During the past decade, Botox has established itself as a leader in the injectable treatments industry. Still, despite being a household name, many prospective patients don’t know just how well this revolutionary treatment can fight back against the signs of aging. For those who are frustrated with fine lines and wrinkles, Botox could offer the results you’ve been wanting.
All About Botox
Botox Cosmetic is the brand name everyone knows, but the product itself is called Botulinum Toxin Type A. This is a purified neurotoxin, specifically produced by a bacterium known as clostridium botulinum. While the term neurotoxin may have you on edge, Botox is simply, safe, and direct in its approach to treating wrinkles.
When the product is injected into the muscles beneath the treatment area, it works to block nerve impulse transmissions, relaxing the muscles. When the muscles aren’t able to contract, the creases and wrinkles of the face are smoothed. New lines cannot form, either. Botox has been approved by the FDA for over ten years to treat the signs of aging in this manner.
What Botox Treats
Given how this formula works, the best areas to treat with Botox are those where lines and wrinkles have been caused or deepened by the movement of nearby facial muscles. By temporarily paralyzing these muscles, Botox allows the skin of the treatment area to smooth.
When delivered in small doses by a licensed medical professional, Botox can help to reduce the signs of aging at the corners of the eyes, across the forehead, and even in the neck. Another popular treatment spot for Botox is the space between the eyebrows, where Glabellar lines can form and create an angry look to a person’s face.
Everyday facial expressions like frowning and smiling, as well as laughing, can create and exaggerate these unwanted creases over time. With Botox, the damage can be lessened and somewhat controlled moving forward.
How Long Botox Lasts
Because Botox is not a permanent change to the face, many patients are more comfortable trying it to see how well it can work for them. Botox creates a paralyzing effect that is not permanent at all; eventually, all feeling and movement will return to the treatment area muscles.
Typically, the effects of the injection will last three to four months. For those who enjoy the effects of the procedure, it can be repeated at regular intervals to maintain your results without any lag time in between.
Its temporary nature makes Botox a great option for patients who aren’t ready for a facelift or other anti-aging surgery but who would still like to see results. Botox can also be used as a touch-up in the years following facial rejuvenation surgery, if so desired.
Good Candidates for Botox Treatments
If you’re considering Botox, you should first be experiencing the signs of aging and have a desire to minimize these lines and wrinkles. If your wrinkles are mostly dynamic in nature, meaning they have formed and deepened directly because of muscle movements, you will see the best results with a Botox injection over another treatment. Deep frown and smile lines are particularly responsive to Botox.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to wait to be a certain age before you are eligible for Botox injections. Lines and wrinkles aren’t strictly formed by the aging process. Sometimes heredity itself can cause the formation of lines, folds, and creases to appear at relatively young ages.
To know if your specific concerns are treatable by Botox, consult with a plastic surgeon or aesthetician. Bear in mind that women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or who may become pregnant should not receive Botox injections without a medical consultation.
The Botox Treatment
Botox Cosmetic is delivered to the treatment area directly via injection. It is a straightforward procedure that takes about 10 minute to perform. For some patients, a topical anesthetic may be applied to the area, but no sedation or incisions are required for Botox treatments.
It is a noninvasive, nonsurgical procedure that involves only the slight pinch of a needle. Many patients describe this sensation as being similar to a bug bite. You may have more than one injection if you are having multiple areas treated. Only a small amount of Botox is injected into the target area, right where it is most needed.
It is common to experience some slight side effects in the days following your injection. To help alleviate any swelling or discomfort, an ice pack may be applied before and after your treatment. Most patients are able to resume their daily activities right away without missing a beat. Results will begin to show right away, developing in the first few days after your injection and lasting up to six months.
The Risks of Botox Injections
By now, most people are acclimated to the list of potential side effects and risks that follow any drug treatment, medical treatment, or surgery. Botox, however, doesn’t have much of a risk list to speak of, thanks to an excellent safety record and the high patient satisfaction rankings it receives.
In fact, its patient rankings make Botox one of the top cosmetic procedures available today. Some patients may experience an allergic reaction to Botox, so it’s important to discuss your known allergies and medical history with your physician before treatment. Doing so can help you minimize any risks you may have.
Find the Right Place for Botox Treatments
The success of any cosmetic procedure begins with finding the right plastic surgeon to perform it. For your Botox injections, consult with an experienced, credentialed plastic surgeon.
Contact Hillelson-Whipple Clinic Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedics to book your appointment with the Medi-Spa clinicians. For other treatments and surgical procedures, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ruth Hillelson, Director of Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics.
She has an extensive background in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, as well as a commitment to implementing the latest medical techniques and technologies. CoolSculpting is one nonsurgical technology offered at Hillelson-Whipple Clinic that can help patients achieve their ideal body contour.
Dr. Terry Whipple is the Director of Orthopaedics providing his patients with a range of other procedural options to help with fitness, pain management, and other health concerns. With both Dr. Hillelson and Dr. Whipple involved, Hillelson-Whipple Clinic is a unique clinic for patients seeking procedures and treatments of all varieties. Contact their office, located at 9900 Independence Park Drive in Richmond, Virginia, by calling (804) 290-0060 to schedule your first consultation today.