If you find yourself avoiding the mirror, or worse yet, purposely not smiling to avoid creating laugh lines, it may be time to consider Botox injections. This treatment has been around for many years and offers quick results to common, dynamic facial wrinkles. Treatments should only be done by specially trained professionals, like those at Pearl MD Rejuvenation in Toronto, Canada.
What Is Botox?
Botox is an injectable serum derived from botulinum toxin. While this comes from the same bacteria that causes botulism infection, it is sterilized so there is no risk of infection. The serum itself is only available as a prescription, and it should be administered by a trained medical professional.
Once administered, the toxin works to paralyze your facial muscles by disrupting the communication between them and your brain. If muscles cannot move, they are also not able to form expressions that result in the appearance of wrinkles. Because the muscles are relaxed, new wrinkles do not form. This is how Botox works to take years from your appearance.
Botox has an excellent reputation as a cosmetic injectable. Despite its long history, there are no generic versions of the treatment. There are, however, similar treatments, like Dysport, that utilize other strains of botulinum toxin to address concerns about wrinkles.
What Types of Wrinkles Does It Treat?
Treatments are designed for what are called dynamic facial wrinkles. These are the ones that appear as your facial muscles contract with your various facial expressions. That is why it is especially effective for laugh lines and crow’s feet around your eyes. Treatments are also very popular for the horizontal lines that appear on your forehead and furrows between your eyebrows.
Does Botox Fix Wrinkles or Just Prevent Them?
Once your muscles are paralyzed from the treatment, your facial expressions will be more muted. Wrinkles that usually only appear when you laugh, frown, or have animated facial expressions will likely not be visible. If they are, their appearance will likely be minimized because your expressions will be smaller and more controlled.
Many people also feel that Botox prevents wrinkles from forming. This is true in the case of dynamic wrinkles that form as a result of repeated muscle contractions. Because you will not be using those facial muscles, they will not be contributing to the formation of new wrinkles. So, yes, Botox can help treat existing dynamic wrinkles as well as help slow the formation of new ones.
What Happens During a Treatment?
While everyone’s treatment experience may be slightly different based on their unique treatment plan, there are some things that you can expect at nearly every visit.
Analysis
First, a facial analysis will help determine exactly where injections will be administered. Careful placement is important to ensure the best results without affecting the natural appearance of your face.
Icing
Ice or a topical numbing agent may be applied to your treatment areas at the start of your appointment. Then your doctor will administer the injections. The treatment should only take about ten minutes to complete once it is started.
One of the nice features of Botox cosmetic treatments is that they can be performed right at your doctor’s office. They are completely non-surgical in nature and do not require a trip to a hospital or outpatient surgery center.
There is virtually no downtime after a treatment session. You can return to normal activities right after your appointment. That means you can even schedule your injections for your lunch hour and then return to the office without anyone being the wiser.
What About the Results?
You should expect to see results from your treatment in as little as two to three days. However, you should expect to see maximum results about one or two weeks after having your treatment done.
Results from a treatment session generally last several months, with some people seeing improvement for up to six months. There is no danger in having treatments repeated once results start to fade. Many people feel that, after several sessions, their wrinkles appear smaller and new ones do not form as fast. This may be because facial muscles become retrained to avoid certain expressions that lead to new dynamic wrinkles forming.
Are Treatments Safe?
Botox has been in use for many years with much success and widespread popularity. It is FDA approved and can only be obtained with a prescription for a licensed physician. Administered with a minimally invasive technique, it is widely considered as a safe and effective method of treating and preventing dynamic wrinkles in adults.
Are You a Good Candidate for Botox?
While only you and your doctor can decide if Botox is the right treatment for you, there are some general guidelines. Adults of virtually any age can use Botox, although it is most commonly used on those over thirty. Treatments are generally not advised for people over the age of 65.
You should not get Botox treatments while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have any allergies to any of the ingredients. People with nervous system disorders are also not good candidates for treatment. Contact the staff at Pearl MD Rejuvenation in Toronto if you think Botox may be right for you. They can schedule a consultation where you will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and goals.