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What is Botox®?
Botulinum toxin, more commonly known as Botox®, is an FDA-approved drug used in medical and cosmetic procedures to weaken or temporarily paralyze the nerves that cause facial muscles to contract. Once a small amount of Botox® is injected into these muscles they relax and soften, giving your skin a smoother and more youthful appearance lasting up to 4 months.
Botox® has been widely tested and studied around the world and is a simple, non-surgical, mildly invasive way to smooth the persistent facial lines that develop from repeated muscle contractions that happen over time.
Small amounts of Botox® have the ability to target the exact muscles which control wrinkles and temporarily relax them. Many people choose to repeat the Botox® treatment 3 or 4 times per year to help keep up the appearance of younger, smoother skin.
Process of Botox®
How Does Botox® Work?
We add an appropriate amount of Botox® into the muscles that cause wrinkles to occur, temporarily paralyzing them. In turn, the skin covering these muscles gradually becomes smoother and appears less wrinkled. Botox® is commonly used to improve the creases and lines many people develop between their eyebrows. These lines can make us look as though we’re worried, angry, or concerned, even if this is not the case.
Crow’s feet around the eyes can also make us appear older than we really are, and tend to give us a squinty appearance. Botox® can treat these areas effectively, smoothing crow’s feet and in turn giving a more youthful appearance.
Who is a Candidate for Botox®?
To be a good candidate for Botox® treatment you should:
- Be between 18 and 65 years of age
- Have stable overall health
- Have realistic expectations about the treatment
- Have dynamic wrinkles that can be successfully treated with Botox®
What Causes Wrinkles?
Wrinkles are the creases, folds, or ridges we see appear on our skin as we age. The first wrinkles we notice typically occur as a result of repeated facial expressions over a period of time. Other factors that cause wrinkles include sun damage, smoking, dehydration, and certain medications.
Wrinkles are an inevitable part of getting older as our skin starts to get thinner, drier, and loses its elasticity. Our skin also lacks the ability to protect itself from damage as we age.
Most people don’t welcome the appearance of wrinkles on their skin. Botox® is used to reduce these fine lines that appear on the face, restoring a more youthful appearance.
What are Dynamic Wrinkles?
Dynamic wrinkles are caused by the muscles contracting underneath your skin, which cause the skin to group together and form lines. These type of wrinkles happen in areas where your face animates during a facial expression. This includes laughing, smiling, grimacing, or frowning.
Common dynamic wrinkles include:
- Crow’s feet
- Frown lines
- Forehead Creases
- Upper lip creases
- Neck bands
Botox® treatments can help improve the appearance of these dynamic wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles and allowing them to loosen and relax.
In contrast, static wrinkles are caused by the collagen and hyaluronic acid breaking down due to age and other lifestyle factors. This type of wrinkle can not be treated with Botox® and must be addressed with a dermal filler instead.
Dysport® vs. Botox®: What’s the Difference?
Both Dysport® and Botox® are forms of botulinum toxin type A, which are extracted for safe use in humans to relax muscles and decrease movement. Biologically and chemically, they’re almost identical, both containing the same 150 kilodalton active core. Both products inject and act similarly, although Dysport® may begin to act faster than Botox®.
Dysport® may be the new kid on the block in North America (available since Spring 2009), but it has been in direct competition with Botox® in Europe and elsewhere for many years already.
Dysport® is more diluted than Botox®, which changes the dosage levels that are administered. If you have previously had Botox® treatments and used to a certain number of units, that number will likely increase if you switch to Dysport®. The greater dilution doesn’t make Dysport® any less effective; the dosage is mainly a consideration for the injection specialist who administers the treatment.
Dysport® typically diffuses more, causing it to spread out over a broader area after it’s injected. This can be beneficial when treating a larger area such as wide forehead wrinkles and areas with thinner muscles, such as crow’s feet.
More diffusion means fewer injections are required to reach the desired results, and fewer injections mean less discomfort from the procedure. At the end of the day, I work with each patient to determine which injectable is best for them and will give the best outcome.
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Botox® FAQ
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common questions asked during our initial consultation
You may feel a pinch as the Botox® is injected into your skin, although local anaesthetic will help with this. Your face may feel tighter than normal afterwards. There will also typically be some bruising and swelling that goes way after 24 hours.
It can take between three to five days before you will see noticeable changes to your fine lines and the full effects can take up to two weeks to transpire. This can vary, however, as it’s different for every patient.
As mentioned above, Botox® is used to treat dynamic wrinkles that result from repeated facial muscle contraction that typically occurs when we laugh, smile, frown, or grimace.
During your personal consultation, we will do a full examination, address your concerns, and discuss the best treatment option appropriate for you.
Although the treated muscles start to relax after a few days, it can take up to two weeks to see the full effects of the Botox® treatment. There is, however, no “down time” with a Botox® treatment and you can return to work right away if you wish, although it’s not recommended to engage in strenuous activity for the rest of the day after treatment.
There are many factors that affect the duration of the Botox® treatment that depend on the patient. Which facial area is being treated and the skill of the physician also come into play. The typical duration of a Botox® treatment is 3 to 8 months, after which many patients elect to have it performed again to keep up the appearance of having smoother, more youthful looking skin.
No longer just a luxury item for the wealthy, Botox® in Edmonton has come down in price and is now affordable to people even on modest incomes. The exact cost of Botox® depends on the individual patient’s concerns and their circumstances, including the number of areas that need to be treated and the amount of Botox® required. This can be discussed further at your consultation.
Redness and swelling of the treatment area may occasionally occur following your injections. These side effects typically clear up within the first 30 minutes of treatment. You should avoid touching the area of the affected skin for about an hour after treatment to prevent the Botox® from spreading. Rarely, there may be some temporary muscle weakness surrounding the treatment area.
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If you are considering options for Botox®, our experienced team ready to help. Give us a call or book a consultation online, and say goodbye to wrinkles.
