What Is Botox?

Botox is a popular cosmetic treatment administered to millions of people each year. Botox is the brand name for a substance injected into the skin that can prevent wrinkles by inhibiting muscle movement.

Botox, otherwise known as the cosmetic form of Botulinum toxin, or Onobotulinumtoxin, blocks nerve signals to the muscles so they cannot contract.

Botulinum toxin type A is a bacteria that temporarily inhibits nerve signals to the muscles. This injectable neuromodulation can address wrinkles caused by repeated muscle movements like:

  • Pursing lips
  • Chewing
  • Squinting
  • Frowning
  • Smiling

Muscle contractions highlight existing wrinkles and deepen them. Botox can help individuals get a smoother and younger-looking appearance.

What Are Botox Cosmetic Injections Used For?

Botox cosmetic is commonly used for reducing and preventing the appearance of facial wrinkles. Yet, Botox injections can also treat other problems, like:

  • Repetitive neck spasms
  • Lazy eye
  • Overactive bladder
  • Excessive sweating

Botox can help with TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction) and chronic migraines in some people. Other than wrinkles, Botox can be used to treat a gummy smile or soften a square jaw.

If you have strong jaw muscles, neuromodulator injections can soften the muscles for a more curved jawline over time.

The most common use of Botox injections is to temporarily freeze the facial muscles that cause wrinkles. This might be frown lines between your eyebrows, forehead furrows, or crow’s feet from the corners of the eyes.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox treatments block neurotransmitters, the nerve signals, to certain muscles. The muscles relax to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the skin.

Botox doesn’t work for everyone. You aren’t a suitable candidate if you:

  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Are allergic to Botulinum toxin type A
  • Have an active skin infection or inflammation on the day of your appointment
  • Have certain neuromuscular conditions (Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS)

Before receiving Botox injections, it’s important to inform your administrator of any medications or supplements you are taking. If you aren’t sure if Botox is right for you, ask a lot of questions during your consultation.

How Long Does Botox Last For?

Botox can last between three to four months depending on various factors. Each person will metabolize Botox at different rates.

If your wrinkles have been developing for several years, it can take a few months of injections for them to smooth out.

Your age can have an impact on how long Botox injections last, but there is no magic age to have this procedure done.

Dermatologists don’t recommend an age to start Botox because it depends on an individual’s goals, preferences, and facial expressions.

Younger patients are starting to receive Botox injections to get ahead of wrinkles before they appear or deepen.

What Happens During a Botox Procedure?

During the Botox procedure, you’ll receive Botox cosmetic injections after your skin is cleaned. You’ll get several shots with a fine needle on the areas where you want to achieve results.

The administrator can use a different dosage from patient to patient depending on the individual and the strength of their muscles.

Men’s facial muscles tend to be stronger than women’s, so they may need a higher dosage to smooth wrinkles.

If you don’t want to commit to traditional Botox, you can opt for Botox for newbies, also known as baby Botox. Baby Botox refers to Botox injections administered in smaller doses to give off a more natural appearance.

Most people can tolerate minor discomfort from Botox injections, but you can ask for numbing options, like ice and vibration anesthesia that massages to reduce discomfort, or topical anesthesia.

For most, the injection feels like an insect bite. People tend to tolerate all neuromodulators well.

A clinical professional will use a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of Botox into the muscles or skin. The number of injections you’ll need depends on how small or large the area you are treating is.

After the procedure, you’ll experience no downtime. You’ll be able to return to your daily activities once the procedure is over. You won’t be able to apply makeup until the following day.

You will need to take special care of the treated areas to avoid the risk of spreading Botox.

For example, a doctor might recommend avoiding massaging or rubbing the treated areas for a specific amount of time. Doing so could cause the injections to migrate to different areas.

Avoid laying down or bending over for the first few hours after the procedure as well.

What Are the Risks of Botox?

Botox is a safe treatment option when performed by a qualified professional. These technicians will ensure you get the correct amount of Botox in the right area.

If you choose to receive Botox from someone without certifications and the correct experience, you might be left with asymmetrical results and other unwanted side effects.

Frozen expressions and muscle drooping are two dangerous consequences of getting Botox from someone who is not qualified for the job.

There is a stigma around Botox injections because of movies and TV. Some believe that getting Botox means they will look frozen and not be able to move their facial muscles.

While it’s true that Botox restricts movements, a moderate and safe amount of Botox still allows patients to react and communicate normally.

Botox will only affect the targeted areas. It will not affect non-targeted facial muscles used for overall facial expressions. For instance, if you get injections between your eyebrows, the rest of your face won’t be affected.

Are There Any Side Effects to Botox?

When Botox cosmetic injections are effectively carried out, there are minimal side effects of the procedure. Some patients might not experience side effects at all.

Around the site of injection, you might have light bruising, swelling, or redness. These symptoms are common and won’t last long. If you take blood thinners, you might bruise more than other individuals.

Some patients choose to apply a cold compress or take an over-the-counter painkiller to reduce discomfort and swelling. Even without additional help, the discomfort usually subsides within 24 hours of the procedure.

In rare cases, you could experience difficulty speaking, breathing, and swallowing. If this happens to you, you must immediately seek medical attention.

During your consultation, an aesthetician will walk you through all of the possible side effects so you’ll understand the risks of receiving Botox.

Botox Results

Once Botox has been injected into the skin, the effects on the muscles become apparent within a few hours. The main effects will appear on the skin about one week later.

As Botox fully freezes the treated areas, you’ll notice lines softening and wrinkles diminishing in appearance.

Keep in mind that you might not achieve your desired result after one Botox session if your lines and wrinkles are severe.

It’s also important to be reasonable about your results. Botox won’t get rid of all wrinkles on your face, such as static wrinkles. Instead, it improves the appearance of wrinkles caused by expressions.

Depending on the area being treated, the effects of Botox can last from three to four months. You can maintain the effect of Botox by going to regular follow-up appointments.

If you continuously use Botox for years, your muscles will become trained to avoid wrinkle-forming expressions as aggressively as they once did.

However, years of use also means you’ll need less to maintain your desired look over time.

A lot of patients fear that they will experience drastic wrinkles when they stop Botox. If you choose to stop regular injections, the muscles injected with Botox will still reduce movement and slow the formation of wrinkles.

When Botox is active, it will delay the aging process and help patients look younger relative to their age. The length of this benefit depends on how long you kept a Botox regimen.

In short, you don’t have to worry about developing lines and wrinkles overnight if you stop getting Botox injections.

Choose Goldfingers Aesthetics

There are a lot of benefits of Botox cosmetic injections, but it’s important to know the facts about this procedure before opting for it.

When you choose Goldfingers Aesthetics for your Botox, we ensure you are a candidate for injections and will inform you of all information and risks regarding the procedure.

If you are looking for a safe clinic to reduce the risks of Botox, choose us! Schedule an aesthetics appointment today to get started.


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