Botox® is one of the most popular and well-established injectable substances that practitioners use to successfully reduce wrinkles in patients. While many patients fear the frozen and completely overdone Botox® jobs, there have been many more cases of natural-looking, amazing results. The key? Get a practitioner that knows what they’re doing. If you’re thinking about getting Botox® for the first time, be sure to read this helpful guide first!
What is Botox®?
First of all, Botox® is just the brand name of a certain neuromodulator, called “Botulinum Toxin Type A” but Botox® refers to an injectable cosmetic treatment used to effectively reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Now, don’t let the word “toxin” scare you, it is completely safe to use (it has been FDA approved since 1989), but only by a licensed medical professional. There are also other well-known brand names for the same type of product, such as Dysport® or Xeomin®.
Which wrinkles on my face can I treat with Botox®?
Cosmetic Botox® is FDA approved for use on
Crow’s feet around the eyes
Horizontal lines on the forehead
Wrinkles between the eyebrows
Does it hurt?
Any injection can hurt, but the needles used for Botox® injections are very small, so pain is usually minimal. At White Coat Aesthetics, we offer distractors from the pain such as a vibrating tool used on the skin near the injection site, ice packs, and even numbing cream, so you may not feel much pain, if anything at all!
Will my face look unnatural?
Receiving too much Botox® in the wrong places, can make your face look “frozen” or expressionless. We can assure you that our experienced Master Injector and Nurse Practitioner, Amanda Ralph, is skilled in making you look just like your normal self–just noticeably more youthful and refreshed!
How much will I need?
The amount of Botox® you’ll need depends entirely on a few contributing factors. These include:
The type of wrinkles you’d like to treat
Your unique aesthetic goals
The degree of muscle movement in your face
The number of times you’ve had Botox® in the past
Your health history
What’s the difference between Botox® and fillers?
People easily get these two types of injectables confused all the time, but here’s an easy way to distinguish between the two: Botox® is for limiting muscle movement, fillers are for building volume.
Botox® reduces the activity of muscles in the face that cause wrinkles. Facial fillers, however, fill the trouble areas with a gel made up of hyaluronic acid, which helps to plump and lift the skin to replace volume loss.
How does it work to prevent wrinkles?
Explained simply, when injected directly into the muscle, Botox® blocks the muscle’s nerve signals and temporarily relaxes it. When the muscle is relaxed, dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement soften, dissipate, or disappear completely.
Are there any side effects?
Common side effects of any injectable include:
Muscle weakness near the injection sites
Slight bruising
Bleeding
Redness
Swelling
How long does it last?
In general, Botox® injections are meant to last 3-4 months. To keep results going, you could need a follow-up treatment. After that, you should be able to expect your treatments to begin lasting longer.
Consultations Are Always First
Before you can even set your eyes on the syringe, our Master Injector and Nurse Practitioner Amanda Ralph provides a full consultation where you can feel free to express all your aesthetic concerns and she can learn about your expectations. She will then discuss potential treatment options for you, including non-invasive alternatives.
If Botox® is the right treatment, you’ll probably be asked to make all kinds of facial expressions so that she can assess the size and movement of the muscles on your face and where/how deep the wrinkles form. From there, she can accurately create a treatment plan for you that is completely unique and customized to your own face. (As it should be!)
In conclusion, the choice is always yours. If you’re looking to reduce the creation of new wrinkles and restore fullness to your face, reach out to our providers to learn about your injectable options today! If you have any questions, you can also call our office at (702) 919-0017 or DM us on any of our social media accounts (@whitecoataesthetics). To schedule a consultation, you can also fill out our easy online booking tool!
