Botox is a cosmetic treatment that has become a household name. After all, plastic surgeons alone administered 7.44 million Botox treatments last year.
Many people love Botox. There are also many who are hesitant to try it because it’s also surrounded by plenty of myths and misunderstandings. As with anything, moderation is always best, especially for keeping your natural expressions. To set the record straight, here’s everything you need to know about Botox for facial expressions, fighting aging, and more.
How Does Botox Work?
To understand how Botox works, you first need to know how expression lines form. It goes deeper than your skin depth.
As you make the same facial expressions repeatedly over time, you’re contracting many of the same muscles. Over the years, those muscles eventually become shortened and tense and tend to stay in a partially contracted state.
In other words, your mother was a partially correct when she said, “if you keep making that face, it will stay that way.”
When a muscle contracts, it also contracts the skin above it. This will appear as forehead creases, crow’s feet around the eyes and general wrinkled skin.
How Botox Reduces Expression Lines
A medical provider, such as a Nurse Practicitioner, will inject Botox into specific muscles that appear contracted. The Botox will fully or partially block the nerve signals that are causing the muscle to contract. This helps the muscle to relax, allowing the skin above it relax and appear smoother.
What Do I Need to Know About Botox for Facial Expressions? Will My Face Be “Frozen?”
One of the more common worries people have is their face will look “frozen” and “unnatural” after receiving Botox injections.
While this is an understandable fear, a skilled and experienced injector will leave your skin with the right amount of contractibility. The goal is to continue to have normal expressions, but not have muscles remain contracted after you are done “smiling”. An experienced injector will get you the results you are seeking!
An added bonus to having Botox injections into strong muscles, such as the ones between your eyebrows, is that the Botox will lessen the ability to strongly contract these muscles. There result is a much smoohter skin surface between the eyebrows, which is un-fondly referred to as the “eleven’s”. Botox works like a champion to reduce your ability to make strong expressions, therefore it will prevent these skin “wrinkles” from deepening. You may also have a more “serene” expression, which has an unintended benefit of a more relaxed interaction with others.
Is Botox Safe?
With any medical procedure you’re considering, it’s important to do your reserarch about the products being utilized. Botox has a long history of being safe to use when administered by a skilled and experienced injector in a clean, professional facility. However, there are risks associated with Botox, so it’s important to know your own health risks. Botox is a controlled substance that can only be legally sold to an appropriate medically licensed professional. Here are a few things to consider before receiving Botox injections.
First, it’s important to choose a skilled and experienced Botox injector. In the state of Florida, a Nurse Practitioner can administer Botox. Botox has many helpful uses such as for chronic pain and migraines. It is effective at blocking nerve signals in muscle tissue which leads to reducing nerve pain and muscular dysfunction.
Second, since Botox is closely regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency, only qualified medical professionals have access to it. It is a “red flag” if an unqualified practicioner is offering injections because one could infer that it’s not really Botox or the injector is not experienced and can do significant harm. Being injected with an unknow substance can lead to many other health risks.
Lastly, double check the medical spa where you are receiving your Botox injections for the state licensure and skill level of the injector and the overall sanitation of the facility. The number one goal is to ensure your health and safety and achieve the results you are seeking with your Botox injections.
How Long Does Botox Last?
Botox generally will last up to 3 to 4 months, depending on a few factors. The body will metabolize Botox gradually, but the rate depends on each person’s individual circulation and metabolism. Eventually, the effectiveness of Botox will wane and you will begin to notice returning expression lines. This is a good signal to set-up your next Botox injection appointment. All you need is a new session of Botox injections to maintain or get back your smoother, younger look.
What Can I Expect During a Botox Treatment?
Getting Botox for the first time can give some of us “butterflies”. However, you can take heart in knowing that the injections are done using very small needles and it is a quick and simple process.
As you sit down with our clinicians, we will start by discussing your personal goals. We will assess your skin and facial expressions and help you determine whether Botox is the best treatment for you.
The next step is to mark your injection areas with a washable marker. Your injector will ask you to make certain facial expressions to see where and how your muscles contract. This will give a “map” of where Botox is needed to smooth out the contracted and shortened muscles.
Next, some practicianers will numb the surface of your skin with ice if you prefer. With great skill and expertise, Botox will be injected into the precise areas noted on your “mapping” with the washable marker.
The entire process usually only takes 10 to 15 minutes or less. An ice pack can be used directly following the injections to reduce any swelling or discomfort you might experience. There are no activity restrictions or downtime needed following Botox injections.
Your results will normally take three to seven days, before you notice a reduction in your expression lines. Full results can be expected within two weeks.
Choosing to Receive Botox Injections
Botox injections are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures today. You can quickly achieve beautiful results. Now that you know how to choose the right facility and practicioner for your Botox injections, it’s time to set-up your appointment. We offer quarterly Botox & Bubbly Party’s, so please start by scheduling an appointment at our medical spa today (904) 770-5021.
