One of the most common concerns for our patients who have reached their late 30s or 40s is the lines that they are beginning to see on their faces. While a few lines mean you’ve smiled, laughed, and spent time in the sun, they can also make many people feel less confident.
Botox is a treatment that can make you feel great about your skin at any age. It can give you fewer lines while also making sure that you still feel and look like you. At Adoro Medical Spa in Annapolis, MD, and Severna Park, MD, we provide personalized services for every patient who comes in our doors. We look forward to helping you learn more about Botox, how it works, and how quickly it can smooth away your wrinkles.
What Is Botox?
As a commonly used treatment for wrinkles, you may be familiar with the name. But not everyone knows what Botox is made of and how it works on wrinkles. Botox is a medication called a neuromodulator. This type of treatment is an injection that is designed to help minimize wrinkles on the face.
Botox can be used as a treatment to treat lines and wrinkles that have already appeared on the face. It can also be used preventatively if there are areas that you are hoping to keep smooth. Any treatment, including Botox, should be overseen by a doctor who has experience in cosmetic treatments and an eye for artful and natural-looking results.
How Does Botox Work?
Before you can understand how long it takes for Botox to work, it is helpful to understand how it works. Neuromodulators are treatments that have a controlled immobilizing effect on certain parts of the muscles in the face.
The active ingredient, botulinum toxin type A, interrupts messages that are sent to your muscles by your nerves. This allows these muscles to rest even when you smile or frown. As a result, certain wrinkles that are formed through muscle movement are able to relax and be smoothed away.
During treatments, a small amount of Botox is injected into the muscle at several different points. Expert injection allows certain areas of the face to move freely while restricting movements that cause lines and wrinkles to form. At our practice, we are able to achieve results that can still allow you to smile a natural smile or make other expressions.
How Long Does Botox Take to Work?
When you raise your eyebrows or frown, your body releases a neurotransmitter that tells your muscle to move. When Botox is injected, it blocks this release. However, it can take time for the protein in Botox to bind to these receptors and fully block these messages. The effects of the injections can come on gradually, often becoming more noticeable somewhere between 3 and 6 days.
These initial results are usually expected to increase as time goes on. If this is your first Botox injection, it can take up to 30 days before you see your full results.
Botox treatments may become more effective when you come in for regular maintenance appointments. Results tend to be cumulative as muscles in the face are retrained. Botox injections can cause certain muscles to become stronger which can help lift your face while smoothing away wrinkles. It can also prevent wrinkles and lines from becoming deeper.
How Long Does Botox Last?
The effects of Botox are temporary. Over time, it will stop blocking signals and allow the body to start releasing neurotransmitters again. Any muscles that have been frozen will be able to resume full motion if left untreated. Results from treatments can last 3 to 4 months, sometimes longer for individuals who have Botox treatments frequently.
If you want to continue treating your wrinkles, we may recommend a schedule of Botox injections two or three times per year. Wrinkles can even be treated again before full motion has been restored to the muscles so that you can enjoy continued smooth skin.
What Are Botox Injections Like?
When you arrive for your Botox treatment, you will have time to go over the treatment with us. We will also mark the exact locations where we are going to inject the medication based on your individual expressions and dynamic lines. If necessary, we will apply numbing cream and let it take effect.
The injections themselves will be very fast. A small amount will be injected at each point. With Botox, multiple areas can be treated during the same appointment. Botox is FDA-approved for forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines.
After injections, we will give you instructions on how to care for your injection sites. You may have bumps where the medication was injected which usually go away within an hour. You should stay upright for the first 4 hours after treatment, and you should refrain from touching, rubbing, or itching the injection sites. Treat your skin with some care by using gentle products that aren’t harsh or irritating.
Smooth Your Wrinkles with Botox Injections
Botox can be a good treatment for both men and women who want to minimize lines and wrinkles on their faces. It is a non-invasive treatment that can work quickly and provide long-lasting results. It is also a treatment that has been used for many years by licensed and experienced doctors and plastic surgeons.
If you are interested in our Botox treatments at Adoro Medical Spa in Severna Park, MD, and Annapolis, MD, contact us today for more information. You can schedule an appointment online or by phone.
