For those of you who have heard about Botox, but don’t know what it involves, maybe afraid to ask, this post provides the “Cliffs Notes” on the what, how and results.
You can also link to a Botox Patient Video on the SkinHealth Centers website for more detailed information in 3D animation.
BOTOX® Cosmetic, the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure performed, is used to treat facial lines and wrinkles such as forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, and lines around the neck. With little downtime and almost immediate results, BOTOX® Cosmetic can help you restore a smoother, more youthful appearance to the face.
Procedure Preparation
Prior to your procedure, the treatment area will be thoroughly cleansed. As the procedure is typically not very painful, an anesthetic is not usually administered.
Muscle Contraction
In addition to factors such as age, sun exposure, and heredity, one of the primary causes of facial lines and wrinkles is repetitive muscle contraction.
Before performing the injections, the physician will ask you to contract your facial muscles in the desired treatment area in order to determine the precise injection sites. The entire procedure typically takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes, but may vary depending on the number of desired treatment areas.
Injections
Using an ultra fine needle, the physician will inject small amounts of BOTOX® Cosmetic into the facial muscles along the treatment areas. If an anesthetic has not been administered, you may feel a slight stinging or burning sensation during the procedure.
How it Works
Once BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into the treatment area, the toxin enters the nerve and cleaves a special protein along the nerve membrane that is necessary for acetylcholine to bind properly. As a result, acetylcholine cannot bind to the nervemembrane and is not released. Without the release of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, facial muscles are unable tocontract and are temporarily paralyzed, giving the face a smooth, less wrinkled appearance.
Recovery
You will typically be able to resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. You may notice some redness, minorswelling or bruising, or numbness around the injection sites.
Results
You will most likely begin to notice the results within a few days following the procedure. As the muscles in the treatment area are unable to contract, the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles will decrease. The results from a single procedure last approximately three to four months after which you can receive subsequent injections to maintain the desired results.
See Botox Patient Video for more detailed information in 3D animation.
SkinHealth Centers has one of New England’s premiere Botox physicians. He is a certified instructor for Botox and has trained many other physicians in the proper injection techniques.
