In recent years, Botox has become a popular way to reduce the appearance of fine lines and
Botox is effective for erasing or reducing lines and wrinkles that happen as we age. The injections reduce the activity of the muscles that continually contract, which helps lift sagging mouth muscles, soften vertical neck lines, and prevent lines from forming in the skin.
Properly done, Botox does not give you an unnatural or "frozen" look. It's important that the doctor performing the procedure knows how much Botox to use for the size of your muscles and the lines you are trying to erase. Using too much Botox may cause your muscles to become stiff, and too little will not give the desired results.
Botox affects the muscles, not the nerves, so it does not have any effect on the sensation of your facial nerves. It can be used to lift the brows and ease frown lines between them, but you will have full feeling in those areas and all other areas where Botox is applied.
Because a needle is used to inject Botox into your muscles, there is some discomfort involved. Many doctors will give topical anesthesia just before the procedure or apply ice to the area to numb any discomfort.
Like any drug, Botox has some minor side effects that fade soon after the procedure. In a small number of cases one to five percent some minor droopiness of the eyelid or eyebrow occurs for up to two weeks after the procedure. A few patients see some slight bruising around the injection site. These issues are only temporary, and should disappear after a few weeks.
Botox treatments are not instantaneous. Some results will show after a few days, but the full results will emerge after about 2 weeks. It is best to avoid aspirin and NSAID medications around the time of the treatment, since pinpoint blue bruising can develop with use of these painkillers. You can wear makeup immediately, but heavy workouts are not recommended for the first 24 hours.
Botox is not a permanent treatment. Its effects are temporary, usually lasting 3 ½ to 4 months depending on the patient.
For patients looking to erase lines and improve their appearance without swelling or a long recovery time, Botox can be an effective tool. The team at GLOW Surgical Arts provides Botox and other cosmetic procedures aimed at bringing out the best in your appearance so you can truly enjoy your own shining beauty when you look in the mirror. View our Botox before & after gallery or contact us today to request a consultation.