Botox is one of the most trusted and popular cosmetic injectables available. Each year, there are an average of 4.4 million Botox injections given in the United States alone, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. With the numerous signs of aging it can effectively diminish, Botox’s popularity is bound to continue.
If you’ve noticed more wrinkles and fine lines on your face recently, you may want to consider Botox treatments. Read on to learn what Botox is and how it can help reduce signs of aging.
Botox is an injectable solution made of botulinum toxin type A that is highly effective in treating dynamic wrinkles — the ones caused by expressions like frowning and smiling.
As you age, your body stops making as much collagen and elastin as it did when you were younger. Collagen and elastin are essential proteins that keep your skin hydrated and enhance skin elasticity, allowing your skin to bounce back when you move facial muscles.
With decreased collagen and elastin production, expressions may eventually begin to leave marks on your face.
Botox can help fight against these dynamic wrinkles because it interrupts the signals your brain sends to the targeted muscles. This interruption ensures that your muscles don’t contract, creating a smoother skin surface.
Botox treatments are effective for:
Because it is a minimally invasive procedure, Botox does not require any downtime, and you can get back to your routine immediately after your procedure.
The best candidates for a Botox procedure are people who have dynamic wrinkles or who would like to prevent them from forming. Results for wrinkles that sun damage or gravity caused will not be as effectively treated with Botox, which is why we often recommend pairing it with dermal fillers.
If you have very thick skin, if you have existing muscle weakness in the proposed injection sites, if you are allergic to cow milk protein, or if you are pregnant or nursing, we will look for alternative treatments to help you get the results you want.
Botox is a quick procedure. Many of our patients stop by during their lunch breaks to get the injections and return to work afterward. There’s no downtime, and you won’t need to modify your activities.
Botox treatments can also be preventative. Younger adult patients choose to get the injections to teach their face muscles to be softer, which helps prevent the development of dynamic wrinkles.
It is also a treatment option that you can pair easily with other cosmetic procedures. Dermal fillers are a popular choice, allowing you to fill out any sunken spots on your face while also diminishing wrinkles.
The results of Botox injections appear quickly as well, allowing you to enjoy a smoother, more youthful appearance just a day or two after the procedure.
If it’s your first time getting Botox injections, we recommend that you book a consultation with us. It’s important that we get your full medical history as well as a list of any medications you take.
Let us know if you take supplements, especially St. John’s Wort, ginkgo biloba, or vitamin E. If you have had other cosmetic injectables in the past, tell us about your experience with them.
During the consultation, we will also assess the treatment areas to make sure Botox is your best option.
There isn’t much that you need to do to prepare for the Botox procedure. We do ask that you avoid taking blood-thinning medication and that you avoid unprotected sun exposure so that you don’t have added skin sensitivity. You may also want to avoid drinking alcohol for at least a week before the injections.
Come to the clinic with a clean face. You can apply an ice pack to the treatment area beforehand or you can request a topical numbing cream if you like. The entire procedure typically takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Once we inject the treatment areas, you can return to your day. Avoid excess heat and direct sunlight for a couple of days, because heat and UV rays can break down the Botox.
We ask that you do not apply makeup to the treatment area for at least a few hours. Because you want to give the injections time to settle, you should skip your workouts for a day or two. Use only a soft facial cleanser during the first 24 hours and don’t massage or rub the injection sites.
You can expect to see results within two days of your treatment, but full results can take up to a week. For most people, the effects last three to four months, so consider scheduling your next appointment ahead of time to avoid “rebound wrinkles.” We can help you put together the treatment schedule that works for you.
Botox injections are some of the most trusted non-surgical cosmetic treatments. They can help you look younger while also teaching your muscles to not contract as powerfully, preventing future wrinkles and fine lines.
At The Image Center, we proudly offer Botox treatments to patients in and around Huntington Beach, CA; Irvine, CA; San Clemente, CA; and Downey, CA. We can also provide dermal fillers and chemical peels together with the latest aesthetic options like platelet-rich plasma therapy and IV therapy.
We design individualized treatment plans for each of our patients, and we can help you achieve the look you want. Book an appointment online or call us now to speak with an expert.
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