As your skin starts to age, you may begin to see a few changes. One of the most common changes that comes with aging is expression lines. These are folds in the skin that happen when we smile or frown and over time become more pronounced and more permanent.
At Miia Medspa, we want to support our patients who want to look just as youthful and vibrant as they feel on the inside. While taking care of your skin is a great first step, sometimes you need an extra boost. Botox can be a helpful tool for smoothing out wrinkles and minimizing some of the signs of aging.
What Is Botox?
Botox is a neuromodulator that is used cosmetically to help reduce dynamic wrinkles on the face. Dynamic wrinkles are any lines that are caused by the movement of the muscles in your face. They can form in between your eyes, on your forehead, next to your eyes, and even on your chin.
Neuromodulators, such as Botox, use the active ingredient botulinum toxin. This toxin, when carefully injected in small amounts, can cause the muscles in certain areas of your face to relax by blocking nerve impulses at the treatment site. As a result, the wrinkles in your forehead, between your brows, or around your eyes will no longer form, even when you smile or frown.
Botox can be used to treat existing wrinkles, or it can be used to prevent these lines and folds from occurring in the first place. In both cases, we artfully inject Botox so that it softens lines and wrinkles with a subtle and natural-looking effect.
What Do Our Botox Injections Treat?
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet are the lines that appear at the corners of your eyes when you smile. By injecting Botox into the muscles around the eyes, we can reduce the appearance of crow’s feet even when you’re smiling your widest.
Forehead Lines
Raising your eyebrows frequently can cause horizontal lines to form on your forehead. These lines are common during the aging process and can appear sooner if your skin has sun damage. By gently targeting certain muscles with Botox, we can smooth these lines and prevent them from getting deeper.
Frown Lines
Frown lines, also called glabellar lines or worry lines, are vertical lines that can be present between your eyebrows when you frown. Over time, they may start to be more permanent and can make patients look like they are frowning even while at rest. Injections can be made in the muscles around these frown lines to relax and smooth them.
Pebble Chin or Chin Dimples
Some people may feel self-conscious about the small dimples that appear on their chin. The chin may appear bumpy like an orange peel while making certain expressions or even at rest when the area loses subcutaneous fat. While Botox is FDA approved for forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet, it can also be used off-lable for chin dimples and pebbles.
How Long Does Botox Last?
Botox is a temporary solution for lines and wrinkles. After time, your body will absorb the neuromodulator and the effects will wear off. The amount of time that it is effective will vary from person to person and from treatment to treatment. Variables can include your body chemistry, how set your wrinkles are, how active you are, and how much Botox was used. Most people are able to enjoy the effects of Botox for between 3 to 6 months.
What to Expect From Botox Treatments
If this is your first time receiving Botox treatments, it can be helpful to know what to expect. When you first come in, you will have a longer appointment so that we can have a consultation with you. During your appointment, we’ll discuss your expectations for the treatment, prepare you for your first experience, and plan out your individual treatment. Botox injections are often given the same day as the initial consultation.
Botox injections are done with a needle that is much smaller than the ones you may be used to at your doctor’s office. During injections, you may feel a small prick or some pressure at the injection site. If you are worried about pain during injection, you can ask us for a topical numbing cream. You’ll need to arrive a few minutes early for the numbing cream to take effect. The number of units of Botox that you will need will depend on which areas are being treated.
Most people are able to return to work or other activities right after their Botox injections. It is a simple process that doesn’t come with any downtime or recovery period. However, for best results, we recommend staying in an upright position for the first 4 hours, avoiding intense workouts, and avoiding facial massage for a few hours. This will give your Botox time to work in the intended treatment site.
Good Candidates for Botox Treatments
If you are in good health, you are over 18, and you are not pregnant or nursing, you may be a good candidate for Botox. However, individual candidacy should always be discussed with your doctor. When we talk to you about whether Botox is right for you, we’ll take a look at your health history, make sure there are no problems with the skin at the injection site, and talk to you about treatment expectations.
Botox Treatments in Rowley, MA
At Miia Medspa, we want everyone who comes to our clinic to feel comfortable and relaxed. We are friendly, we listen to your concerns and goals, and our relaxing setting puts everyone at ease. If you have wrinkles and lines on your face and you are looking for a good solution, talk to us about Botox. This well-established treatment is one of the many services we offer to patients in Rowley, MA. Call us today or contact us online!
