected into. The following are handled on their own pages.

All prices include tax and are self-pay. Whether a treatment is suitable is decided by the doctor at the consultation.

Important information about this treatment

• Self-pay treatment: this treatment is not covered by public health insurance. The full cost is borne by the patient, and trapezius botulinum toxin injection is ¥89,000.
• Unapproved pharmaceutical: the botulinum toxin product used at this clinic is not approved as a pharmaceutical in Japan.
• No approved indication in Japan: there is no pharmaceutical approved in Japan for this indication. The treatment is carried out with the aim of easing tension in the muscle.
• Adverse drug reaction relief system: because the treatment uses an unapproved pharmaceutical, it is not covered by Japan’s Adverse Drug Reaction Relief System, even in the event of a serious side effect.
• Main risks and side effects: swelling or bruising at the injection site, difficulty raising the arm, difficulty holding the neck up, and weakness in the shoulder.

How the effect appears and how long it lasts vary from person to person. Whether the treatment can be carried out is decided by the doctor at the consultation. Please ask the doctor about anything that is unclear.

Booking, access and cancellation

Getting here

The clinic is a one-minute walk from the Ginza exit of JR Shimbashi Station, and a one-minute walk from Exit 1 of Shimbashi Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. Shimbashi is also served by the Toei Asakusa Line and the Yurikamome. The address is Marucho Building 7F-B, 1-8-4 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004.

Opening hours are 14:00–21:00 on weekdays and 10:00–18:00 on weekends and public holidays. First-time patients are received until 30 minutes before closing, and returning patients until 10 minutes before. Appointments can be made through LINE or the website, and same-day slots are sometimes available. Telephone: 03-5962-8738.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations and changes made three days in advance are free. Two days to one day in advance are charged at 75%, and same-day cancellations at 100%. For course bookings, a cancellation counts as one session used.

Questions we are asked

How much is trapezius botulinum toxin treatment?

¥89,000. The consultation is free, and because everything is self-pay no health insurance card is needed.

How many units go into the trapezius?

That depends on the bulk of the muscle and on what you want from the treatment, so it is explained at the consultation.

How long does the effect last?

Roughly three to four months. Changes generally appear over a few days to about two weeks, and how it is experienced varies from person to person.

Can it be given for neck tightness as well?

Whether an area is suitable is decided by the doctor at the consultation. If you have pain with numbness, or cannot raise your arm, we may direct you to an orthopaedic clinic instead.

Will it interfere with my work?

Some people find it harder to raise the arm or find that the shoulder feels weak. If your work involves lifting heavy objects, please tell the doctor beforehand.

Can I use health insurance?

No. The clinic is entirely self-pay. The use of botulinum toxin for shoulder tension is not an indication approved in Japan.

Do I need an appointment, or can I come the same day?

You can book through LINE or the website, and same-day slots are sometimes available. First-time patients are received until 30 minutes before closing, and returning patients until 10 minutes before.

Will my family or my employer find out?

No. Because the treatment is self-pay and no health insurance is used, no notice of medical expenses is sent to your home or your workplace. The clinic treats men only.