Botox

What Is Botox?

Botox is an injectable designed to treat lines associated with muscle movement. Years of making the same facial expressions — such as smiling, squinting or raising your eyebrows — can form wrinkles that continue to deepen over time. With overuse, your facial muscles can stay tense and leave a worried, angry or stressed look on your face even when you’re in a good mood.

This product uses different forms of botulinum toxin to temporarily inhibit muscle contractions to relax and smooth the appearance of expression lines. Since the 1980s, millions of these types of injections have been performed safely and effectively.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox is formulated with types of botulinum toxin type A, a purified medication that’s derived from bacteria. A minute amount of the product is injected directly into a muscle to block the transmission of nerve signals. If the nerve signals cannot reach the muscle, the muscle never receives the message to contract, resulting in a softening effect.

The muscle relaxes, the wrinkles in the overlying skin gradually smooth out and the face takes on a refreshed appearance. An experienced injector can relax the targeted muscles in a way that keeps your face completely dynamic and expressive, just without the unsightly wrinkles that bother you most.

Neuromodulators vs. Fillers: What’s the Difference?

‘Injectables’ is a broad category that contains several types of products. The most popular injectables are neuromodulators and fillers, which are different — but complementary — treatments. Neuromodulators address dynamic wrinkles, which result from repetitive muscle contractions.

At first, dynamic lines only appear when you are actively making a facial expression. They disappear when you relax the expression, and you don’t see them when your face is in a neutral position. Unfortunately, dynamic wrinkles that were once fleeting can become etched into your skin over the years. Neuromodulators can help treat these lines and reduce the risk of them happening in the first place.

Dermal fillers treat static wrinkles, which appear due to sun damage, collagen depletion and facial volume loss. They are not caused by facial expressions and are visible even when your face is at rest. True to their name, dermal fillers work by “filling in” the area underneath a wrinkle and pushing the creased skin back upward. They have no effect on muscle movements.

Fillers can be used to correct many concerns related to aging, including adding volume to flattened or hollow areas of the face, smoothing out deep creases that run from the nose to the mouth, minimizing lines around the edges of the lips and filling in prominent tear troughs under the eye area.

They can also be used to improve the contour and proportions of facial features like the nose, lips or jawline. Lip fillers are one of the most popular aesthetic treatments today. Neuromodulators and fillers are regularly combined to provide comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Am I a Good Candidate for Botox?

Botox is considered safe for adults of all skin tones and types. Almost anyone who is in good physical, mental and emotional health may be a candidate for injectables in this category, but it’s still important to come in for a consultation so a certified provider can evaluate you.

These products, like any medication, have contraindications that patients should be aware of. You may not be a suitable candidate at this time if you:

• Are allergic to any of the product’s ingredients
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have a nerve or muscle disorder
• Have an active infection in the desired treatment area
• Have a history of bleeding, swallowing or breathing issues
• Recently had surgery or have surgery planned soon

What Is Preventative Botox?

When referring to Botox, most people think of it as a treatment to combat signs of aging, particularly wrinkles. They’re right — Botox and other neuromodulators do excel as corrective treatments for existing lines, but that’s not all they’re capable of. Neuromodulators can also help prevent lines from forming.

Wrinkles tend to get deeper and deeper with age. By starting Botox early, you can cut down on the stress your muscles put on your skin in key areas, thereby reducing the risk of lines in those areas becoming deeply ingrained in your skin. This proactive approach is popularly known as “baby Botox” or “preventative Botox.”

Stopping wrinkles in their tracks has additional benefits. Beginning Botox treatments at a younger age means you will likely have fewer wrinkles to work with as you get older, which means you will be able to achieve beautiful results using less product than someone who started later in life. The treated muscles may also weaken with time, so you don’t have to schedule appointments as often when you are older.

Small treatments and consistent maintenance over time may result in much better long-term results.

What Happens During Treatment?

When you visit Aesthetic Envy for a Botox consultation, your injector will listen to your concerns and analyze your facial structure to determine the optimal treatment approach for your situation. They will begin the treatment by cleaning and sterilizing the area and identifying the injection sites.

Then, when all preparations are complete, they will use a fine needle to inject the product into the selected muscles. This process usually only takes 10 to 20 minutes. The number of injections used will depend on your facial features and the severity of your wrinkles.

Discomfort during a Botox treatment is typically minimal and brief. The area can be numbed before injection with a cold pack or topical anesthetic.

Is There Downtime After Treatment?

Virtually no downtime is required after neuromodulator injections. Most patients are in and out of the office quickly and can return to their regular routine right away. Potential side effects include bruising, tenderness and swelling at the injection site. It’s a good idea to schedule your injection session for a time when you don’t have an important event coming up for a week or two, in case you experience any of these effects. Take care not to rub or massage the treated area, as this could cause the product to migrate to another area. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after treatment. Generally, side effects are rare and recovery is swift. Treatment will not prevent you from bathing, wearing makeup or continuing with your normal skincare regimen.

What Results Can I Expect With Botox, Dysport or Xeomin?

Within days, you will start to notice the improvement in the lines in treated areas. It takes one to two weeks to see the full effect. Results last up to three to four months. The product will gradually wear off and your muscles will function as they did before the treatment. This means that the lines you smoothed will slowly appear again. Patients typically schedule neuromodulator treatments three to four times a year to maintain their results.

For the best outcome, it’s essential to see a provider who is experienced in administering injectables and can recommend a personalized treatment schedule.

Believe in Beautiful Skin Again

Aging has a way of sneaking up on us. It starts with faint creases between our eyebrows and around our mouths or crinkles at the corners of our eyes. Years of smiling, frowning, squinting and laughing leave their mark on our skin — and though we may be grateful for the memories and lessons we’ve gained, many of us are less thrilled about the lines.

At Aesthetic Envy, we know that feeling good in your skin enhances your confidence and self-image. We take great pride in offering treatments and products that provide dramatic improvements to your appearance without surgery and prolonged downtime. Our team has extensive experience with Botox, Dysport and Xeomin and can advise you on which one to use to achieve your desired results. Call Aesthetic Envy today at 916-579-6133 to request a consultation for one of our most popular cosmetic procedures.

Botox Q&A

When should I start getting Botox?

Patients often wonder if they are “too old” or “too young” to try Botox. As long as you are over 18, there is no right or wrong time to start using Botox. Many people now begin getting Botox in their twenties when they first notice lines and wrinkles starting to appear. At the other end of the spectrum, there is nothing that prevents you from getting Botox well into your golden years, but you may notice that its beneficial effects diminish over time. Strategic use of dermal fillers can be helpful for older patients who wish to improve deep-set wrinkles without surgery.

Is Botox only for women?

Absolutely not! The number of men choosing to care for their appearance with treatments like Botox is rapidly growing. Just like women, men feel pressure to look as good as possible. Many now use Botox to look healthy, youthful and relaxed and maintain their edge in a competitive job market.

Botox for men is only slightly different from Botox for women. Men naturally have more muscle mass, so male patients may require more product to achieve the desired amount of relaxation. Skilled injectors must also understand the nuances of male facial aesthetics to ensure male patients do not look over-treated or overly feminine. For example, the ideal brow shape is typically different for male and female patients. Men usually look for a straighter, lower brow, while women’s faces are flattered by brows with a gentle arch. Most men who receive Botox treatments desire a natural, masculine look.

Are there other treatments that work well in tandem with Botox?

Depending on your goals, you may benefit from using a combination of treatments to achieve the look you desire. There are many nonsurgical procedures that can accompany Botox injections and provide significant improvement to the appearance of your skin.

Botox and dermal fillers work in different but complementary ways. They are often used simultaneously to produce a remarkably more youthful appearance. Some people refer to this combination as a “liquid facelift” because of its powerful anti-aging effect.

Botox also pairs well with treatments that address skin imperfections beyond wrinkles. Laser treatments for skin resurfacing or skin tightening can provide beautiful results for concerns or areas Botox cannot treat. Other light-based treatments, chemical peels or a gentle HydraFacial can also be combined with Botox to help you achieve your facial rejuvenation goals.

Which wrinkles on my face can I treat with Botox?

Botox can cover a wide range of different areas that have been affected by wrinkle development. Here is a list of the most commonly affected areas: forehead wrinkles, frown lines, droopy eyebrows, crow’s feet, lip lines, droopy smiles and even chin dimpling.

Here is an illustration for easy reference:

How do you know if you have good Botox results?

You’ve probably seen plenty of famous people who have faces that are completely frozen. Some of them are even beauty icons. But here is the thing, if your face has a frozen appearance, then you aren’t using Botox properly.

Of course, what that means is that you aren’t going to a professional who has adequate amounts of training in injecting Botox while maintaining a natural appearance. When performed correctly, you should not be able to tell that any treatment was performed.

Good Botox results make your face look younger by reducing the intensity of wrinkles on the face. If you achieve that while still being able to make any of the expressions you want, then you have good Botox results.

Who can perform Botox injections?

Healthcare professionals always need some kind of license and/or certification to administer Botox injections. Some professionals like skincare specialists are licensed only to perform Botox injections and no other medicine, while others like physicians and physician assistants can provide this service alongside general care.

When choosing a place to have your Botox injections performed, you should always ask who will be performing your procedure and what their qualifications are. We always tell our patients and potential patients that they should avoid “budget” practices that offer Botox treatment for a fraction of the price of certified and established practices.

Often, you will find that when these aesthetic procedures do not go well, the cost is much greater than the savings that would initially be accrued.

When you come to Aesthetic Envy, you will always be seen by a registered nurse, skincare specialist, physician or physician assistant who is not only certified but also extremely knowledgeable and trained in Botox treatment.

Will I be able to move my face after Botox?

If your Botox treatment is performed correctly, then you should not be able to notice any “frozen” parts of the face. If you feel like you can’t move your face or that you appear expressionless, you should consider working with a new aesthetic practice with an abundance of experience, like Aesthetic Envy.

Your results should look natural and rejuvenated, not restricted and reduced. The substances in Botox are not harmful to the entire appearance and stay concentrated in whatever part of the face they are injected.