What Happens With Botox Before And After Treatment?

Before coolsculpting and emsculpt, there was botox. The procedure became quite popular for its effectiveness in wrinkle removal—They are most notable for their ability to slow down the appearance of facial wrinkles. When administered correctly, botox can provide you with a refreshed and more youthful appearance. It also helps enhance your features while preventing those facial lines and wrinkles from developing.

In 2017, there were 15.7 million cosmetic minimally invasive procedures performed. Of that number, 7.23 million procedures were botulinum toxin Type A. The Botox market is continuously growing. It is expected to reach $9840 million by 2025.

For cosmetic surgery, botulinum toxin is considered safe and effective for reducing facial wrinkles, particularly in the uppermost third of the face. Some people may still have some reservations and questions about botox before and after treatment. In this article, we shall delve more into what transpires in a botox procedure. You can also take a look at our Before & After Gallery.

What is Botox?

Botox is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment with more than 6 million treatments a year. Botox is made from a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. 

The cosmetic effect of botox on facial wrinkles was first documented by Richard Clark, a Sacramento-based plastic surgeon and was published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1989. Three years later, Canadian husband and wife ophthalmologist and dermatologist physician, JD and JA Carruthers, were the first to publish a study on BTX-A for treating glabellar frown lines.

How Does Botox Work?

Wrinkles provides the first signs of aging. They often appear around the eyes, forehead, cheeks, and lips. Although it is normal for humans to have wrinkles, many people feel wrinkles make them look tired or older. To slow down the appearance of wrinkles, people undergo botox injections. They go by different names but the objective remains the same—reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Botox works by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injection slows down the contraction of the muscles causing the wrinkles to relax and soften. Once injected muscle activity in the frown lines will be reduced resulting in a smoother look. Since the muscles beneath it are not contracting, the skin will have a difficult time wrinkling.

Preparing for Botox injections

Botox injections should only be used under a doctor’s care. The placement of the injection has to be precise to prevent side effects. A skilled and properly certified doctor can advise you on the procedure and assistance that is most suitable to your needs and health.  

During the consultation, tell your doctor if you have undergone Botox injections in the last four months. Likewise, tell them if you are taking muscle relaxants, sleeping aids, or allergy medications. If you are taking blood thinners, you may need to stop taking them a few days before injection to prevent the risk of bleeding or bruising.

Before The Procedure

Although there wouldn’t be any discomfort during the procedure, it is advisable to have your skin numbed in advance, especially if your palms or soles are being treated for excessive sweating. Your doctor might use different methods of numbing the area such as topical anesthesia, ice and vibration anesthesia, which uses massage to reduce discomfort.

After The Procedure

After the injection, do not rub or message the treated area for 24 hours. Avoiding to rub the treated area will prevent the spread of the toxin to another area. Botox injections don’t involve any downtime. You can resume normal activities right after the procedure.

Botox Injection Results 

Botox injection usually takes effect 1 to 2 three days after treatment. Depending on the area of treatment, the effect may last more than 3 months. To maintain the effect, you will need to have follow-up injections. There are several factors that may lengthen or shorten the effectiveness of the injection:

Older people with less muscle tone may see diminished results sooner compared to those with younger firmer facial muscles.

• Your facial structure and expressions
• Whether you smoke
• Your diet
• Whether you take good care of your skin, use facials, microdermabrasion or other resurfacing methods
• The amount of sun exposure you have and the amount of sun damage your skin already has
• Whether you use Botox repeatedly or not. This may vary from one person to another. Some may have a longer-lasting effect with repeated use while others seem to develop resistance to the drug and require more frequent treatments

To achieve optimum botox before and after results, you will be advised to avoid things such as smoking, excess alcohol, sun exposure, and getting stressed. All these things break down collagen faster thus decreasing the longevity of Botox.