Botox is the beauty industry’s most popular product, administered to millions of patients in thousands of clinics around the world. But how much do you actually know about the famous treatment? Here at Oceana Luxe Medspa in Corpus Christi, TX, we find it important that our patients are well informed about all the various aspects and benefits of our treatments. Read on to find out more about the injectable and the various areas and medical conditions it can treat.
What Is Botox?
Before going into the various uses of the injectable, let’s briefly discuss what it is and where it came from. The injection consists of a highly purified protein, called Botulinum toxin, which is produced by bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. It is most well known for treating the symptoms of aging in the facial and neck area and works because it temporarily paralyzes the muscles that are responsible for wrinkling.
Although people have been trying to fight the effects of aging for a long time, there has never been such an effective and simple product on the market before. While women used to bathe in milk, put raw meat on their faces, or apply a number of smelly ointments, none of these treatments had much effect. In contrast, injectables are an easy solution, fixing your problems within a doctor’s appointment that may only last 15-30 minutes.
The Treatment Areas
Many anti-aging treatments target a very specific issue so that you’ll need to find separate solutions for each area. Botulinum toxin is very different because it can be used for a wide variety of issues, smoothing out all areas of your face and neck. When you come to the clinic for your initial appointment, we will discuss with you which of the following treatments you need and whether you’d like to combine two or more of them.
Forehead
Many people start to notice horizontal lines going across their forehead as they age. These forehead lines usually appear when you make certain facial expressions that encourage the Frontalis muscle to move. When Botulinum toxin is injected into this area, the muscle is temporarily paralyzed so that it won’t contort itself into these wrinkles anymore. Generally, several injections are required to achieve the desired effect.
Frown Lines
In contrast to the horizontal forehead wrinkles, frown lines are the vertical lines between your eyebrows, which generally appear when you frown. They involve two separate muscles that will both be injected with the Botulinum toxin to stop them from creating wrinkles. This treatment also requires several injections to make sure that the lines won’t reappear.
Eye Area
Many people suffer from crow’s feet on the outside corners of their eyes when their skin becomes less elastic due to age. These wrinkles, also called lateral orbital lines, are most prominent when smiling, but can sometimes be seen even when the face is resting in a neutral expression. They are also caused by two different muscles, which will both be numbed during your treatment.
Nose
The term ‘bunny lines’ is less well-known than crow’s feet, but the effect on your face can be just as drastic. It describes the lines that form around your nose when you scrunch up the face. Sometimes, these wrinkles deepen as we age, and they may remain prominent even when you relax your features. In such a case, you could benefit from having the responsible muscles treated with Botulinum toxin.
Mouth
Whether you smoke or not, you may experience smoker’s lines around your mouth, which are the fine wrinkles that can be seen when you purse your lips. They are most common in people who consume cigarettes because they spend a lot of time making this facial expression and using their Orbicularis Oris muscle. When you get treatment for this issue, each line is injected separately.
Another issue you may encounter is marionette lines, which run from your mouth downwards towards your chin. They can be very prominent as your skin loses its elasticity, and the two muscles responsible may need to be numbed.
Chin
Chin wrinkles include a genetic component, as they are not equally common in different people. If you have very deep grooves in this area, you may have a condition called Mentalis dysfunction, which is a problem with the Mentalis muscle. Getting an injectable can help this muscle to relax, which allows the wrinkles to soften or even disappear completely.
Neck
Some people have vertical lines running down the neck, called cords or Vertical Platysma Bands. If the muscles in this area are relaxed, these deep lines can start to fade, allowing your neck to regain its former smooth and youthful look.
Eyebrows
Finally, the eyebrows may start to droop slightly over time, which gives you a tired and stressed-out look. By injecting Botulinum toxin into the outside of your eyebrows, they can be lifted back up and your gaze can regain its original alertness.
Using the Injectable as a Medical Treatment
As you can see, there are many different options when it comes to treating the effects of aging with Botox. But did you know that the injectable also has some medical benefits? There are several conditions that can be alleviated by using this substance.
Crossed Eyes
Not only can Botulinum toxin treat the area around the eyes, but it can also fix crossed eyes temporarily by relaxing the eye muscles. This can be a great benefit for people who suffer from this condition, especially because they may be ridiculed or discriminated against.
Sweating
Excessive sweating is a distressing condition that may come with similar consequences as crossed eyes, namely social exclusion and ridicule. But when Botulinum toxin is injected into the muscles around the sweat glands, the chemical Acetylcholine can no longer be released, which prevents excessive sweating from happening. That’s why many people suffering from this condition benefit from injections into their armpits, hands, or feet.
Migraines
One in every five women and one in every 15 men suffer from migraines, but a course of treatment involving 31 injections can solve the issue. The Botulinum toxin is inserted into strategic places which prevent the painful condition from reoccurring.
Nerve Pain
Neuropathy can cause significant pain, to the point where it can be debilitating for the patient. It often happens after an illness or injury, when nerves die off in the extremities and send pain signals to the brain as a result. In many cases, an injection can block these signals and relieve the patient’s suffering.
Depression
Finally, researchers have discovered that people injected with this substance have lower incidences of depression than others. This exciting conclusion is not surprising for many doctors, as patients regularly report better mental health after their injections.
How Treatment Works
As we have seen, Botox treatment is extremely variable and can be used in many different circumstances. You may be wondering what your appointment will look like and what you have to consider before deciding to have your injections. Let’s examine some common questions that come up in patients who are new to Botulinum toxin injections.
Your Treatment
After your initial consultation, you’ll be given a date for your first appointment. This will generally be very quick, as the injections can take as little as 15 minutes to administer. In most cases, you’ll have 1-3 injections at a time, but this depends on the type of treatment you need and the size of the area. To make sure that your injection is as pain-free as possible, we may apply a topical numbing cream or some ice before getting started.
The microneedle used will inject a very small quantity of the substance under your skin, which allows the muscle to relax and your wrinkles to disappear. As soon as the injections are complete, you can walk out of your doctor’s office and resume your regular activities. This minimally invasive treatment doesn’t require any downtime or hospital visits.
After Injections
Although you can go back to your home or workplace right away, there are a few things to consider. It’s best not to touch the affected area and to avoid lying down for a few hours afterward. You will also be asked to avoid going to the gym straight away, although you can exercise as normal after 24 hours. 3-5 days after your appointment, you will start to see results, and they should be finalized at the two-week mark.
If you feel that the effect is not quite sufficient, you can come back for a touch-up treatment. It is always better to have too little done than too much, as this is much more easily corrected.
Long-Lasting Effects
Some patients report that the effects of their treatment last for around 6 months, but the majority return for a touch-up treatment 3-4 months after their first appointment. Not only does your individual situation and the type of injection make a difference, but also how well you take care of your skin. To avoid any further issues, it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Why not combine your Botox treatment with a re-vamp of your lifestyle? If you’re a smoker getting treatment for smoker’s lines, give up the habit to make sure they don’t come back quickly. And if your skin is wrinkled because you spend too much time in the sun, seek out more shade and apply plenty of sunscreen. No matter what kind of treatment you have, it will be augmented by living a happy and healthy life.
Regain Your Youthful Features With Ease
No matter whether you’re looking for an anti-aging treatment for your face or neck, or you’re suffering from a medical condition such as migraines or excessive sweating, Botox could be the solution you’ve been looking for. The easy and minimally invasive treatment is suitable for a wide range of issues and can help you to regain the smooth and relaxed appearance of your face.
Call Oceana Luxe Medspa in Corpus Christi, TX, today to learn more about how the treatment could be applied to your situation. Dr. Javier Alonso and his team will be more than happy to welcome you to the clinic and help you find the best solution possible.
