Are the years of life starting to show their lines?
There’s no denying B-word has become a common household term. It’s a talking point today not just in the media among Hollywood celebrities, but surely around your close circle of friends. Would you? Have you? Has she? Is it right for me?
What Is Botox?
Botox treatment is a popular non-surgical treatment offered at Peak Health Group for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. While aging is a natural process that affects everyone’s appearance over time, Botox offers a solution that helps rejuvenate skin.
Botox is the brand name of a neurotoxin that comes from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It is the same type of toxin that causes botulism, a dangerous type of food poisoning. The Botox used by doctors is purified and used in small doses to have a specific, controlled response. It is given by injection into specific muscles to reduce the impact of their motion.
When used as a therapeutic drug, Botox is safe and typically causes few side effects. Botox treatments are used around the world. In 2002, it received FDA approval based on a clinical trial involving 405 patients. Today, Botox injections continue to be the fastest-growing cosmetic treatment performed in the US.
Botox is FDA-approved for 11 therapeutic indications in addition to its cosmetic applications. These include:
- Excessive sweating
- Uncontrollable blinking
- Chronic migraine
- Overactive bladder
- Misaligned eyes
- Incontinence
Although the medical benefits of Botox continue to grow, the most common use is cosmetic. People like the option to have a safe, effective alternative to plastic surgery. Botox carries a much lower risk and cost in comparison to surgery while also requiring virtually no recovery time.
How Do Botox Treatments Work?
Botox temporarily paralyzes muscles, preventing them from contracting. These contractions normally cause frown lines and fine wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes, mouth, and nose. Injecting Botox into specific muscles allows it to block nerve impulses. The toxin temporarily paralyzes the muscle, preventing the facial movements that lead to lines and wrinkles. The treatment gives the face a more relaxed expression that prevents fine lines and wrinkles from developing while reducing or erasing those that already exist.
Your Forehead. It’s the main area of concern for many of us. The faint show of forehead lines can be the very first sign of aging. This is especially true if you tend to speak with very expressive eye brows. Those vertical 11’s between the brows that deepen when you frown are just as concerning. Good news, this is the sweet spot for Botox treatments. These dynamic lines of your forehead respond well to Botox treatments.
Your Eyes. Those fine lines extending from the corners of your eyes are as sure tell sign of aging. In Hollywood the secret to never develop crow’s feet is to start using Botox early. That’s right, unsightly static lines around the eyes can actually be prevented with regular treatments.
Lower Face. Botox can also do amazing things for your lower face. Much less common, these require the hands of an expert injector. If the corners of your mouth turn downward, vertical lines deepen on your upper lip, or if your chin forms unsightly dimples when you talk or smile, Botox may help.
Sweat Marks. Many of us suffer from sweating too much. Embarrassing wet marks on clothing or moist handshakes can keep you from enjoying life. You will be delighted to know Botox is indicated to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). The results usually last longer than with cosmetic treatments.
How Do Botox and other Neuro-Modulators Work?
Neuro-modulators work by blocking nerve communication with muscles
In order for muscles to contract, nerves release a chemical messenger, acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter), at the junction where the nerve endings meet muscle cells. Acetylcholine attaches to receptors on the muscle cells and causes the muscle cells to contract or shorten. Injected botulinum toxin prevents the release of acetylcholine, preventing contraction of the muscle cells. Botulinum toxin causes a reduction in abnormal muscle contraction, allowing the muscles to become less stiff.
Before and After Botox
What to Expect During a Botox Treatment
The Botox treatment is completed during an office visit. The first appointment is typically a consultation where you will discuss your goals and concerns with the doctor. They will go over your medical history and determine what medications you take. Some types of conditions, allergies, and medications might make you an unsuitable candidate for Botox treatment.
If your doctor determines that you are a good candidate for Botox injections, you will receive your first treatment at your next appointment. The doctor might instruct you to stop taking some medications prior to your treatment. Once you arrive, they will clean your face and mark it to determine the proper placement of the injections.
The doctor might apply anesthetic cream or cooling gel to the area to numb it prior to treatment. Most people find this unnecessary, as the needles that are used are very tiny, and they don’t go very deep. The injections usually cause little if any discomfort other than a pinching feeling.
During the treatment, the doctor might ask you to smile or frown. This provides a guideline for the placement of the injection. The number and location of injections you receive depend on the number of areas that you want to treat. Some common areas include:
- The frown lines between the eyebrows
- Forehead creases
- Crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes
- Cobblestone skin on the chin
- Smile lines at the corners of the mouth
Treatments might last as little as 10 minutes but rarely longer than 15. After the treatment, you can return to your normal activities. Depending on your doctor’s instructions, this might exclude exercising or performing any strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
If you have redness and swelling, you can apply cold compresses. Avoid rubbing the injection site during the first day to prevent the Botox from spreading to another area. Depending on the area treated and the dosage used, you will achieve final results within 3 to 7 days. The goal of the cosmetic surgeon is to achieve results that are natural-looking and not over-treated. Maintaining regular treatments in the future will help you achieve and maintain optimal results.
How Long Does a Botox Treatment Last?
The effects of a Botox treatment vary from patient to patient and depend on the area treated. Typically, they last anywhere between 3 and 12 months. With repeated treatments, the doctor will adjust the dosage and technique to get optimal results each time.
Although Botox is highly effective on some types of wrinkles and lines, it isn’t right for every type of wrinkle. Schedule a consultation to discuss whether Botox treatment is right for your needs.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox?
People age differently and at different times in their lives. Botox treatment helps adults of all ages enhance their appearance. While getting treatment for cosmetic enhancement is a personal decision, there are some factors that prevent people from making good candidates.
The ideal candidate for Botox treatment is at least 18 years old, healthy, and has no history of neuromuscular diseases. They also should not be pregnant or nursing or have an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk. Those with certain facial features or skin types are also poor candidates for Botox treatment. Your doctor can help you determine if you are a candidate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best age for starting Botox?
Everyone’s anatomy and facial muscles are unique. If you have visible dynamic lines and want a younger appearance, then you would benefit. So, if you are a good candidate, you should get Botox regardless of your age. It’s the provider’s job to first do an assessment and only treat you if you can benefit. We routinely do Botox treatments for people in their twenties and have on occasion refused to treat those in their 40s.
What is a Neuromodulator?
Botox is the most famous neuromodulator. These substances work by “modulating” the nerve signals Which tell muscles of the face to form wrinkles. They block the chemicals released by nerves which interact with receptors on muscles. This effect is temporary and does not damage the nerves or the muscles themselves. Like any muscle however, the less it is used, the thinner it may become. Other available and less know neuromodulators include Xeomin and Dystport.
Can Botox really prevent wrinkles?
Although no specific scientific studies have been done, most experts will agree that Botox can be a preventative measure. By reducing skin folding Botox prevents static wrinkles from developing in the first place. This is the primary reason for most young people seeking Botox. For wrinkles that are already there, Botox can literally freeze them in their tracks, so they don’t get deeper.
How much Botox will I need?
Botox comes in a dried powder and must be dissolved in a liquid for injection. Depending on how much liquid your provider uses, your volume of injections may vary. What really matters is how may units are used and how many regions are treated. The manufacturer recommends 20 to 24 units per region. The forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet are the most common regions. An experienced Botox injector should customize your dose specifically for your facial anatomy. The material will be injected in small one tenth of a milliliter amounts using a tiny (36G) needle.
Do Botox treatments hurt?
No need to feel squeamish. Extremely small needles are used, and your skin is chill momentarily before injections. Most barely feel no more discomfort than a slight pinch from the needle. Some people may feel a slight momentary burn or tingle as the tiny volume of liquid is injected. The whole procedure is typically over in 10 to 15 minutes and don’t expect any pain or discomfort afterwards.
What should I do after the treatment?
Immediately after getting Botox, you may look like you’ve been attacked by mosquito. Tiny bumps at the injection sites typically go away in about 20 to30 minutes. Play it safe, avoid rubbing or massaging the treatment areas of your face, lying down, or working out for several hours after your treatment. Basically, for you to have the best intended results, the Botox material should stay exactly where it was placed. Next, you need to be patient. It takes 3-5 days for the Botox effect to become noticeable.
What can I expect from the Botox?
Don’t expect to notice anything for the first few days. Gradually you won’t be able to make as many wrinkles even if you consciously try to. This can be a subtle gradual change over a week and not everyone will even notice. Your close friends and family might throw comments like you look “more refreshed” or “well rested.” Many people also feel less tension in their forehead and most have fewer headaches. All these effects will gradually fade over 3-4 months. Alcohol, stress, trauma, and excessive sun exposure may speed this up. Botox effects tend to last longer the more consistently and regularly you get treatments.
What are “dynamic” wrinkles?
Some wrinkles form or deepen when we move or contract the muscles of our face. Since these small muscles are located inside the skin layer the skin fold every time. These “dynamic” wrinkles are treated with Botox and tend to go away or soften as soon as we relax facial muscles. However, not unlike a piece of paper, repeated folding of skin will eventually leave a permanent crease. Once you have these “static” wrinkles, they are not likely to go away with Botox alone.
What are the risks of Botox treatments?
Any time we use a needle, there is a risk of skin infection, but we’ve never seen one. There is also a chance of bumping into a small superficial blood vessel. This could cause a very small bruise that resolves typically in a few days. Temporary eye lid droop has been reported and there are some other very rare and theoretical risks include on the Botox package insert. Like getting your hair done, there is a risk you might not be completely satisfied with the “look.” If this is the case, come back in a week and we will do whatever necessary to get you the look you want.
What is the Cost of a Botox treatment?
Most of what you pay covers the cost of Botox material itself. Some providers charged by the units used while others charge one price for each region treated. Each region might require 18-24 units for good result and typically Botox will cost you $12 to $16 per unit. Expect to pay $225 to $375 for each region fully treated. When paying for Botox by the region, you’ll pay $250 to $300 and your provider will use as many units necessary to get you the look you want.
Contact Peak Health Group for Botox Injections Today!
You may have seen Botox treatments advertised in spas or salons. Botox injections are medical treatments that have no place in these beauty treatment businesses. Although the injections are non-surgical, they do require specific training to administer them safely.
At Peak Health Group, your Botox treatment is given by qualified medical staff with years of experience. We are approved by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the only board dedicated exclusively to excellence in cosmetic surgery.
Choose your Botox provider with the same care that you would choose a cosmetic surgeon. Our holistic approach to primary care includes the treatments you need to feel good and look your best. Contact us with any questions or to schedule your appointment for a consultation today!