Summary:
- FDA approved Botox® is the most common non-surgical treatment for wrinkles, lines and folds in your face.
- Botox® cosmetic treatment is an injection of Botox® using a shallow, short needle into a specific area of treatment
- Botox can be used to get rid of crow’s feet, baggy under-eye areas, bunny lines, hyperhidrosis, and other problem areas
- It will take about two to four days for muscles to relax and and a total of ten to fourteen days for the complete effect to be noticeable.
What is Botox?
Aging is, of course, inevitable, and so are its effects. As we age, our skin gets thinner and less elastic. Decreased elasticity in the skin develops wrinkles and lines in your face which are a natural part of the aging process and can start as early as your twenties.
We cannot change the progress of aging but we can do something to improve our appearance. Botox® Cosmetic Treatments will help give us that younger look by smoothing out the wrinkles and lines.
Understanding Botox® Cosmetic Treatment
Botox® is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, an organism commonly found in the natural environment such as plants, soil, and water.
FDA approved Botox® is the most common non-surgical treatment for wrinkles, lines and folds in your face.
How Does Botox® Cosmetic Treatment Work?
Botox® cosmetic treatment is an injection of Botox® using a shallow, short needle by a specialized plastic surgeon into a specific area of treatment, as determined by the plastic surgeon, to remove the wrinkles and lines that you are concerned about.
Botox® blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles relaxing the muscles causing lines and wrinkles to soften and relax.
Areas That Can Be Treated With Botox® Cosmetic Treatment
Example areas that can be treated with Botox®
· Crow’s Feet – Lines/wrinkles at the outer corner of the eyes
· Glabellar Lines (Forehead Furrows) – Vertical lines that develop between the eyebrows
· Baggy and puffy under eye area
· Marionette lines – appear around the mouth and chin
· Turkey neck – Sagging, wrinkled skin on the neck
· Dimpled chin
· Bunny Lines – Wrinkles on both sides of the nose below bridge
· Excessive sweating underarms (Hyperhidrosis)
Before and After Botox® Cosmetic Treatment
Before the treatment:
- To help avoid bleeding and bruising at the injection site, about a week before your treatment, you should stop taking any blood thinning over the counter medications such as aspirin, NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, Motrin, and Excedrin). If you need to take a pain reliever before the procedure it is best to take Tylenol.
- Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, etc. This will increase the vitamin K level in your body which helps clot blood and reduce the possibility of bruising and swelling at the injection site.
- Twenty four to forty eight hours before your treatment you should avoid alcohol, which thins your blood.
- Have a clean, dry face without oils, lotions and make-up on your face the day of the treatment.
During the treatment:
- Areas to be injected will be cleaned and may even be marked with a removable marker at the spots of injection to help guide your plastic surgeon.
- A numbing cream may be applied to the area or an icepack may be given to areas to relieve any discomfort.
- Once you are ready, injections will be given into targeted areas.
- The procedure itself usually only takes ten to fifteen minutes.
After the treatment:
- Do not touch or rub the injection site for about two to four hours after the procedure is finished.
- You will need to avoid lying down and leaning forward for two to four hours after the procedure.
- It is important to exercise facial muscles for one to two hours after the treatment by frowning, smiling, squinting and raising your eyebrows. This will help the botox® work through your muscles and increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
How Long Does It Last? Frequency and Duration of Botox® Cosmetic Treatment
Depending on contributing factors such as age, diet, sun, skin care habits and whether or not you smoke will depend on the length in between treatments. It will take about two to four days for muscles to relax and and a total of ten to fourteen days for the complete effect to be noticeable.
Botox® injections do not last forever. Over time, the effects start to wear off as the muscles begin receiving messages from the nerves. The muscles will then begin to contract again and your lines and wrinkles will return. In general, Botox® lasts between four to six months. For first time patients however, the duration of the effects may only last two months. In general, you will need botox® less frequently the more you have it done.
Contact Dr. Sadeghi to Discuss if Botox Is Right for You
Whether this is your first time at having Botox® cosmetic treatment or you have had it previously and your wrinkles and lines are beginning to reappear, now is the time to call your specialist and set up an appointment