How Does Botox Work?

Almost everyone knows what Botox is, and if you’ve never experienced it before, you’re missing out. This wrinkle-relaxing injectable has been transforming appearances for over 20 years, and it’s still the most highly-sought after neuromodulator on the market. At Thrive Hormonal Health & Wellness in Austin, TX, we are proud to offer the number one wrinkle-relaxing injectable to help our patients maintain a youthful appearance and feel confident about their reflections.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox works by relaxing the muscles responsible for forming wrinkles on the upper half of the face. The ingredients in this injectable are designed to block the communication between the nerve signals and the muscles. Typically, when you express, smile, squint, frown, or raise your eyebrows, your brain uses the nerve signals to tell your muscles to contract.

Once you receive an injection, the ingredients will block the line of communication between the nerve signals and the muscles. Over time, your lines and wrinkles will soften because you will no longer be able to force your skin into dynamic, expressive movements all day long.

What Causes Wrinkles?

Not all wrinkles are created equally. Repetitive expressions almost always cause wrinkles that form on the upper half of your face. As you age, your skin’s structure isn’t as strong as it used to be because the body produces less hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin.

Even though your skin becomes weaker, your body keeps expressing, so lines and wrinkles become etched in the skin. This is where Botox comes in. It can be injected into the muscles directly responsible for those lines and wrinkles and will smooth them for several months at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Results Can I Expect?

Before you add this injectable to your anti-aging routine, you must understand that the results are not immediate. You won’t see a change in your wrinkles overnight, but you will see a change. It may just take a little time, but the ingredients will work, and they will disable the communication between the nerve signals and your muscles.

This typically takes approximately one week to occur. Some patients see an improvement in their expression lines within two to three days, but on average, it takes about five to seven days to see the best results.

How Long Will My Results Last?

Once you go through the injection process and achieve your results, you can expect them to last anywhere from three to six months based on how your body responds to the ingredients. Most patients, on average, experience results at last approximately four months. Fast metabolizers will need a follow-up treatment around three months.

Those who are slower metabolizers can wait until closer to six months to schedule a maintenance appointment. Once you receive your first injection, you will have a better idea of how long your results will last and then can schedule your follow-up treatments accordingly.

How Is It Different From Dysport?

Botox is different from Dysport because of its formulation. Dysport is made of a more diluted formula and spreads out quickly, which makes it beneficial for certain areas of the face. Botox is more concentrated, allowing it to treat both larger and smaller areas of the face with precision and accuracy. We offer both of these injectables at our office, and both can solve different anti-aging needs, but some patients will be better suited for one over the other.

What Does It Treat?

This injectable is FDA-approved to treat three specific areas of the face: crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines. It also has some off-label uses and can be used to treat:

• • A gummy smile
  • Bunny lines on the nose
  • Wrinkles at the corner of the mouth that create a downturned appearance
  • Sagging eyebrows

Will I Still Be Able To Express?

When you choose our office for your Botox treatments, you can rest assured that you will achieve natural-looking results. The goal of this injectable is not to create a frozen-looking appearance. Instead, it is designed to help soften lines and wrinkles temporarily. You will still be able to express, and you’ll still look like yourself; your expressions will just be less exaggerated, softer, and you will look well-rested and more youthful.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

Most patients only need one treatment to see results. Since the results are temporary, once you begin this process, you need to commit to regular follow-up treatments if you want to maintain your results long-term. One of our experienced injectors will design the perfect treatment plan for you so that you can maintain a wrinkle-free complexion year around in just a few quick and virtually painless treatment sessions.

Is the Injection Process Painful?

This injectable wouldn’t be so popular if it caused pain. This treatment is virtually painless, and most patients endure their treatments without any numbing cream. This injectable has a very thin needle, and the entire treatment is quick, and you barely feel a thing. However, a topical numbing solution can be applied to your skin pre-treatment to enhance your comfort both during and after the injection process.

Are There Aftercare Instructions?

Another one of the benefits of this particular injectable is that it doesn’t require that you plan around downtime. It qualifies as a lunchtime injectable because you can return to work once your treatment is over. We will provide you with some instructions that you must follow post-treatment to achieve the best possible results.

You’ll be asked to avoid strenuous workouts for 24 hours post-treatment and any situation that increases your body temperature. Additionally, you should keep your head elevated for at least four hours post-treatment and avoid touching the injection sites.

Am I a Candidate?

If you want to smooth expression lines and achieve long-lasting results, you are a good candidate for this injectable. A consultation with one of our expert injectors is the best way to determine if this treatment is the right choice for you.

Say Goodbye to Wrinkles

You don’t have to live with expression lines. Botox is an effective and safe solution that delivers long-lasting results. Contact us today at Thrive Hormonal Health & Wellness in Austin, TX, to learn more about this injectable and how it can help restore youth to your appearance and make you feel more like your younger self again.