The average person frowns five times a day. Multiply that by weeks, months, and years, and the repeated movements of the muscles you use to frown will begin to leave a trace. Those creases and fine lines are dynamic wrinkles, also called expression lines.
For years, Botox has provided the solution to dynamic wrinkles. These cosmetic injectables can reduce wrinkles and fine lines while giving your skin a fuller and smoother look. Read on to learn how a Botox treatment at our clinic can help erase the signs of those frowns from your face.
How Botox Works
Botox is a cosmetic injectable made from a purified form of botulinum toxin that has been FDA-approved for decades. The toxin weakens targeted muscles. It blocks nerve signals, preventing them from contracting.
Because muscle activity is reduced, your skin doesn’t crease, giving you a smoother, younger look. You will still be able to display emotions, but you won’t have to worry about deepening wrinkles.
At our clinic, we use units of Botox to treat various types of fine lines and wrinkles, including:
- The “11” between eyebrows
- Forehead lines
- Crow’s feet around the eyes
- Nose lines
- Smile lines
- Chin creases
- Neck folds
Botox treatment can also prevent wrinkles from worsening and new ones from forming. Regular cosmetic injectable treatments train your muscles to be more relaxed, letting you smile and frown without fully contracting them.
The effects of Botox are temporary, but you can expect your results to last for several months.
Good candidates for Botox are people who are struggling with expression lines, who are healthy, and who are not allergic to any of the injectable’s ingredients. If you are pregnant or nursing, we will ask you to delay treatment.
Dynamic vs. Static Wrinkles
There are two main types of wrinkles: dynamic and static. Each has different treatment options. Cosmetic injectables like Botox work best for dynamic wrinkles.
Dynamic wrinkles are part of the aging process. As the years pass, collagen production decreases and your skin loses elasticity. This makes it difficult for your skin to bounce back into place as it used to. Expressions begin to leave their marks, and anti-aging topical solutions are not enough to combat the formation of wrinkles.
Static wrinkles, however, form regardless of your muscle actions, and they deepen with age. Some examples of static wrinkles are marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and even laugh lines. For these wrinkles, dermal fillers are the best treatment.
Because dynamic wrinkles can become static with time, opting for regular treatment with cosmetic injectables is a good idea to train the muscles to be softer.
What to Expect from Botox Treatment
When you schedule a consultation with us to learn about Botox treatments, we will assess the areas you want to target so we can put together a treatment plan. We will take a full medical history to ensure you are in good physical health.
If you take medications or herbal supplements, have had injectables before, or have a blood clotting problem, make sure to tell us.
By working together, we can plan the treatment that will be most effective in helping you achieve your goals. When you leave the consultation, you will know how many units of Botox we will use as well as the total cost of treatment.
Preparing for the Appointment
We ask that you stop taking aspirin, St. John’s wort, ibuprofen, and any other blood-thinning medications for at least four days before your Botox appointment. If you have been instructed to take any of these, consult with your doctor.
Avoid chemical peels, facials, or suntans leading up to the injectable treatment. Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
At the Appointment
For your Botox treatment, come to our clinic without makeup. We will clean your face and then perform three to five injections, depending on the treatment areas. Because we will follow the exact plan we put together during our consultation, you will know how many units you will receive.
The process can take between 10 and 30 minutes. Since we use ultrafine needles, even many patients who are uncomfortable with needles have no trouble receiving Botox injections.
After the Appointment
There is no downtime after receiving cosmetic injectables. Our patients often get Botox injections during their lunch breaks and return to work right after.
We do suggest you postpone workouts until at least the morning after treatment and that you skip applying makeup until the day after, as well. Avoid extreme heat and direct sunlight, and do not use products that contain retinol for 24 hours. We will offer specific guidelines based on your lifestyle and skin concerns.
Botox Treatment Results
You can start seeing results as quickly as 72 hours after the injections. After two weeks, you will see the full effects, letting you enjoy smoother skin.
Botox injections can last anywhere from three to six months. Many factors can influence how long the results last, including your metabolism, the depth of the treated wrinkles, your activity level, and the amount of Botox injected. Your gender, too, can impact the longevity of results, as men need injections more frequently than women.
At your first consultation with us, we will work on a treatment plan so you can ensure your skin continues looking its best.
Get Botox for a Younger-Looking You
Dynamic wrinkles are impossible to avoid, but cosmetic injectables like Botox can diminish or even temporarily erase them.
At RKM Aesthetics & Wellness in Ventura, CA, we offer Botox and other injectables to bring our patients the results they want. Call us today to request an appointment!