How Does Botox Work?

When lines and wrinkles associated with aging first appear in our 20s or 30s, it can have an immediate effect on our self-confidence. Without proper treatment, these issues will continue to appear throughout our skin as we get older. BOTOX® Cosmetic, which is offered here at Sule Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic in Dallas, TX, can be quite effective at treating the signs of aging, as well as preventing some issues before they appear.

How Does BOTOX® Work?

BOTOX® is a neuromuscular medication that diminishes the signs of aging by relaxing facial muscles. While different factors can play a role in the development of fine lines and wrinkles, the natural decline of collagen that occurs with aging is the most common cause of these types of imperfections. As we get older, collagen production decreases each year, and while this is happening, muscle contractions used to make facial expressions then continually cause the skin to shift and stretch.

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections can not only relax the muscles that contribute to lines and wrinkles but can also boost collagen levels within the skin. The combination of these effects typically leads to improvements in both skin texture and appearance. With regularly scheduled treatments three to four times throughout the year, this therapy can also be used to prevent some signs of aging.
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What Areas Can Be Effectively Treated?

Across the Forehead

Horizontal lines found on the forehead are quite common and tend to be very large and noticeable when they appear. By treating the frontalis muscles found in this area, we can normally minimize these lines with just a few injections.

Between the Eyebrows

If you have lines between your eyebrows, these are most likely nasal glabellar lines, which are commonly referred to as “frown lines.” Although there are multiple muscles near this area that can cause lines, we have experience with identifying which ones are responsible and treating them.

Around the Eyes

The area that surrounds the outer areas of the eyes is where lateral canthal lines appear. Also known as “crow’s feet,” we’ve had excellent results with treating these lines, allowing our patients to smile again without worrying about their appearance.

Other Areas

If you have lines, wrinkles, or other skin imperfections elsewhere, we’ll assess your skin during the initial consultation to gauge if this is the right approach for you or if another one of our treatments might work better.

How Quickly Do the Effects Start?

Although this medication can take a bit of time to start working, this can depend on different factors, and many of our patients are surprised to see improvements within just a few days after their first treatment session. The longest it should take for you to see results is about two weeks, as this is when most patients start to see the full results.

When the muscles become relaxed, the skin is sometimes slow to respond because it’s been pushed into tense positions by the muscles for quite a long time. After the skin has had sufficient time to relax and rebound from this tense state, lines typically begin to diminish and wrinkles become less noticeable

What Happens During Treatment?

Pre-Care Discussion

To determine if this is the right treatment for you and answer any questions you might have, there’s a pre-care consultation. This is a brief process where we’ll want to know why you want this treatment and what expectations you have.

We’ll also ask a bit about your overall health and medical history, and we’ll want to look at your skin and facial muscles to evaluate how well they might respond to this treatment.

Muscles Are Treated

After discussing this therapy with you, we can get started with your treatment session immediately after. We’ll treat the affected muscles by injecting the BOTOX® solution into them using needles.

Each muscle typically takes less than a few minutes to treat, and the whole process normally lasts about 15 minutes. The needles used for the injections normally don’t result in significant pain, but we can always apply an anesthetic to the skin beforehand if you’re worried about this.

Is There a Recovery Period?

After we finish the treatment process, you’ll be able to carry out most of your regular activities as usual. We’ll only make a few recommendations for the first few days afterward to make sure that you get the best results from this treatment, such as not massaging or rubbing the treated areas and avoiding any strenuous activities that might cause excessive sweating.

How Long Do the Results Last?

The results of this treatment should last at least three to four months. You can then return for additional treatments either once you notice the effects wearing off or just before this starts to happen. With regularly scheduled appointments, many of our patients have been able to maintain their results year-round.

Also, after receiving injections on a regular basis, the results can occasionally last up to six months before wearing off. This often occurs after the first one to two years of treatment, as the muscles can become more responsive to this treatment after staying relaxed for long periods.

Practical Tips for Extending the Results

Limit Sun Exposure

Sunlight encourages our skin to produce vitamin D, which is an essential vitamin for skin health. However, too much sunlight can be damaging. You should therefore wear sunscreen when you know you’ll be out in the sun for long periods, as UV rays from sunlight can rob the skin of moisture while depleting collagen levels, both of which can shorten how long the effects of this therapy last.

Keep a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet and getting all your vitamins and nutrients can not only help to maintain skin health but can also lead to improvements in skin texture. There’s also evidence that vitamin E, in particular, can help extend the results of your treatment while revitalizing the skin, so your diet should include foods rich in Vitamin E as well.

Stay Hydrated

One of the ways your skin stays healthy is by removing dead or damaged skin cells while replacing them with new ones. Drinking between a half gallon and a full gallon of water each day can help with this process, which can keep your skin looking vibrant while also making it more responsive to this therapy.

Reduce Daily Stress

When you’re experiencing chronic stress in your daily life, this can increase cortisol levels in the body and tension in your facial muscles. Increased cortisol levels can accelerate the loss of collagen that occurs with older age, and, along with increased muscle tension, this can lead to more severe lines and wrinkles, making it harder for this medication to work effectively.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise is one of the best ways to keep your skin healthy because it promotes blood flow, which helps oxygen and nutrients circulate throughout the body. Although strenuous exercise should be avoided immediately after your treatment, it can be resumed again within a few days and can help this medication work more effectively.

Moisturize Your Skin

It’s also a good idea to use a dermatologist-recommended moisturizer on your skin daily, as this can help to retain the skin’s supple texture and allows this medication to work more effectively. Applying it while the skin is damp is most effective because the skin has greater permeability when it’s slightly wet.

How Effective Is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

Although the effectiveness of this therapy can differ between patients, if you have expression lines, which are those that are associated with facial expressions, you’ll likely see great results from this treatment. It can be quite effective for these types of lines, especially when they’re dynamic and haven’t yet become static, meaning visible at all times.

Many of our patients see their lines and wrinkles completely disappear once the effects of this treatment start, and even severe issues can often be minimized and made less noticeable. By examining your skin beforehand, we’ll be able to get an idea just how effective this treatment might be for your particular skin type and cosmetic issues.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

BOTOX® Cosmetic has proven to be quite effective at treating expression lines and wrinkles and is considered to be one of the safest ways to do this. To get started with this treatment, contact us today at Sule Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic in Dallas, TX. We look forward to helping you achieve all your aesthetic goals, and we’ll be happy to assess any skin issues you currently have during the initial consultation.