Botox

What is Botox? 

Botulinum toxin (Type A), also known as Botox or Botox cosmetic, is a natural, purified protein that significantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. The protein is injected in small doses through tiny needles at specific spots in your facial anatomy. It works by blocking the nerve signal that causes facial muscles to contract, resulting in more relaxed muscles and smoother, younger-looking skin. 

Botox is one of the most effective, non-invasive cosmetic tools for the long-term reduction of facial wrinkles. It can also be used to help balance facial asymmetry and relax tight neck bands.

What causes wrinkles?

As you age, your skin loses its natural elasticity and produces fewer oils, becoming drier, weaker, and less flexible. Exposure to sunlight compounds this natural decline, as ultraviolet light breaks down the deep layers of your skin’s connective tissue. When this strong, flexible support system sustains too much damage, your skin begins to show signs of wrinkling and sagging. 

Smoking also contributes to the aging of your skin, partly because it reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your epidermis. These wrinkles, which are mostly caused by genetics, sun exposure, and chemical exposure, are known as static wrinkles or wrinkles at rest.

Your most demonstrative facial expressions can also cause wrinkles over time. These types of wrinkles, known as dynamic wrinkles or wrinkles in motion, develop in response to a pattern of facial muscle use. The exact wrinkles you’ll develop as you age generally depend on how often you smile, frown, or squint. 

What kind of wrinkles does Botox target?

Botox is primarily used to treat dynamic wrinkles or those that come from repeated facial muscle patterns. They include:

• Worry lines: the deep horizontal furrows in your brow
• Squint lines: the horizontal lines that extend from your eyes to the bridge of your nose
• Crow’s feet: the tiny smile or laugh lines at the corners of your eyes
• Angry 11s: the two vertical furrows between your eyebrows
• Marionette lines: the vertical lines that extend down from the corners of your mouth

Although Botox can have a noticeable effect on static wrinkles that develop from sun exposure and genetics, those wrinkles are generally more responsive to aesthetic laser treatment therapy. 

What can I expect from the procedure?

Your Paramount Health Directions provider can usually perform Botox cosmetic treatments on the same day as your initial consultation and evaluation. After you discuss your goals with your provider, they’ll develop a plan of action and prepare the injections. Because the procedure is relatively painless, it’s usually performed without anesthesia. Most patients get the results they’re looking for by having a few injections at several specific sites. Side effects may include minor swelling and slight redness, both of which are usually short-lived. Although individual results vary, the results typically last anywhere from 3 -6 months. 

Call Paramount Health Directions or request an appointment online today to determine if Botox is right for you.