You’ve probably heard about muscle-relaxing injections that help smooth the facial skin and diminish the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. However, you might be wondering about the actual mechanism by which this works. BOTOX® is the brand name of the most popular of these facial wrinkle smoothing fluids. It works by blocking nerve signals that would otherwise command the facial muscles to contract. BOTOX® injections are performed by a professional dermatologist.
The best thing about this form of skin-smoothing is the fact that no skin is treated directly, so there’s no risk of bleaching or unwanted dimples. The procedure is performed directly after consultation and is completed in only minutes. We highly recommend this type of skin treatment to our patients who feel they aren’t ready for any sort of aggressive skin rejuvenation procedure.
What Is It?
BOTOX® fluid is a purified protein serum. When the fluid is injected into the upper-level facial muscles, the serum begins to block nerve signals. The stronger muscles that lie beneath aren’t affected by the serum, and neither are the sensory nerves that allow you to feel your face.
Customized Treatment
We will not recommend BOTOX® until after we’ve had a chance to examine your facial features. Everyone has a different bone and muscle structure to the face, and that’s why an individual’s smiles, frowns, pouts, and eye-widenings are indeed personal. If three different people make these expressions, each one really does present a unique appearance. When we consult with you, we will ask you to perform these expressions.
As we watch, we will see where the fine-line wrinkles and crow’s feet form. This lets us know the strength of the muscles and which contractions are causing the skin pulling and pinching. We’ll determine the injection sites and the dosage based on these observations. The fluid is then strategically injected into the affected areas. The fluid settles into the muscle tissue and moves around just a bit. You won’t notice anything different for about two or three days.
After this period, however, you’ll notice that the dynamic wrinkles and marionette lines are far less visible when you make smiling or frowning expressions. The effect lasts for a number of months. The serum is eventually flushed from the body. Repeated BOTOX® injections are just as simple to perform, and you may even require less and less of the fluid each subsequent visit. That’s because your facial muscles are getting used to being in a non-contracted state.
Simpler Than Other Treatments
You probably know someone who has had dermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing performed on them. You might have decided that you don’t require this sort of aggressive treatment, at least not yet. A facelift may be years off in the future. In the meantime, consider the simple alternative for smoother, wrinkle-free facial skin. To learn more, feel free to reach out and make an appointment with Luxe Aesthetics. At our convenient locations in Raleigh, Cary, and Greensboro, you’ll learn all you need to know about BOTOX® injections and what they can do to turn back the aging clock.