Botox is a prescription medication that, when injected into the muscles of the face, can help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It can also be used to treat certain medical conditions, such as chronic migraines.
What is Botox?
Botox is a prescription medication that is injected into muscles to temporarily relax them and prevent or lessen lines and wrinkles. It’s most commonly known for treating fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and at the sides of the eyes. You may also hear it referred to as “Botox injections” or “botulinum toxin.”
Botox works by temporarily blocking the nerve impulses to the injected muscles. As a result, the muscles become unable to contract. This relaxation of your muscles is what causes the softening of your skin’s surface. After the botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle, it takes anywhere from three to seven days for the results to appear. The results typically last three to four months. After repeated treatments, the results may last longer.
Side effects are generally mild and include redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site, headache, muscle weakness, or drooping eyelids. However, they generally go away within 24 hours. To avoid side effects, it’s important to choose an experienced provider who administers the treatment properly.
If you’d like to learn more about Botox and how it may be able to help you, be sure to make an appointment with your dentist. They can discuss the treatment with you in more detail and determine if it’s right for you.
How Botox Works?
Botox is an injectable used to temporarily relax the facial muscles responsible for frowning and squinting. Frown lines are caused by the repeated use of the forehead muscle, which develops a deep crease above the nose over time. As the muscle weakens, the skin begins to sag, and the wrinkle becomes more pronounced. Wrinkles around the eyes are caused by smiling and squinting and are often referred to as crow’s feet or expression lines.
When injected into the skin, Botox helps to temporarily paralyze the muscles responsible for the wrinkling of the skin. Patients begin to see results in as little as one to two days, with results lasting for up to four months. Typically, patients will require multiple injections over the course of a year to achieve their desired results.
While not a permanent solution to wrinkles and fine lines on the face, Botox can be used in conjunction with dermal fillers such as Juvéderm® Vollure XC to smooth out deep folds in the skin. When used in this manner, the results are both natural-looking and long-lasting.
Is Botox Right For You?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is an FDA-approved prescription medicine that is injected in specific locations on the face to help relax the muscles that cause frown lines and crow’s feet wrinkles. Administered only by a qualified medical professional, the injections are quick and relatively painless. It’s important to know that Botox is not a permanent solution and must be repeated periodically in order to maintain the results.
Although Botox is primarily used for cosmetic reasons such as wrinkle reduction, it can also be used to treat a number of medical conditions, including chronic migraines, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, and TMJ disorders. If an individual suffers from these conditions, it may be a good option for them to look into Botox as a treatment option.
To learn more about our dental services or to schedule your consultation, call us at (970) 947-1717 or visit our dental office located at 120 Midland Avenue, Unit 230, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
