The constant movements of the facial muscles causes creases or lines in the skin. Who knew that smiling (or frowning) could wreak havoc on your skin? With time, the skin becomes damaged due to exposure to the sun and environmental factors. This makes it harder for the skin to bounce back and rejuvenate itself.
That’s when Botox treatments come in to rescue your skin.
Here we will explain all you need to know about Botox, how it works, how much it costs, and what to expect from your injection.
What Is Botox?
BotoxⓇ Cosmetic is an FDA-approved product from Allergan, a leading aesthetic brand and product manufacturer. Botulinum toxin products are tried and true cosmetic procedures to smooth unwanted expression lines. Other products include Dysport and Xeomin, but Botox was the original and continues to be popular and effective.
What Exactly Does Botox Do?
Botox is a neuromodulator that blocks signals between the nerves and muscles. It is a muscle relaxant. When injected into the skin, the product relaxes or freezes the muscles so they cannot contract. This gives the skin a chance to rest, smooth out, and look refreshed.
As an anti-aging treatment, Botox is commonly used to treat the following areas:
- Crow’s feet around the eyes
- Glabellar lines or the 11’s between the eyebrows
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Smoker’s lines or the fine lines around the mouth
How Much Does Botox Cost?
Different factors, such as office location, area(s) of the face, and the number of units needed, affect the price of Botox. How advanced the wrinkles are influences the amount and thus the price.
At Carolina Medical Associates, we are currently running a special on Botox. Get your treatment for just $11.25 per unit! Ask us about additional promotions or discounts that may go on throughout the year.
How Many Units Do I Need?
The depth, severity, and amount of facial lines influence the amount of Botox you need. The deeper the lines, the more product is required to get the desired effect.
Botox is no longer only a treatment for older patients who already have lines and wrinkles. Patients are starting at an earlier age, even as early as their 20’s. By starting early, Botox injections give the skin a chance to rest before lines can develop. This is a preventive treatment and requires fewer units.
Patients who have advanced or deep lines require more of the product to minimize the appearance of those wrinkles. At this point, patients are trying to reverse the hands of time to smooth the skin. Additionally, the crow’s feet are smaller, fine lines and the skin is thinner. Fewer units of Botox are needed to release those wrinkles than perhaps the 11’s where the skin is thicker and the lines may be deeper.
Botox: Before and After
Botox has become a popular anti-aging, skin-smoothing treatment. Over 4 million Botox treatments were performed in the United States in 2020. As a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, it is an option for male and female adults.
What to Expect from Your Botox Treatment
Before your treatment, your physician may discuss your history and medical conditions, your experience with Botox, and your goals. This is to ensure you get the right procedure for your needs. Additionally, make sure you do not take aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, or alcohol prior to your treatment as it could cause bruising.
As an office-based procedure, Botox injections are performed in just minutes and without anesthesia. A very fine, sterile needle is used to inject the solution into specific muscles in the face. You may be asked to frown or smile to show the exact placement of your lines and wrinkles. This helps the physician know exactly where to inject and how much product to use.
Botox Recovery
Botox is an outpatient procedure. You can have the injection done on your lunch break and return to work without anyone knowing.
Immediately following the procedure, you may notice redness at the injection site. Avoid rubbing or massaging the area as that could cause the product to move into unwanted areas and result in a drooping eyelid. Your physician may also recommend avoiding strenuous exercise.
Severe side effects or allergic reactions are rare. However, if you have difficulty breathing after receiving Botox, contact your healthcare professional for immediate care and medical advice.
How Long Does Botox Last?
Botox is a safe and effective treatment to temporarily minimize the visible signs of aging. The effects of Botox generally last for 3-6 months. Usually, the effects wear off faster with the first treatment. As you undergo more treatments, the results last longer.
Additional factors that play a role may include:
- Age
- Skin elasticity
- Depth of the wrinkles
Look Younger with Botox from Carolina Medical Associates
Botox is a popular, anti-aging treatment for men and women of all ages. At Carolina Medical Associates, we offer Botox in Pineville, NC to help patients look more youthful and refreshed. Ask us about our specials and promotions for savings on your treatments.
Book an appointment today and look your best this holiday season!
No Comments