Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror and thought where did all those wrinkles come from? Or been driven crazy by the lines staring back at you on your forehead during a zoom meeting. Or thought to yourself, wow I am starting to look just like my parents. Some of us show lines in our face as early as our twenties, even if we are doing all the right things. So what do we do about these wrinkles we are getting?
What do we do about wrinkles?
At this point, hopefully we are all protecting our skin from the sun, using sunscreen daily, and buying medical grade skincare. In addition it is always important to drink water and eat a balanced diet. If you are doing all of these things, you are probably doing almost everything you can, except now it might be time to add in Botox.
What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable medication (neurotoxin) that works by temporarily weakening specific muscles so they contract with less strength or are paralyzed. When these muscles are unable to contract it can create a smooth appearance on skin and soften wrinkles. Giving us that refreshed and well rested appearance we all love.
Although I keep mentioning botox, there are actually four FDA approved neurotoxins available in the U.S.: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeauveau.
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Botox can be injected by a trained medical injector in minutes. It takes up to two weeks to see results, and results usually last 3-4 months. Botox can be used in areas where there are wrinkles and lines from muscle movements. Most commonly between the brows “elevens”, the forehead, and around the eyes. Additionally it can be injected above the upper lip for a lip flip, into the muscles we chew with to decrease their size and help jaw pain, and into the neck to help smooth fine lines or stop the pull from certain muscles.
Who can get Botox?
Botox is ideal for anyone over eighteen years old, who is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and has wrinkles from repeated muscle movements. Adults can start as early as they are seeing wrinkles.
What to expect?
Overall Botox is well tolerated by most people. However, Botox can cause discomfort, swelling, bruising, and redness when injected. Anytime a needle is placed into the skin people are at risk for infection, but injectors do everything they can to minimize risks by cleaning patient’s skin before they are injected. After Botox injections, you cannot exercise, lay flat, or massage your face for 4-6 hours. Ibuprofen, fish oil, and caffeine can make you more likely to bruise.
Are botox and fillers the same thing?
The short answer is no. Fillers are gel-like products made out of hyaluronic acid. They can help fill folds and creases, as well as add volume to places that we want to look more full. They do not affect the lines caused by muscle movements, like scowling, raising our eyebrows, or the lines around our eyes when we laugh.
So does preventative botox work?
Since many wrinkles are the result of excessive and repeated muscle contraction, preventing these actions with Botox should help to prevent lines from getting deeper. Earlier treatments at a younger age may prevent the need for larger treatments later in life when it comes to these types of wrinkles.
If you aren’t sure if this is what you need, schedule a consultation where a trained injector can listen to your wants and evaluate your face individually for the most personalized results.