Wrinkles are annoying and don’t simply go away. And because you want to get rid of them as quickly as possible, you have probably researched a lot of options. One of these could be Botox. Botox is a safe treatment for fine lines and wrinkles as long as administered by a licensed professional. This neurotoxin-made drug comes in powder form and is diluted with saline to make it an injectable.
What First-Timers can Expect from Botox
If you are new to Botox, you must review your anatomy first, so you can picture how Botox treatments can benefit your fine lines and wrinkles. Also, consult with a practitioner to understand why they inject in some areas and how long the treatment will last. Your doctor will talk to you about what you can expect after the injection. Although the majority of people will not experience any side effects, some patients could react with slight swelling, redness, or bruising. These risks can be reduced by avoiding alcohol and Advil for a few days before the treatment.
To prepare your skin, your practitioner will wash your skin with alcohol pads to eliminate any makeup and bacteria from the skin. Then, a very fine needle is injected into your muscles to release a small, specific amount of Botox. What you could feel is a subtle burning or pinching sensation. After the injections, your practitioner will discuss post-care steps.
How the Chemical Kicks into Action
Once the injection moves from the dermis and into the desired muscle, Botox blocks the nerves there. As it blocks the nerve transmission in nearby muscles, it effectively freezes the area. Thus, even if the brain may signal your body to move a certain muscle, Botox effectively blocks this signal and keeps the muscle from moving. As a result, the injected muscle will stop contracting, causing the wrinkles to relax and soften. Also, the treatment prevents the formation of new wrinkles. The effect of Botox targets only the where it is injected, although it may migrate up to 3 cm from there.
What Happens After the Treatment?
Once you complete your treatment, you can resume your normal activity after the procedure. But, swelling could develop as the chemical is diluted with saline. However, it should go down within one hour. Also, bruising can take place, but this is quite rare, especially if Botox is administered by an experienced doctor. When injected too deep, the needle can hit a blood vessel and bruise.