Whether you hear the word Botox and wince, or you have been getting it for years and consider yourself a Botox pro, its important to be informed about the truth behind Botox. The stigma that has surrounded Botox for years comes from many things including celebrity accounts, social media, or just pure lack of education about what it really is. Its often confused with a poorly done face lift, or other surgical procedures done to the face that we often look at and think, “Oh, that is Botox gone wrong.” The truth is that Botox isn’t surgical, and in fact, it has been used on men and women for medical treatments for over 28 years and cosmetically now for 15 years.

So what is Botox exactly?
Well to be clear, it is in fact, a toxin. Doesn’t sound so reassuring, but it is actually a purified protein called botulinum toxin. Botox temporarily relaxes muscle areas by blocking nerve impulses that trigger contractions, which has the effect of softening wrinkles and changing the expression. It is used in low doses through injections to cause local targeted muscle paralysis to reduce wrinkles temporarily. The treatment lasts for 3 to 4 months. Both men and women tend to start with Botox treatments in their 20’s, however, there is no such thing as too early for an adult. The earlier you start, the less chance you have of facial expressions making irreversible etches in your skin, and the longer you can maintain a youthful and vibrant look.

 

The Results:

The results are not immediate, they appear gradually to a maximum result after 3 weeks. After about 2 weeks, squinting will become less frequent, consequently, as you squint less, the creases fade. With full treatment, the eyebrows can slightly lift, making the eyes appear more open and the brow more arched. Crows feet soften and slowly disappear, yet everything seems very natural. In fact, most patients claim unless they reveal their secret, people around them don’t seem to notice . The results are not final because the injected muscles recover. It is recommended to return approximately every 3-6 months depending on the reappearance of wrinkles.

What are my risks?

Let’s say you try Botox and then decide to stop, what will happen? Several rumors suggest that once you have used Botox, you will have to do injections for the rest of your life and that if you stop, your face will look wrinkled and your features will sag worse than they had before. Well I have good news! This is not true at all. If you stop, your face comes back as before, and facial muscles regain their normal strength. However, the fact of not doing some movements with your face for a certain period of time will result in less pronounced wrinkles over time, than would have been under normal circumstances. You’ve probably seen stars who don’t look so natural and you say: “You can see that she has had Botox done.” In fact, it is probably more than Botox in these cases, such as several cosmetic surgeries, but what is important for Botox, is dosage. Patients usually want a natural result. The reality is that it is not your forehead creases that show your emotions or expressions, it is your voice, your eyes, your smile etc. In addition, Botox applies only to the upper part of the face. Botox side effects are very rare and always reversible, and nothing is final if you don’t like the result.

Overall, Botox can have some very amazing results for someone who is looking for youthful and more radiant looking skin. In the end, it helps prevent future wrinkles, smooths the appearance of current wrinkles, and has the ability to lift the brow and open the eyes. The ideal result can be communicated to your injector and combined with his or her recommendation. It is important for you to create a trusting relationship with the injector, and to have a full consultation to ensure you understand the treatment and how it may work for you, and to see if other treatments can be combined or offered as an alternative.
If you would like to learn more about Botox, or are interested in setting up a Free Consultation,
Please call Florida Aesthetics & Wellness today at
813-345-4044.