Are you worried about wrinkles and thinking about getting botox? Botox is a popular wrinkle reduction treatment that can get your face looking smooth and youthful in just a few minutes. But how does botox work, and what can you expect after treatment.
What Is Botox
Botox or botulinum toxin type A isa highly purified form of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botox is administered in low doses to treat dynamic wrinkles which are caused by repeated facial expressions. Common dynamic wrinkles include forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.
How Does Botox Work
Botox targets the underlying muscle movement that causes dynamic wrinkles to develop. The muscles normally contract in response to the release of certain chemical messengers from the nerves. When botox is injected into the facial muscle it prevents the release of these chemical messengers and relaxes the area, causing existing wrinkles to soften.
The muscles start to relax about 3-7 days after botox, and the wrinkles gradually become less visible. The effects of botox last an average of 3-4 months, but the timeline may vary for each patient. Muscle activity will return after that time and if follow-up injections arenot done to maintain the results,the wrinkles will reappear.
There is little to no discomfort during botox treatment.
What To Expect After Treatment?
Botox is a non-invasive procedure so there is minimal or no downtime. There may be some bruising or swelling at the treatment site after the injections, but patients are generally able to resume normal activities right away.
Would you like to learn more about botox? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.
If you are in the Vancouver, BC area, Yaletown Laser Centre is our featured practice.
You can reach them at www.yaletownlaser.com, or by calling(604) 227-7766.