How to Deal with Wrinkles

3 Ways Botox can Transform Your Looks

Hate wrinkles? But hate cosmetic surgery too? Don’t despair. Botox may offer the solution you’ve been looking for. Botox is a prescription medication that is injected into muscles. It’s used to temporarily improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age. How? The science behind Botox is simple. Botox uses the neurotoxin botulinum to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles such as frown lines, forehead furrows, and crow’s feet.

Botox is a great alternative to invasive cosmetic procedures – not only is it quick, painless and calls for no recovery time, but side effects are rare. The injections only last a few seconds, and most patients comment that the injections feel similar to receiving a vaccine. Botox’s procedure and results are so impressive that almost all patients surveyed were highly satisfied with the results of their Botox cosmetic experience.

It’s no wonder more than eleven million Americans have tried Botox. Interested to learn more about this amazing treatment? Then read on to discover the top three ways Botox can transform your looks.

1. Ever notice those awful frown lines from years of squinting, concentrating, or well…just plain frowning? These lines are caused by repeated furrowing and creasing of the skin. As your skin becomes less elastic, those moderate-to-severe frown lines remain – even when your muscles are not contracting. Botox is able to temporarily diminish frown lines with a few tiny injections. Botox blocks nerve impulses to the injected muscles, which reduces muscle activity that causes those persistent frown lines to form. This reduced muscle activity helps reduce the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between your brows.
2. Good news! Botox doesn’t just treat wrinkles – it prevents them, too! Botox is most effective on wrinkles that haven’t quite set in – dynamic wrinkles that appear when you’re moving your face, such as when you frown. Basically, Botox reduces the onset of wrinkles before they become moderate or severe. Combining this approach with good skin care, sunscreen, and a healthy lifestyle can help prevent most wrinkles from getting worse and prevent new ones from forming. Remember that starting Botox early can result in preserving your youth. Studies done on twins have shown that the twin who began Botox in her twenties looked at least five years younger than her sister some thirteen years later. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?
3. Thought Botox was just for wrinkles around the eyes? Think again. Botox also treats other dynamic wrinkles, such as smoker’s lines around the mouth. Small amounts of Botox injected into smoker’s lines cause the muscles to relax and the wrinkles in the mouth area to further soften and smooth. When used in conjunction with dermal fillers such as Juvederm, Botox is able to significantly diminish the appearance of unsightly lines around the mouth and nose. The key to successfully treating smoker’s lines immediately after receiving Botox injections is to repeatedly pucker for a few minutes. This evenly distributes Botox around the mouth.

Botox boasts many benefits. But the best benefit of all is that results can be seen immediately. They typically last up to six months, which is good if you don’t like the results of your treatment. After six months, lines and wrinkles begin to reappear. As muscle contractions gradually return, you’ll need to be retreated. But because Botox trains the muscles to relax, over time, lines and wrinkles are often less severe—which means your looks will continue to improve.

It should be noted that Botox is most effective on dynamic wrinkles only – that is, wrinkles that are caused by repeated muscle contractions. Wrinkles caused by other factors, such as sun damage and gravity, do not respond well to Botox treatment.

Last but not least, it’s important to note that though Botox side effects are rare, they can still occur. Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. You might also suffer headaches lasting 24-48 hours. Eyelid drooping may also occur, but this usually subsides within three weeks. It is important that you refrain from exercising, bending over, lying down or rubbing the treatment area for the first 24-48 hours after receiving Botox to ensure that it settles in the right place and doesn’t migrate. Failure to do so can potentially result in facial paralysis. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or suffer from a neurological disorder, you shouldn’t receive Botox injections.

All in all, however, Botox offers more benefits than risks. So what are you waiting for? Beautify your life with Botox—you’ve got nothing to lose, and everything to gain!