Botulinum Toxin ® once was only used among celebrities and A-list models to get smooth, picture-perfect skin. You probably thought you’d never inject your face with a needle when you first heard about Botulinum Toxin . But as wrinkles start to appear, getting smooth skin without going under the knife seems more and more appealing.
Botulinum Toxin is an FDA-approved procedure that erases wrinkles to give you a natural, younger-looking you. With over 7.4 million procedures performed in 2018, Botulinum Toxin has become the most popular minimally invasive treatment sought by men and women across the globe.
Botulinum Toxin ® Cosmetic is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. If you’re considering Botulinum Toxin injections, you may be interested to learn some little-known facts about it first.
With such a quick treatment time and no recovery needed, it’s possible to fit Botulinum Toxin injections into even the busiest schedule. Stop in on your way to work, during your lunch break, or while waiting for the kids to finish their piano lesson. The scheduling possibilities are endless.
Botulinum Toxin is delivered using a needle, but it’s extremely thin, and the injections are quick, as only a small amount of Botulinum Toxin is delivered. Most patients describe feeling only a slight pinch from the injections.
A priority of the Warrenton Dermatology care team is to keep you comfortable during your procedure. If you’re concerned about sensation, the expert injector may use a topical aesthetic designed specifically for Botulinum Toxin , to ensure your comfort.
Aging, sun exposure, and the natural aging process all contribute to wrinkle formation. Repetitive movement also causes lines to etch into your skin. When you smile, frown, or squint, for example, the patterns start to leave lines. Botulinum Toxin eases the appearance of these lines.
Botulinum Toxin can also prevent them from forming in the first place. When applied before these wrinkles form, it can soften muscle activity and prevent these wrinkle-causing muscles from moving. Practicing preventive Botulinum Toxin is also economical because deep wrinkles are more difficult and more costly to treat.
One thing that puts many people off Botulinum Toxin is the fact that the results last for about three to four months. This is actually pretty good considering how non-invasive the treatment is, but it does mean that you will need regular injections throughout the year to maintain your results.
However, the frequency of those touch-up treatments will actually decline over time…
It all comes down to the way in which Botulinum Toxin relaxes your facial muscles. The more that it does this, the more your muscles will naturally stay relaxed.
Many patients find that, over time, they end up going much longer in between Botulinum Toxin treatments.
Botulinum Toxin injections offer several benefits for those seeking a youthful and smooth appearance.
The treatment is primarily used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines in facial areas such as the forehead, around the eyes, severe frown lines, and can also be used for other medical reasons such as muscle spasms and severe underarm sweating.
Botulinum Toxin is a non-invasive treatment, and it requires no surgery or incisions, which means that it involves minimal recovery time. It can also be administered quickly, with patients usually able to return to their daily activities right after the procedure.
The results are typically visible within a few days, with a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines that can last for several months.
Botulinum Toxin is also an FDA-approved treatment, with a high safety profile and virtually no long-term side effects, making it a popular choice for those looking to freshen up their appearance without surgery.
A treatment lasts an average of three to four months for most people, so doctors generally recommend a schedule of injections. Luckily, Botulinum Toxin is affordable and each procedure is quick and easy.
Because of its long history and the extensive research it’s gone through, Botulinum Toxin is one of the safest and most effective products available. The FDA has approved Botulinum Toxin for cosmetic use between the eyebrows and on the lines around the eyes, among other uses.
Another common misconception of this treatment is that Botulinum Toxin injections act directly on your skin, making it smoother and tighter in the same way that collagen-synthesizing treatments like radiofrequency therapy do.
However, this isn’t the case at all! Botulinum toxin, which makes up the Botulinum Toxin injection, is injected into the muscles rather than the skin (though of course, the needle will pass through the skin’s surface).
The small amount of toxin then relaxes your muscles, reducing the muscle activity and contractions that cause your skin to furrow and fold. Over the coming weeks, this will cause your wrinkles and fine lines to become noticeably smoother and diminished in appearance.
Botulinum Toxin does not add volume to facial areas.
Instead, it reduces lines by relaxing the muscles that cause the lines (as explained above).
Lines that are etched-in, called “static lines,” may be softened but not eliminated.
Sometimes to eliminate these lines a filler, such as Aqua Secret or Revisage is required after the muscle is relaxed for more long-lasting results.
After being treated with Botulinum Toxin , the toxin is broken down and eliminated after two hours but takes three to seven days to work.
The effects of Botulinum Toxin peak in 10 to 14 days, and last around three to four months, requiring subsequent treatments to maintain the effect.