Not everyone is comfortable seeing their face get older as it’s a slap in the face for them that their youth is gone, along with not being able to do the things they loved to do when they’re young. To boost their confidence and make themselves feel better as they age, people are looking for ways to reverse the effects of aging or even try to put a pause on it.
Practicing proper skincare routine is extremely helpful in keeping your skin youthful and plump. However, as time goes by, your skin will sag as no other topical ointments could prevent that from happening. It’s simply the way of life. But, with Botox, you give your skin some dose of youth and allow your skin to feel like you’re still in your 20s.
What Is Botox?
Botox is a popular aesthetic procedure that helps reduce wrinkles and allows a person to look young. However, apart from improving one’s appearance, Botox can also help treat certain conditions, such as lazy eyes, excessive sweating, neck spasms, overreactive bladder, muscle tension, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, among others. With those benefits, Botox is more than just a facial improvement treatment, but rather a cure for certain illnesses.
Where To Apply Botox?
Taking a Botox injection course allows professionals to know exactly where to apply Botox and provide the best result as much as possible.
To give you a small hint, below are some of the most common areas where Botox can be injected, which could work for the improvement of facial aesthetics or to treat certain medical conditions:
- Forehead – Forehead Botox injections usually target eliminating forehead lines and treating chronic migraine.
- Corners of the eyes – Botox injections in such areas focus on removing crow’s feet, which is usually visible when someone squints their eyes, or is already present due to aging.
- Corners of the mouth – Applying Botox in these areas helps get rid of smoker’s lines and crooked or drooping smiles.
- Above the nose bridge – Botox is injected in the area between the eyes and above the nose bridge, which aims to treat the ‘11’ or frown lines, which are usually visible when a person is frowning.
- Masseter muscles – To treat involuntary jaw clenching, applying Botox to the masseter muscles helps relax the tension and prevent it from happening.
- Back of the head – Another way to treat chronic migraine is by injecting Botox into the back of the head. However, this will only be applicable if this is the usual source of the headache.
- Underarm and soles of feet – Apart from a person’s head, Botox can also be injected in these areas to help treat hyperhidrosis, which is commonly known as excessive sweating.
- Bladder – if a person is experiencing urine incontinence, injecting Botox into the bladder can provide a temporary treatment to help a person feel better.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox blocks the signals from the nerves to the muscles, thereby preventing them from contracting. When this happens, it can help to temporarily relax the muscles inside your body, including your facial muscles. This can help soften and soothe your wrinkles, allowing for smoother and firmer skin. If you notice that your skin’s aging faster, Botox might be a good solution for that.
What Is The Procedure For Botox?
While it might sound scary, Botox is usually a quick process and won’t require any anesthesia. This means the procedure isn’t painful, and the sensation is bearable. The provider will only be using a small needle and will be injecting Botox to certain areas in your face where you want to have it.
After injecting Botox into your face, however, don’t expect immediate results to show on your skin. In most cases, it’ll take seven to 14 days to see the full effect. Moreover, you should also avoid consuming alcohol at least one week before your procedure and another week after receiving the treatment. To prevent developing bruises on your injection site, you should stop taking aspirin and any anti-inflammatory medications.
After getting your Botox, it’s best to avoid rubbing the injection site for at least 24 hours. This will help prevent spreading the Botox from one area to another, losing its effectiveness. Depending on your procedure, your doctor might recommend you stay upright for at least four hours to keep the Botox in place. It’s also highly encouraged to take a break from exercising for at least a day.
How Long Does Botox Last?
In most cases, Botox can stay effective for three to four months after the first treatment. However, for first-time Botox users, they might notice that their treatment might only last for a shorter period of time, usually around two months. While it might be discouraging, the second treatment promises a longer effectiveness span, making the procedure worth it. Moreover, depending on care and maintenance, Botox can last for four to six months for some people.
What Are The Risks Of Having Botox?
While having Botox can provide plenty of benefits for someone, people still need to prepare for the drawbacks that it could possibly bring. This way, you can anticipate and prepare for them in case they happen.
In most cases, below are the possible unwanted effects that a person might experience:
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Dry eye
- Numbness
- Mild pain, bruising, or swelling on the injection site
- Temporary paralysis in nearby muscles
- Temporary eyelid drooping
While it might sound scary, experiencing these side effects are pretty uncommon. In most cases, the majority of the people who had Botox were able to tolerate the treatment and experienced no side effects. However, if you have an allergy or have an infection to the possible injection site, it’s best to avoid getting Botox for your own safety.
Takeaway
Botox provides plenty of benefits, even for those who aren’t looking for ways to remove the wrinkles from their faces. Apart from making your face look firmer and younger, it can also help to remove or reduce the severity of certain illnesses that cause discomfort. Moreover, with the right care and maintenance, you should be able to make your Botox injections last longer.