Botox has been one of the most effective ways to remove wrinkles. Many people had already tested that the treatment was more than best when they had it. But for you, who may try it the first time, does Botox work?
The only solution to knowing the answer is trying to understand more from it. So today, Kay Dermatology will guide you through everything about the “needs” of Botox. How can it help you with your wrinkles and other aging concerns?
Check out this blog post for more details!
Does Botox Work?
Yes, Botox works. It is commonly a drug that doctors have used for years to treat wrinkles and lines on the face. The bacterium Clostridium botulinum makes a poison called Botox.
There are a few others, like Dysport and Xeomin. Botox is the most common name for botulinum toxin because it was the first one that could be injected.
Most of the time, doctors use Botox to make wrinkles on the face look less noticeable. But getting a Botox shot can help with other problems, like:
- Severe underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- Cervical dystonia is a neurological condition that causes painful muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders.
- Not being able to stop blinking (blepharospasm)
- Eyes that don’t look in the same direction (strabismus)
- Frequent headaches
- Overactive bladder
The Process
Botox stops nerves from telling muscles what to do. The power that was injected can’t contract. This causes wrinkles to soften and relax.
Botox is most often used to treat frown lines, crow’s feet, and lines on the forehead. Sun damage and gravity don’t cause wrinkles, so Botox won’t help with those.
It doesn’t take long to get Botox. You won’t need to be put to sleep. Botox is injected into specific muscles with a small needle, which doesn’t hurt much.
Most of the time, it takes 7 to 14 days to work. At least a week before the procedure, it’s best not to drink alcohol. Stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs two weeks before your treatment. This will help keep you from getting bruises.
Only rub the area where you got the Botox for 24 hours so you don’t spread it to another site. Your doctor may also tell you to stay standing for 4 hours after the shots and to stop exercising for a day.
How Long Will Botox Keep Working?
Botox will have effects that last between 3 and 6 months. As the muscles slowly move again, the lines and wrinkles return and must be treated similarly.
Most of the time, lines and wrinkles look less deep as time goes on because the muscles are getting smaller.
The Benefits Of This Treatment
Botox is an injectable made by Allergan that makes frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, and other signs of aging, stress, and overused muscles look better. When this natural, pure protein is injected in tiny amounts, it calms down the overactive muscles that cause wrinkles on the face.
As we said, Botox has been used to treat more than a million people worldwide for more than 11 years. Botox is a safe and effective treatment, and the FDA has given it the okay for cosmetic use.
Treatment is easy and does not involve surgery. There is no need for anesthesia, but we will use a cream that will numb the area.
Botox is injected into the skin in the places that need to be treated. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes.
Botox Side Effects
After getting Botox, you might have some short-term side effects. Some of these could be:
- Bruising. This side effect happens most often, and it will go away.
- Headaches. Most of the time, these are rare and last between 24 and 48 hours.
- Eyelid drooping. Only a few people get this, and it usually goes away in 3 weeks. It often happens when the Botox moves around, so don’t rub the area.
- Crooked smile or drooling
- Dry eyes or a lot of tears
- Mild pain or swelling at the site of the injection
- Flu-like symptoms or a general unwell feeling
- Upset stomach
- Numbness
- Weakness in the muscles close by
The Candidate For Botox
Botox shouldn’t be used by women who are pregnant or nursing or by people who have a disease that affects the nerves.
Check with a doctor first because Botox doesn’t work for all wrinkles. If you’re allergic to the protein in cow’s milk, you shouldn’t get Botox shots.
Treatment Recovery
Botox injections have few side effects, but some people might experience slight swelling in the treated area.
After a Botox treatment, the area takes 5–10 days to get softer. The effects last 3–5 months or longer if you do maintenance treatments as recommended.
When that time is up, maintenance treatment should be done again. Over time, patients will need to come in less often as they stop contracting their frown lines and other facial muscles.
Care Instructions After Botox
Botox aftercare aims to help the treatment work as well as possible. It can also reduce the chance of getting bruises and having them spread to other places.
Most of the time, on the day you get Botox, you should:
- Move your face around gently.
- Rest the rest of the day and keep your heart rate regular.
- Don’t touch, rub, or put physical pressure on the area.
- don’t touch the treated area
- You can also use the tips below to take care of yourself after getting Botox.
Botox injections do not need any time to heal. You won’t have to miss work or school because of it. You can go right back to what you were doing before.
Also, if you work out every day, wait at least 24 hours before you work out again. Your doctor might tell you to wait a few days. When you work out, your blood flow goes up.
This could cause the toxin to get into places it shouldn’t and make it less effective at the injection site. It also makes you more likely to get hurt. Exercise also makes your muscles tighter, which may cause the toxin less powerful.
Lastly, if you got Botox on your face, you should wait 24 hours before putting on makeup. You could spread the toxin by rubbing the skin while putting on makeup.
Botox & Your Insurance
Most patients send queries about this matter. But you must know that when Botox is used for looks, insurance doesn’t cover it. Still, check with your insurance company to find out what’s covered.
Schedule Botox Treatment Today
Kay Dermatology is always here to help and serve you with your skin concerns. Contact us at 818.238.2350 to schedule an appointment. We also have services like Dermal Fillers, Kybella, and Dysport, which you may enjoy!
