What Exactly Does Botox Do?
Ah Botox… a tempting treatment so often given a bad rap! We are big fans of the original king pin of dermal fillers, but you may have some questions needing to be answered before you go all in on this wonder in the anti-aging world. We don’t blame you and are here to help educate you so that you can make a more informed decision and maybe find that a different brand of filler could actually be the solution you are seeking!
What is Botox?
Botox® is an FDA-approved procedures for treating the appearance of aging. Doctors and nurse practitioners inject Botox to diminish visible lines and wrinkles caused by muscle movement and tension in the face and neck. Botox is considered a neuromodulator and has been around for years now.
Neuromodulator are a leading non-invasive, anti-aging solution to instantly smooth visible lines, wrinkles, and nasolabial folds. Botox® temporarily treats lines and wrinkles at the source, relaxing the underlying muscles of the face to create a smooth, refreshed finish. Expression lines are softened and smoothed, awakening your face and taking years off of your appearance.
What exactly does Botox do?
In the world of wrinkle relaxers, some are still wondering what is a neuromodulator and how do they all actually work? We get it! That is a big medical word that just looks crazy on paper. When you try to Google it, lots of medical jargon comes up that makes you just feel like running away from your goal of understanding it in the 1st place. Let’s break it down so you can feel confident in your decision to utilize it’s benefits.
Neuromdulators are botulinum toxin injections that relax wrinkles. It is a non surgical treatment that is FDA-approved. Basically, it is the technical term and BOTOX® is the brand name. Other products, like Jeuveau® and Xeomin®, also use neuromdulators to stop nerve signals from telling muscles to contract.
The formulations contain purified proteins that immobilize muscles by blocking the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. As a result, the targeted facial muscles relax, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles created by the contraction or tensing of specific facial and neck muscles. The targeted areas of skin look smoother and more relaxed.
BOTOX® neuromodulators are created from a refined form of Botulinum toxin A. It temporarily treats lines and wrinkles at the source, relaxing the underlying muscles of the face to create a smooth, refreshed finish. Botox essentially weakens the muscle it is injected into. This then causes the muscle to not be able to function as highly thus preventing the wrinkles from forming in the first place or smoothing out the area if there are wrinkles and fine lines already. It is easy for you or your doctor to start to see potential problem areas forming and determine where a small amount of Botox could help prevent those wrinkles from forming in the first place.
What are the best areas to use Botox in?
Most commonly, Botox is used to ease wrinkles and fine lines in the face. Botox® treatments are non-surgical therapies that can remedy a variety of conditions ranging from cosmetic concerns such as crow’s feet and forehead furrows to health ailments such as migraines, jaw pain and muscle spasms. Since Botox is just one type of neuromodulator, let’s take a look at what areas these wrinkle relaxers are best for as a whole. Nowadays there are actually newer products that benefit from the latest technologies to target more specific things. Let’s discuss some of our favorites briefly-
Jeuveau™
Jeuveau™ is the first neuromodulator to be approved by the FDA solely for the treatment of facial lines and wrinkles. Jeuveau™ is being hailed as “Newtox” as it works on the same principals and Botulinum toxin A. However, Jeuveau™ lets patients see an improvement in lines and creases as early as 2-3 days. Not only does it work more quickly than Botox, it is also less expensive!
Radiesse
Radiesse is a trusted dermal filler that is specifically for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds in the lower face and can also be used for your hands. If you are noticing laugh lines, smile lines, lines under your mouth, around the corners of your mouth, and even in the chin area, Radiesse is a great option for you to consider. Think of Radiesse as a more sophisticated version of Botox- also a dermal filler but with the added punch of boosting collagen for lasting natural looking results.
Sculptra®
Sculptra® is one of our favorite products since it stimulates the body to produce its own type 1 collagen over time, giving you a more permanent result, unlike other fillers which completely dissolves over time. Sculptra® enhances skin tone and texture and also improves skin health. This offers a more subtle, natural-looking result by adding volume slowly as your body produces more collagen in the area. The results of Sculptra® can last for up to 2 years, which is a lot longer than many of the other cosmetic injectables. You will see the best results eight weeks after initial treatment, so again plan accordingly!
Xeomin®
Xeomin® is a form of incobotulinumtoxin A that is used to block muscle movement in areas that contribute to wrinkles. It is used in the forehead, typically between the brows to soften frown lines.
Sometimes the body has the ability to become immune to other neurotoxins like Botox® injected too many times in patient’s forehead, rendering its muscle-freezing abilities useless. When your Botox® treatment has started to lose its magic touch, rest assured that you have another option in Xeomin®.
How quickly does Botox work?
Botox® takes up to 7-10 days to show 100% of the treatment result. Patients will see the full effects in two weeks and expect them to last up to 3-to-4 months on average and sometimes longer. Regular treatments can extend the longevity of results but depend on your individual treatment plan developed with your practitioner. Some patients with especially dense muscles, for example, may require more treatments. Women often see results more quickly than men.
What are the potential side effects of Botox?
Injectables are relatively safe treatments with few contraindications. Adults from all age groups can reap the benefits of the treatments with full understanding of how the products work and the outcomes to be expected.
Possible side-effects include headache, bruising at injection site, dropped brows or eyelid weakness, red or irritated skin or development of a rash or hives, and moderate discomfort.
Our doctors, however, discourage the use of Botox in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Some patients experience swelling and redness at the injection site immediately following treatment. If this side-effect occurs, it usually disappears after 10 minutes.
Ready to see if Botox or one of the other dermal fillers discussed above could be a good solution for you? Contact us today here at Perich Aesthetics to find your best treatment with our experienced team!