What is Botox?
Botox is a protein that weakens or paralyzes muscle made from Botulinum toxin produced by the bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It is a toxin but may be effective for aesthetic as well as medical purposes if doctors use it appropriately. In small doses, skin wrinkles can be reduced, and some medical problems can be treated.
As a cosmetic treatment, Botox is an injectable wrinkle muscle relaxer that minimizes the appearance of facial wrinkles. It is minimally invasive; the treatment for fine lines and wrinkles around the eye is considered safe and effective. It has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a cure for different medical conditions such as eyelid spasms, excessive sweating, some bladder disorders, and migraines.
Botox treatment operates by disabling muscle and nerve signals temporarily thus the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes and between the eyebrows is minimized. It also slows down the formation of new lines by preventing the facial muscles from contracting. Since this procedure is minimally invasive, there is no anesthesia or incisions involved. Only a topical anesthetic or ice is used to numb the treatment area if you’re worried about any pain or discomfort.
How does Botox work?
Botox is a highly purified toxin that can temporarily remove or minimize horizontal forehead lines, vertical frown lines, and crow’s feet. Botox injections slow muscles that contract hundreds of times a day that lead to etched lines in the skin. Wherever Botox is injected into the body, it weakens and paralyzes the muscles underneath the skin. It interferes with the nerve stimulation of the muscle causing excess facial expressions and when the muscles relax, the line diminishes.
Before getting a Botox injection, your doctor will thoroughly clean the area to be injected with isopropyl alcohol. Then, your doctor may draw some dots to indicate the best areas for injecting the Botox. After this the doctor will proceed with the Botox injection into the specific facial muscles. When Botox is injected, it disables certain nerve signals that make muscles contract; when the muscles relax, it reduces unwanted wrinkles. This usually takes just a few minutes to inject but the full effect of the Botox can take 3-10 days to manifest. You should ask your doctor what sort of activities you should avoid after your Botox treatment.
The effect from Botox injection usually lasts about three to six months. After that period, muscles will start contracting again and wrinkles will eventually come back. Most people who get Botox injections get their wrinkles eliminated, however, some people may not have the same results. The difference in results is something you should discuss with your healthcare provider before treatment to set appropriate expectations.
Can Botox fix all facial wrinkles?
Botox injection is a popular anti-aging treatment used by doctors all over the world in eliminating facial wrinkles. However, you need to understand what Botox injections can and cannot do.
Here are the two types of facial wrinkles.
1. Dynamic Wrinkles
Dynamic wrinkles are caused by muscle movement such as smiling, laughing, or squinting. Crow’s feet around your eyes and lines on your forehead are common wrinkles of this type. Botox uses botulinum toxin to temporarily halt muscle activity and it is a good treatment option for dynamic wrinkles. It can smooth out your wrinkles and give you a more youthful look.
2. Static Wrinkles
Static wrinkles are caused by the loss of elasticity and collagen in your skin due to aging, or damage inflicted by the sun or by smoking. Some doctors may recommend Botox for static wrinkles, but fillers are a much better option. Fillers lift the skin, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and restore the lost volume in your face due to aging. You can also combine Botox and fillers as your treatment option for static wrinkles; the combination of these two will produce the best results.
Will Botox get rid of deep wrinkles?
Botox injection works by targeting and “freezing” muscles and smooths moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines. If you have deeper wrinkles or folds, Botox injections may soften the look. It can also lessen your smile lines around your eyes as well as fix the lines between your eyes.
Aging, sun damage, and the environment are some of the reasons why people end up with wrinkles. As you repeatedly smile, frown, squint, or raise your eyebrows, your skin will fold or furrow that will eventually lead to fine lines and wrinkles. By injecting Botox into the underlying muscles, it will stop the constant motions, consequently smoothing your skin and this effect can last three to six months.
The first step in facial rejuvenation is visiting us at Skinvolution, we offer a wide array of non-invasive aesthetic treatments to restore youthful skin quality and appearance. Deep wrinkles can be softened with BOTOX, but there is a limit to what BOTOX can achieve. If your facial skin is deeply creased, a non-invasive facelift may be the best option. Contact us and schedule your FREE consultation with us today to see which options are the best for you and your skincare goals!
