WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOTOX

Aesthetic injections are among the best minimally invasive ways to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your face. Botox (botulinum toxin) is among the most common and effective injections, but before you decide whether it’s the best choice, here are the things you should know.

Botox works by relaxing the muscles under your skin, which helps reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps reduce the chances of wrinkles deepening. Botox, however, is not a filler, so it will not fill in and eliminate all the wrinkles caused by volume loss. It, however, works well to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, which appear when you contract specific facial muscles like between your eyebrows. Botox is a good treatment option for wrinkles such as crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes or 11 lines between the eyebrows.

Botox is made using botulinum toxin type A, generated by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum, found in untreated water and soil. While the bacteria may cause certain illnesses when ingested, Botox injections use the diluted and purified version of the toxin. It is FDA-approved, and you can also use it to treat migraines and eye spasms.

Botox temporarily paralyzes or weakens the muscles underneath when injected into the skin. This interrupts messages between the target muscles and nerves, forcing the muscles to relax and preventing dynamic wrinkles.

Botox can reduce wrinkles on several parts of your face, like the forehead, around the eyes, and between the eyebrows. You can use it to fix:

• Frown lines
• Glabella lines
• Bunny lines
• Smile lines
• Crow’s feet

Like most other aesthetic procedures, Botox might not be suitable for you. Before your injections, the specialist will evaluate you and consider things like your general health, current medications, age, and desired results.

Botox is not recommended for people who:

• Are under 18 years old
• Are pregnant or nursing
• Have neuromuscular disorders
• Have facial muscle weakness

The procedure usually takes around 15-20 minutes. Depending on the target area, the specialist will determine how much Botox you need. They use a small needle to inject the Botox, and you might experience some pain and burning sensation.

Different people want different results, and some may get better ones depending on their age and the severity of their wrinkles. Experts advise that you have realistic results when getting Botox. For example, don’t expect it to fill out all the wrinkles. Your specialist will tell you the results you expect and how soon you will see them. Mostly, the results appear within 24-48 hours, and the full results will appear after around 30 days. The results are not permanent and primarily last for about four months. To maintain the results, you should get another appointment after that time, and over time, the Botox will train your muscles to relax.

The procedure has no downtime. However, do not touch, rub, or massage your face within 24 hours to avoid migrating the Botox to other areas. You should also not lay down for the first four hours, avoid hot temperatures on your face, or activities that increase blood flow to the face like intense exercise. Botox migration could cause bruising or numbing unwanted places.

VitaLab is among the best aesthetic clinics in San Diego, CA. Fill out our online contact form to book a consultation appointment or call our office.