Everything You Need to Know About Botox® Cosmetic Injections
- Kim Chwalek
- November 11, 2021
- 9:14 pm
Introduction
Botox® is the number one requested and physician performed cosmetic treatment nationwide, helping millions combat the early appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Quick, easy, and effective, it’s the perfect tool to give your face a refreshed youthful appearance in minimal time.
While this article spells out everything you need to know about Botox®, and we highly recommend you read the full article, here are the key points we will focus on:
Table of Contents
Keep reading to learn more about Botox, five benefits of Botox, and general information about Botox treatment for firm, smooth, and younger-looking skin.
What is Botox®?
Botox is the first and only treatment FDA-approved to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by active facial expression. It’s the perfect cosmetic tool to treat and prevent formation of deep skin creases, without eliminating your beautiful smile, the sparkle in your eye, or the effect of your scowl.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox is classified as a neuromodulator, which temporarily prevents the contraction of muscles that create lines and wrinkles. Made from a solution of botulinum toxin type A, a purified and natural protein, Botox disrupts a nerve’s signal from reaching a muscle in the area treated. The resulting effect is smooth, firm skin that looks youthful but doesn’t create the “frozen” or over-treated look that patients associate with too much injectable treatment.
Benefits of Botox Cosmetic Injections
Botox is used to relax the muscles in the face to reduce moderate to deep wrinkles, as well as to prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming. Ways you can use Botox include:
1. Treat Crow's Feet
Crow’s feet are wrinkles that appear around the eyes. They are often the most visible signs of aging and can become more pronounced when you smile or squint. Botox reduces the visibility of crow’s feet by relaxing the muscles in this area. It can make a dramatic impact even when you have deep lines!
2. Alleviate Forehead Wrinkles
Botox treatments can help smooth horizontal lines and vertical lines between the eyes and on the forehead, which prevents future lines from developing. After Botox treatment, you can expect smoother, tighter skin with less wrinkles.
3. Lift Eyebrows
As the face ages, your brows may begin to sag and furrow. This aging can be corrected with a non-surgical brow lift with Botox, which can treat frown lines between your brows and elevate the height of your eyebrows. A non-surgical Botox brow lift allows you to attain a more youthful appearance without the need for plastic surgery or the hassle of recovery time.
4. Minimize Around the Mouth Lines
Lines and wrinkles can easily form around the lips and mouth. Botox is a safe and effective way to prevent your skin from scrunching up when you move your mouth, smoothing smile lines at the corners of the mouth.
5. Tighten Neck
Botox can be used to tighten and redefine the jawline and provide a lift to the neck area by relaxing the muscle bands on the sides of the neck. This results in a smoother, younger looking neck after treatment.
What to Expect During Botox Treatment
Botox treatment is simple, stress-free, and easy on your schedule. During your treatment, an ultra-fine needle will be used to carefully inject a controlled stream of Botox into the specific area of skin. With topical anesthetic, the procedure is virtually painless. The process will be repeated until all the areas you wished to address have been covered. Once treatment is complete after 15-30 minutes, you can resume your day without needing to rest or recover.
How Long Does Botox Last?
With Botox, you may begin to notice results within 24 to 48 hours, with full results in 30 days. Results last up to 4 months for moderate to severe frown lines. To maintain the effect of Botox, you will need regular follow-up injections. If you’re not in love with your treatment, we can always provide a small adjustment to get you where you want to be. Botox is an exceptionally safe injectable treatment as it does not accumulate in the soft tissue over time and after multiple injections.
Tips and Reminders for Your Botox Appointment
Before you schedule your appointment, please take a moment to read what our patients are saying, learn what makes us different, or reach out to us with any questions. The following five tips are also helpful for preparing for your Botox appointment:
1. Schedule Your Appointment at an Appropriate Time
Make your appointment at a time that is convenient for you and will not interfere with work or previous obligations. This will help you prevent unnecessary stress or rushing around before or after your appointment.
2. Ask Your Doctor About Your Medications
Ask your doctor about which medications or supplements may interfere with your Botox treatment. The following may cause harmful side effects if combined with Botox:
- Allergy medications
- Aspirin
- Blood thinners
- Fish or Omega-3 Oils
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Ginseng
- Ibuprofen
- Muscle relaxants
- St. John’s Wort
- Sleeping aids
- Vitamin E
3. Avoid Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products
Drinking wine and smoking before a Botox appointment can increase your risk of bruising and interfere with healing. To avoid this, you should inform your Bryn Mawr dermatologist if you smoke or drink and plan to give up these substances for seven days before your treatment.
4. Use a Gentle Facial Cleanser
Before your appointment, we advise you to wash your face thoroughly with a mild cleanser and warm water. This will ensure that your skin is free of dirt, moisturizers, or cosmetics.
5. Minimum Stress
Although Botox appointments are simple and relatively quick, we understand that a medical appointment can make some people nervous. At Bryn Mawr Dermatology, our team of skincare experts and board-certified dermatologists will do everything we can to make you feel comfortable. To relieve stress before your appointment, we recommend listening to calming music, practicing breathing exercises, or having a loved one accompany you to your appointment.
Botox Treatment: Before & After Photos by Bryn Mawr Dermatology
With the help of our caring, experienced team at Bryn Mawr Dermatology, you can combat signs of aging and leave our office with new confidence. Here are before-and-after photos of real people treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic at Bryn Mawr Dermatology.
Forehead Lines
Before
After
Crow's Feet
Before
After
Book Your Botox Appointment Today
The easiest way to determine if this treatment is right for you is to Request an Appointment with our skincare experts and board-certified dermatologists. During your consultation, our friendly staff will evaluate your concerns and determine an ideal treatment plan to meet your needs. Our office is beautifully equipped, so you’ll feel at home as soon as you walk in the door. Learn more about our treatment options.
Get started today by clicking the Schedule Now button at the top of the page, or by calling our dermatology team at (610) 525-7800 . We look forward to caring for you!