What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable aesthetic treatment that provides a temporary improvement in the appearance of lines around your eyes, across your forehead, and in the furrow between your brows. These are the treatment areas where Botox has received FDA approval, but many physicians use the medication off-label to achieve impressive results in other areas of the face.
Botox is formulated from a substance found naturally in lakes, forests, and soil. Clostridium botulinum is toxic in certain concentrations, but the amount used in aesthetic and medical applications is perfectly safe.
Botox has been used in medical applications for more than 50 years, and more than 15 years of clinical studies support the safety of the aesthetic uses of this medication. Botox is the subject of more than 500 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is approved for use in 96 countries.
How does Botox work?
Many people think of the effects of Botox as “freezing” your facial muscles. In reality, Botox and other neurotoxins work by temporarily preventing your treated facial muscles from going through their full range of motion.
Your face will still be able to move normally and form facial expressions, but the muscles won’t be able to pull and tug your skin into folds, lines, and wrinkles.
It takes three injections on each side to treat crow’s-feet. Five injections are needed to treat forehead lines and frown lines. The injections are shallow, and the needle used is very thin. The entire process takes just a few minutes from start to finish, and you can return to your normal activities immediately after your appointment.
Dermal fillers are another injectable treatment. Fillers deliver a gellike substance to the deeper layers of your skin, plumping and smoothing your skin to reduce the signs of aging.
How long do the results of Botox last?
It can take 24-48 hours for the full effects of a Botox treatment to appear. You can expect to enjoy your more youthful and well-rested appearance for four months. At that point, you’ll begin to see your lines and folds gradually return.
If you like the results, you can choose to return for another round of injections. Based on your feedback, the fellowship-trained plastic surgeon who gives you the injections can change the amount of Botox used or where it’s injected to tweak your results.
If you’ve been thinking of giving Botox a try, schedule a consultation to learn more. Booking is fast and easy online or you can always call during business hours to speak with a friendly staff member regarding appointment availability.
We see patients all throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Call us to book your appointment today.
