What Does Botox Do to Your Face?
Many people are looking for a non-surgical way of getting a younger appearance, and Botox treatment is a popular option. Botox has been used for a long time to help people control their wrinkles and have a smoother face. It can also be used effectively for certain medical problems and in other areas of the body. At Preventous Cosmetic Medicine in Calgary, Alberta, we can use Botox to give you a younger, fresher appearance.
Botox Treatment Results
Botox injections are used cosmetically to improve facial appearance by relaxing and reducing wrinkles. Wrinkles treated may be anywhere on the face from the forehead to the chin. Wrinkles are temporarily eliminated or made less obvious after treatment.
How Botox Works
The drug is injected into the muscles in the area you want to treat. It causes the nerves to block the movement of the muscle so that the muscle does not contract as usual. Without this contraction, the muscles become soft. In turn, this stops the muscles from creating wrinkles when the patient makes certain facial expressions.
Treatment Areas for Wrinkles
Forehead Lines
The wrinkles that run horizontally along your forehead can become deep, especially when you have an expressive face. Botox can target the muscles in that area to relax and smooth the wrinkles in your forehead.
11 Lines
These are the horizontal twin lines that can show up between your eyebrows when your brows are furled. Botox can significantly reduce or eliminate these lines.
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet are the small lines that appear over time on the outside of your eyes. These wrinkles are especially ageing. Taking care of them with Botox can take years off your appearance.
Bunny Lines
These are the little lines that appear on your nose when you scrunch your face up like a rabbit.
Smile Lines
Smile lines are small wrinkles between your nose and your upper lip. They are easily treated with a small amount of Botox.
Marionette Lines
These wrinkles run vertically down the sides of your mouth to your chin, and they can become quite long and deep. They are formed by the repetitive movement of opening and closing your mouth, but they can be relaxed through Botox injectables.
Neck Folds
Over time the skin in the neck can become wrinkled and creased. Sometimes a lack of hyaluronic acid can cause fatty deposits to move, leaving sagging skin. Botox can tighten this area and smooth out the wrinkles.
Chin Dent
Chin wrinkles are small, horizontal lines in the center of your chin. There can be just one or several. These can lead to the appearance of a double-chin and can be taken care of with Botox injections.
Décolleté
Wrinkles and folds may also appear in the chest area as people age. Botox can tighten this area and make the skin appear younger.
How Wrinkles Form
Repeated Movements
Wrinkles in the facial area are often exaggerated by repeating the same motion over time. This can be due to making certain facial expressions, opening and closing the mouth, or even smiling. Botox helps with this by temporarily weakening the muscles that make these motions.
Loss of Moisture
As people age, the skin slows its production of hyaluronic acid. This is a substance that causes the skin to store hydration which makes the skin smoother and brighter. Many skin products contain hyaluronic acid.to help alleviate this problem.
Loss of Collagen
Collagen is a protein that the skin cells manufacture naturally. As people age, the skin makes less of this substance. Collagen is what brings a plump, voluminous quality to the skin. Without it, wrinkles and hallow areas can form. Many people use collagen injections in addition to other cosmetic treatments. Other treatments stimulate the skin cells to produce more collagen.
Results Time for Botox Treatment
Results of Botox injections are not immediate. It takes a few days for the Botox to settle into the muscle and begin working. You can expect to see the initial results of the treatment within about three to five days. You should see the full effects within two weeks.
For most patients, Botox treatment lasts around three or four months, although some people continue to see results for up to six months. Some people report that their second or third Botox treatment results last longer than the first time they try the injections. You can have additional treatments every three or four months.
Before Botox
Consultation
Before your treatment, we will schedule you to come in for a consultation. We will talk to you about your facial concerns, and we will perform an assessment to determine the best treatment for you. At this time, we will also ask you some questions about your lifestyle like whether you smoke. We will also as about any prescription or over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking.
Please let us know about any treatments you have had in the past. We will discuss the treatment options with you and talk about your expectations for the results. When we have determined that you are a good candidate for the treatment, we will schedule a time for your injection.
Medications
There may be medications we will ask you to avoid in the days leading up to your appointment. Sometimes blood-thinners, muscle relaxers, allergy medications, and other substances can interfere with the results of your treatment. If you have any questions about the medications you are taking, please don’t hesitate to ask.
The Process
The first step in the process is that we will ask you to make certain motions so we know exactly which muscles are contributing to your wrinkles. Once this has been determined, we may use a cold pack or topical anesthetic to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the treatment process.
The dosage of Botox depends on several factors including the extent of the wrinkles and the location that is going to be treated. We will use a very small needle to place a small amount of Botox directly into the appropriate muscle.
After Botox
We will give you instructions for caring for the treated area once your appointment is over. We may ask you not to touch or massage the area for several hours after treatment. You will want to avoid chemical peels or other cosmetic treatments for about 10 days after Botox injections. Please tell us about any other treatments you have scheduled.
You will also want to be sure to take care of the skin by not exposing it to direct sunlight. Always keep the treatment area covered or wear sunscreen when you are outdoors Avoid drinking excess alcohol and smoking.
Benefits of Botox Treatment
Non-Surgical
Botox is a good alternative to many other kinds of cosmetic facial treatments because it is completely non-surgical. The treatment can be done at our office without stepping foot into a hospital. There is no general anesthesia needed, so those concerns are eliminated.
Quick Visit
A Botox treatment only takes about 10 minutes to complete, so you are in and out very quickly. Some people schedule their treatments during their lunch hour or during a break from work.
No Recovery Time
Botox requires no recovery time. You can go right back to work after treatment or get on with your normal activities. There is no need to take time off work or schedule time to rest.
Confidence
One of the biggest benefits of Botox is the confidence that it can bring. When you love the way you look, you will naturally have greater confidence. In turn, this can help you succeed at work as well as in your personal life. You will be more comfortable meeting new people and talking in front of groups when you feel good about your appearance.
Additional Uses
Excessive Underarm Perspiration
In addition to treating wrinkles in the face, Botox can also be used to slow excessive underarm sweating. by temporality blocking the nerve signals that allow sweating to occur.
Cervical Dystonia
This is a serious neurological condition that causes the neck and shoulder muscles to spasm. These spasms are very painful and embarrassing as they cause the neck to twist and turn involuntarily. Botox can turn off the signals to this area so the spasms are stopped.
Blepharospasm
This is uncontrollable blinking, and it can be kept subdued by Botox injections.
Strabismus
This condition occurs when the eyes point in two different directions. The muscles that cause this condition can be released with Botox.
Drooped Eyebrows
Eyebrows that are raised over a particular part of the eye make eyes look wider and bigger. Eyebrows that aren’t effectively arched can make you look older. Botox injections can cause the eyebrow to lift.
Chronic Migraine
Botox has recently been discovered to be excellent at treating migraine pain that reoccurs often. It has offered many people a second chance at an active lifestyle by decreasing migraine headaches that keep them at home in bed.
Overactive Bladder
These injections can also help subdue an overactive bladder which is caused by too many signals being sent to the brain to urinate.
Teeth Grinding
Many people grind their teeth, especially at night during their sleep. This can lead to problems in the mouth as well as tooth decay and even jaw pain. Botox can weaken the muscles that control the grinding so that this action cannot happen.
Temporary Nose Job
When ageing causes a droopy appearance to the nose, Botox injections can lift it. This mimics the effect of a nose job without the surgery. Of course, it is only temporary.
Lip Lift
Injecting Botox near the top of the lip can pull that area up and make the lips appear more voluminous.
Sweaty Palms
Botox injections can also be given in the hands to stop excessive sweating in the palms.
A Fresh Face With Botox
Botox is a treatment option that can transform your face and give you a fresh, youthful appearance. Contact Preventous Cosmetic Medicine in Calgary, Alberta today to schedule an appointment for a consultation and initial evaluation. We will assess your concerns and talk to you about the possible results you could see with a Botox injection, and we will help you determine if this is the right treatment for you.
When you look your best, you feel your best. You deserve the confidence that comes from youthful, smooth skin and the joy that comes from looking years younger than you did previously. Whether you are hoping to eliminate deep wrinkles in your forehead or smooth out the small lines that form around your mouth, this could be a treatment that will change your life.