As you age, the facial expressions you repeatedly use, such as smiling, frowning, scowling, squinting, or laughing, all contribute to the formation of dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles aren’t very noticeable when your face is at rest, but they show themselves when you emote.
If you want to fade these wrinkles, so you can feel free to experience life and express emotions however you please, Botox treatment at San Antonio Prime Wellness might be right for you.
Below, you can learn more about this popular injectable anti-aging treatment, including where it can be used, who it’s right for, and how to get started.
What Is Botox?
Botox is a very popular FDA-approved botulinum toxin-based injectable treatment with many cosmetic and medical applications. However, its most well-known use is as a wrinkle relaxer to minimize the appearance of dynamic wrinkles around the face.
How Does Botox Treatment Work?
Botox treatment is very precise. It is effective at fighting the signs of aging because it causes specific facial muscles to relax by disrupting their normal communication pathways with your brain. This prevents the targeted facial muscles from contracting, thus preventing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles when you emote.
Are Botox Injections Better Than Dermal Fillers?
Botox injections are not better or worse than dermal fillers; they’re just different. Many confuse these two types of injectables, but they have different active ingredients and uses.
Unlike Botox, dermal fillers are not neuromodulators. This means that they do not freeze muscles to prevent wrinkle-causing muscle contractions. However, they are better than Botox at adding volume since they use hyaluronic acid — a natural humectant — as their main ingredient.
The volume added by dermal fillers can make your face look plumper, smoother, and younger.
We can help you determine which injectable treatment is right for you based on what you’re hoping to achieve and your current condition.
How Can Botox Be Used as an Anti-Aging Treatment?
Botox is generally considered an anti-aging treatment because it restores a more youthful appearance by smoothing out common signs of aging. This injectable is very versatile and has been FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe:
- Crow’s feet
- Forehead lines
- Frown lines
By relaxing the muscles associated with these deep lines and wrinkles, Botox essentially blocks the effects of aging from appearing in these specific areas. It also prevents the dynamic wrinkles that have already formed from becoming more severe.
What to Expect During Botox Treatment
When you arrive at our San Antonio, TX, office for a Botox treatment, we will escort you to a treatment room and make sure you are comfortable while we prep the injection site.
To prep the injection site, we simply clean the skin around the area. If you’d like, we can also apply a topical anesthetic at this time to help ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.
Then, we carefully inject the Botox solution into the specific facial muscles you wish to relax. The treatment is quick and is usually complete in less than ten minutes.
What Kind of Downtime and Aftercare Is Necessary?
Minimal downtime is necessary after Botox injections. As long as you don’t have a physically demanding job, you can return to work after the treatment. However, there are some post-treatment guidelines that we will review with you before and after treatment.
These guidelines are simple, but you must follow them to get the best results from Botox treatment. They include instructions such as:
- Remain upright — do not lie down — for at least 4 hours
- Avoid strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours
- Avoid applying makeup for 24 hours
- Do not touch or rub your face for 72 hours
- Clean the injection sites with a gentle cleanser
Although you should avoid physical exercise after Botox, there are simple facial exercises you can do — such as smiling and frowning — to help the wrinkle relaxer settle into place.
How Long Do Botox Injections Last?
In general, the effects of Botox injections can last anywhere from two to six months, with a majority of patients enjoying results for three to four months. As Botox begins to wear off, your brain will be able to communicate with the treated muscles more easily, causing dynamic wrinkles to reappear.
Luckily, you can extend the effects of Botox with subsequent treatments that are just as quick and easy as the first one.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox Treatment in San Antonio, TX?
There’s a misconception that Botox is only available to older women, but the truth is that men and women of any age can use Botox to combat signs of aging. Men experience the same effects of aging as women, so we’re happy to help address these concerns for anyone in good overall health and with reasonable treatment expectations.
Whether you’re in your 30s and only have mild wrinkles, or you’re in your 60s with severe creasing and wrinkling that you’d like to correct, Botox treatment might help.
It’s important to note that there are certain circumstances in which we might advise against Botox — for example, if you have an active skin infection or very thick skin. A consultation is necessary to determine whether you’re a good candidate for Botox.
Achieve Smoother, Younger-Looking Skin Today
Botox treatments at San Antonio Prime Wellness can help you achieve smoother, younger-looking skin in just a few minutes. We pride ourselves on providing subtle and natural-looking Botox results that don’t alter the features that make you unique.
Contact us today to learn more about the various injectables we offer, including Botox, and to schedule your consultation.