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Should I Get Botox®?
Posted by: Mitchell Refractive Surgery & Eye Center
When you smile, laugh, frown, or look puzzled, the muscles in your face contract. Over time, these contractions produce permanent furrows and wrinkles in the skin, especially around the eyes and mouth, between the eyebrows, and on the forehead. These lines can make you look older, sad, angry, and tired. Botox® cosmetic injections not only prevent you from deepening lines during natural facial movements, Botox® can also erase these marks of aging, leaving you looking younger and refreshed.
What is Botox?
Botox® decreases the appearance of aging by reducing muscle movement. It is short for “Botulinum Toxin,” a neurotoxin in the form of a purified protein. When injected into the facial muscle, Botox® blocks transmitters between the motor nerves that innervate the muscle. Once the motor nerve endings are interrupted, the muscle cannot contract, thus causing wrinkles in the skin to smooth out and reveal younger, firmer-looking skin. Areas where you can receive Botox® cosmetic injections include the:
- Glabellar Area (the 11’s/frown lines between the eyes)
- Forehead or Frontalis Muscles (forehead lines)
- Crow’s Feet (around the corners of the eyes
- Chin Dimples
- Radial Lip Lines (smoker’s lines or gummy smiles)
- Nose lines
Botulinum Toxin can also be used to reduce the muscle mass in the masseters (jaw line) for a slimming, esthetic facial result. Additionally, these cosmetic injections has important clinical uses for patients with chronic TMJ, orofacial pain, and even headaches.
The Process
Receiving a Botox® injection only takes a few minutes and there’s no need for anesthesia or down time. The cosmetic injections are made using a very fine needle and are virtually painless. Generally, results are visible within 2 – 10 days. To reduce the possibility of bruising/swelling, it is recommended that you avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours and avoid taking aspirin/anti-inflammatory medications for a period of 2 weeks prior to the procedure. As always, consult your physician before stopping any medications.
Common Side Effects
There is no loss of sensory feeling in the muscles. The most common side effects of Botox® cosmetic injections are bruising, redness, and swelling. Other, rare side effects are possible and will be reviewed prior to treatment. To avoid adverse reactions/results, do not manipulate the treated area for 2 hours after injections and maintain an upright position.
How Long Do Effects Last?
The effects of Botox® typically last 3 – 4 months. As the treated muscles regain movement, lines and wrinkles will begin to reappear and require retreatment at our Boca Raton office. Over time and continuous cosmetic injections, these lines and wrinkles should appear less noticeable because the Botox® has trained the treated muscles to relax.
Look Younger Today!
If you want more radiant skin, Botox® cosmetic injections at Mitchell Eye Center is the right step for you. You can request an appointment with one of our doctors online or contact us directly. We can’t wait to help you look and feel younger!
For more information about Botox®, visit: www.Botoxcosmetic.com.
