Botox is an injectable medication that relieves dynamic facial wrinkles. It can be injected into various facial areas, although it must be carried out with utmost precision. Herein, we shall focus on Botox, where you can get Botox injections on the face, how long the injection lasts, and how to preserve your face after the injection.
Many clients have embraced skincare routines to enhance their aesthetic appeal. Besides using face creams and moisturizers, medical injections have proven effective in replenishing elastin and collagen. Several environmental factors reduce collagen and elastin, including excessive sunlight, smoke, and pollen; wrinkles increase with age due to the loss of collagen. Botulinum toxin injections offer a suitable remedy for facial wrinkles and lines. They temporarily block nerve signals to relieve dynamic wrinkles caused by facial muscle movement. Botox can be injected in various facial areas, although the procedure must be carried out carefully, considering skin pigmentation and facial outline.
What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable drug used medicinally and cosmetically. According to Picelli et al. (2019), Botox can relieve muscle spasticity. The anti-wrinkle injection can also be used to reduce fine lines and dynamic wrinkles for cosmetic purposes.
Botox was approved by the Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and is considered a safe drug. However, it must be administered in specific doses. Barney et al. (2021) stated that excessive Botox might damage the muscles and cause vascular occlusion. The procedure is minimally invasive, and the effects are experienced a few 3-4 hours after.
Before the procedure, the patient must inform the cosmetic surgeon about any allergies or medical conditions they have. The cosmetic surgeon also examines the patient’s skin type and pigmentation.
Where Can You Get Botox?
Botox is administered on the upper, lower, and mid-facial areas. The patient’s facial outline determines the units required per injection. Also, the patient’s age, sex, muscle thickness, and muscle strength are necessary for determining the units required per injection.
Botox can be injected into various upper facial areas, for example, under the eyes, on the nose, and between the eyebrows. On the other hand, lower facial areas that can be administered with Botox injections include the chin, the corners of the mouth, and jaw angles. Mid-facial areas injectable with Botox include the nose and lip borders.
Upper Facial Areas
Forehead lines
Muscle movement around the forehead can cause the appearance of forehead lines. These lines become more pronounced as you age due to collagen loss. Botulinum injections can be administered on the forehead to relieve forehead lines.
Crow’s feet wrinkle
Crow’s feet are wrinkles visible around the eye’s corners. They are caused by continuous facial muscle movement. Aging can also cause the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. Botox injections are effective in relieving dynamic wrinkles around the eyes.
Glabella lines
Glabella lines, or frown lines, appear between the eyebrows due to continuous muscle movements. Frown lines often make the patient look angry. Botox injections are effective in relieving wrinkles and reducing the appearance of creases between the eyebrows. Therefore, it replenishes the skin’s appearance, making it look more exquisite.
Midfacial Areas
Droopy nose
A droopy nose is often caused by muscle movements at the base of the nose. Botox injections regulate muscle movement around the nose to ensure the nose tip stays in shape.
Smoker lines
Smoker lines are fine lines that appear on the mouth corners. They can be caused by collagen loss due to aging. Furthermore, smoking enhances the appearance of smoker lines since the chemicals in tobacco cause skin dehydration and suppress collagen production.
Muscle movement can also cause smoking lines. Satriyasa&BagusKomang (2019) stated that Botox injections relieve the appearance of smoker lines by relaxing the muscles underneath the lines.
Lip borders
Aging causes a loss in lip volume. The lip borders become less discernible due to the formation of wrinkles around the lips. Botox injections help patients restore their lip borders and volume.
Lower facial regions
Jawline
Dynamic wrinkles and horizontal creases appear around the jawline and the upper parts of the neck due to aging and loss of collagen. Extensive facial muscle movement, strenuous exercises, and genetics contribute to the appearance of creases and wrinkles on the jawline. Botulinum toxin injections suppress the appearance of horizontal creases and dynamic wrinkles while making the skin look more youthful.
Frown smile
Droopy corners of the mouth cause a frown smile, which may give a false impression that you are always pathetic. A frown smile can be caused by volume loss and continuous muscle activity around the mouth. Botox injections restore the muscles around the mouth, aligning them in a more neutral position.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox injections temporarily impede the transmission of nerve signals. The injections inhibit muscle movement to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and fine lines.
How Long Does Botox Last?
Botox injections often last up to a year. However, factors including the patient’s metabolism, gender, and injection site determine the longevity of the fillers. For example, Botox would last for a shorter duration between the eyebrows since there is continuous muscle movement.
Does Botox Have Any Side Effects?
Siddiqui et al. (2021) stated that possible side effects of Botox include inflammation, redness, pain, and bruising. These side effects often subside within a short time; before the procedure, the cosmetic practitioner should discuss the side effects with the patient. The patient should consult a cosmetic doctor if the side effects prolong for more than a week.
Preserving Your Skin after Botox Injections
- Use sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays.
- Avoid smoking since the chemicals in tobacco damage collagen production.
- Hydrated with water and fruits like avocados.
- Use moisturizing creams that enhance skin hydration and remove dirt, oil, and bacteria from the skin.
Frequently Asked Questions about Botulinum Toxin Injection
How Much Do Botox Injections Cost?
Botox injections cost $300-$900. However, the cost varies depending on the units required per injection, the number of injections, and the geographic location of treatment; patients who live in larger cities are likely to pay more for Botox injections than those living in suburban areas.
Is Botox the Same as Dermal Fillers?
Botox is often misconstrued to be the same as dermal fillers. However, dermal fillers relieve static wrinkles and trigger collagen production, while Botox relieves dynamic wrinkles. In addition, Botox injections utilize bacterium-based neurotoxin, while dermal filler injections utilize filler substances like hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite.
Summary
Botox is an injectable medication that relieves dynamic wrinkles, fine lines, and creases on the face. It can be administered on various facial areas, including the areas between the eyebrows, jawline, forehead, and nose tip. Before the procedure, cosmetic doctors examine the patient’s skin to determine its pigmentation; the examination determines the type of filler needed for the treatment. The patient should inform the cosmetic surgeon about any medical conditions or allergies; this enables the practitioner to suggest the best treatment outcome.
References
Badarny, S., Ibrahim, R., Susel, Z., Zaina, A., Nasar, R., & Badarny, Y. (2021). Long-term stable efficacy of botulinum toxin A in facial movement disorders with no need for increased dose. Medicine, 100(25).
Picelli, A., Santamato, A., Chemello, E., Cinone, N., Cisari, C., Gandolfi, M., … &Baricich, A. (2019). Adjuvant treatments associated with botulinum toxin injection for managing spasticity: An overview of the literature. Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine, 62(4), 291-296.
Satriyasa, B. K. (2019). Botulinum toxin (Botox) A for reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles: a literature review of clinical use and pharmacological aspect. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 12, 223.
Siddiqui, M., Shah, P. V., Balani, P., Lopez, A. R., Nobleza, C. M. N., & Khan, S. (2021). Comparing the efficacy, safety, and superiority of calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies and botox in preventing and treating migraines. Cureus, 13(1).
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