Botox is an injectable that has been around for decades in America. It’s most commonly associated with cosmetic anti-aging treatments, but it’s actually a valuable medical tool, as well!
At Cyrus Advanced Institute, we utilize Botox treatment for anti-aging regimens and pain management, and we’re here to tell you all about these methods and how they may benefit your health and life.
Botox Procedure for Anti-Aging
Botox is a tried-and-true treatment for some signs of aging, such as fine lines, creases, and wrinkles.
How Botox Works
Botox is an injectable neurotoxin. A “neurotoxin” describes any compound that disrupts communication between your nerves and brain.
When Botox is injected into the muscles, it interferes with the signals that make those muscles contract. The effect is a paralysis of the treated muscle, preventing creasing in the area and helping keep the skin at the treated site smoother.
What Botox Can and Cannot Do
Botox is effective for treating dynamic wrinkles. These are the lines and wrinkles naturally found where we create expressions.
Think of the many different ways we use our faces to express emotions—surprise, anger, happiness, sadness. All these movements create creases in the skin.
When your skin is high in collagen and elastin, it can bounce back quickly to its original smoothness after making facial expressions. However, as we age, our collagen and elastin levels decline, making dynamic wrinkles more visible.
Our medical expert will inject into the muscles responsible for creating dynamic wrinkles during a Botox procedure. This helps your face appear smoother and more youthful.
What Botox can’t do is fill these lines and creases. Ask one of our providers about dermal fillers if you want to work on lines and wrinkles or augment your lips, chin, or cheekbones. These gel-like substances get injected beneath the skin to add volume and plumpness, smoothing out the treated sites.
Dermal fillers can treat many age-related aesthetic issues, while Botox treats dynamic wrinkles.
Cosmetically, Botox is most often used for:
- Frown lines (lines between your eyebrows)
- Forehead lines (horizontal lines on your forehead)
- Crow’s feet (laugh lines at the corners of your eyes)
- Mouth lines (from pursing your lips)
Tell our team members if you are interested in Botox, and we will evaluate your facial skin condition and health to determine what spots could benefit from treatment.
Botox for Aging Prevention
You don’t have to wait until the wrinkles are already visible before getting Botox. We see several younger patients in their mid-20s looking for preventative treatment.
Botox can help train you not to overuse the muscles that create dynamic wrinkles when used preventatively. Not only will this help reduce wrinkles as you age, but it can also help diminish the likelihood you’ll need Botox in the future.
If you’re considering Botox for aging prevention, think about your genetics. Do your older relatives have severe wrinkles, like frown lines or crow’s feet? If so, you could be genetically prone to wrinkles, and Botox can help.
When you go in for a preventative Botox treatment, our provider will have you make a series of expressions to see where you’re likely to develop deep dynamic wrinkles. They’ll be able to tell if you’re more prone to mouth lines or forehead lines and advise on a treatment plan.
It is essential to consult with one of our licensed medical providers experienced in human anatomy when you’re considering preventative Botox. The experts know best what sites could use treatment and how to use Botox to make your skin smoother, younger-looking, and healthier.
How Long Does Botox Take to Work?
Your Botox results won’t be immediate, but they will become noticeable rather quickly.
Your results will depend on many factors, including:
- Age
- Genetics
- The health of your skin
- The severity of your lines and wrinkles before treatment begins
Usually, patients start to see anti-aging results three to five days post-treatment. However, for optimal results, it can take a few weeks.
How Long Your Results Last
Botox results can last several months before your body absorbs the neurotoxin and your muscles resume regular activity. However, if you maintain a consistent treatment routine, you may find you need Botox injections less often, as your muscles learn to rest more on their own over time.
Botox for Pain Management
Botox is FDA-approved to help with certain kinds of medical conditions.
In fact, Botox was initially discovered because scientists were trying to find a cure for crossed eyes. When experimenting with treatments on monkeys, they noticed that the neurotoxin injections were “freezing” the muscles on their foreheads.
The evolution of Botox and its approval for different treatments is a lengthy timeline.
- 1989: Botox is approved to treat strabismus (crossed eyes) and blepharospasm (uncontrollable eyelid movements)
2002: Cosmetic approval for glabellar lines (frown lines) - 2004: Botox is approved as a treatment for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- 2010: Botox is approved for chronic migraines (headaches 15 days or more per month)
- 2013: Cosmetic approval for crow’s feet
At Cyrus Advanced Institute, we use Botox procedure for certain medical conditions, including:
- Cervical dystonia
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Hyperhidrosis
- Migraines
- TMJ (lockjaw)
- Chronic pain relief
If you have any questions about Botox treatment for these conditions, give us a call.
Get Cutting-Edge Treatment with Cyrus Advanced
Dr. Adolfo L. Benitez, MD, leads our practice’s team of dedicated and passionate cosmetic and medical professionals. Dr. Benitez has trained in Family Medicine, Dermatology, Functional/Integrative Medicine, and Hormonal Replacement Therapy.
His years of combined experience make him uniquely qualified for both medical and cosmetic treatments.
Are you interested in Botox for one of the above cosmetic or medical conditions? Contact us today for a consultation to see whether Botox injections are right for you.