The signs of aging and stress appear on our faces in the form of wrinkles. They can affect our confidence and self-esteem as they curb our youthful appearance.
Constant stress, hormonal changes, and various other factors can lead to premature aging, which manifests itself in the form of crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, smile lines around our mouth, and worry lines across our forehead.
Facial wrinkles are not very aesthetically pleasing, and so people try anything and everything to get rid of them. We use all sorts of anti-aging creams lotions, spa treatments, and more. The frustrating part is that none of these seem to work – if anything, the wrinkles on our face seem to get deeper with frustration!
This is one of the reasons why Botox injections are so popular. This injectable treatment is an effective way to address wrinkles.
Botox
Botox, or Botulinum toxin as the name suggests, is a neurotoxin that can prove to be quite helpful in smaller concentrations. Botox has been used in various medical applications and cosmetic procedures.
Botox injections are used to treat wrinkles on the face and give a more youthful appearance to the skin. This is a far simpler method of treating wrinkles than facelifts and other cosmetic surgeries.
Prior to the Procedure
Botox injections should be administered only under the guidance of a certified professional. It is important to give a detailed medical history to your plastic surgeon before the procedure to rule out allergies to the Botox or any other ingredients that will be used.
The Procedure
Botox comes in the form of a powder that is dissolved in a saline solution. The area where the Botox is to be injected is numbed using a topical anesthetic. Once this is done, the Botox is injected into the skin using a fine needle. This procedure only takes around 15 to 30 minutes total.
Botox works by paralyzing the treated muscle and preventing it from contracting, thus preventing wrinkles from appearing on the skin. The paralysis is achieved by blocking the chemical messages that the nerves in the facial region send to the muscles.
The muscles gradually recover from the paralysis and starts functioning normally within three to four months.
After the Procedure
Most patients experience slight swelling, redness, and bruising in the areas where the Botox has been injected. In some cases, patients also experience numbness in the surrounding muscles. These are the temporary side effects of Botox treatments and will subside quickly. It is advisable to use ice packs to bring down the swelling.
The results of the treatment last for a period of two to three months, after which the procedure needs to be repeated. For some people, it may last longer.
There is no downtime when it comes to recovery. It is, however, advisable to not lie down immediately after the surgery for a few hours. Physical activities can be resumed after a day or two.
Get Rid of Wrinkles Today
Experienced board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lawrence Glassman is available to tell you more about Botox and our other procedures during a consultation. Contact us today to schedule your informative consultation.