Botox injections smooth out lines and wrinkles in your face by relaxing the muscles. Botox is actually a brand name for the botulinum toxin type A, which is produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are three other brands available alongside Botox, but our local dermatologists only use Botox due to the fact that it’s the most recognizable and well studied of the brands for this type of treatment. They all contain the same active ingredient and are FDA-approved to treat the same aesthetic concerns, but Botox is by far our top-choice.
If you’re thinking about having Botox injections, it is important to understand the procedure and decide whether cosmetic surgery is the right choice for you. If you are unsure, contact your dermatologist and make an appointment to discuss your concerns. If you decide to go ahead with Botox, make sure the person doing your injections is suitably qualified and experienced.
Here are a few other things to consider before you get Botox.
Five Important Things you Should Know Before Getting Botox
- Botox doesn’t make your face look ‘frozen.’ Many people worry that having Botox will leave them with no expression on their face. However, Botox is only injected into discreet locations and does not affect the whole face. The effect will relax the muscles where it is injected, but that leaves lots of other facial muscles to allow your usual facial expressions to shine through. The key is moderation and working with your clinician to just target relevant problem areas.
- Long-term Botox decreases wrinkles – but doesn’t get rid of all of them. Botox won’t magically get rid of every wrinkle. If you have wrinkles that are visible when your face is at rest and expressionless, Botox will not get rid of these. It works on wrinkles that are caused by expression. It improves the appearance by blocking the nerve signals to specific muscles causing them to relax.
- It can feel strange at first. When you have Botox, the effect isn’t instant. It can take up to two weeks to see the results. Some people feel a tight feeling in their skin when it starts to take effect. It can take a while for your body to adjust to a neurotoxin being injected.
- There are always risks to consider. Botox is considered a relatively safe treatment. However, it needs to be carried out by a qualified medical professional to ensure the right dosage is injected into the correct locations. If the procedure is not carried out properly, it can lead to frozen expressions, asymmetrical results, or muscle drooping. Other side effects also include skin thinning and mild discoloration of the skin – although an experienced professional can help avoid these problems.
- Make a plan – it’s not a ‘one-time’ treatment. If you are saving all your money for that one round of Botox, then think about the future. Botox only lasts around 3 months, and maintenance injections are recommended every 3-6 months. So, if you want to see long-term, ongoing results, you need to be prepared to return every few months for further injections.
When carried out by a qualified professional, Botox is a safe procedure that can help your skin can look much smoother and reduce the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles.
If you are interested in Botox then come and visit us at Summit Dermatology. Our highly trained dermatologists offer Botox treatments in Colorado Springs and Monument, CO. To schedule a consultation with one of our Board Certified Dermatologists to see if this is the best treatment option for you, call us on 719 667 0888.