Is Botox ® The Right Option For You?

Botox ® can be a quick, non-invasive way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. However, it’s not the only treatment we provide, nor is it the best option for some of our patients. Here’s a quick overview of Botox® as well as some other treatments you might want to consider.

Botox ®, as you may know, was named for the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. If you eat food tainted with this bacterium, this can cause illness or even death, but if you inject a tiny amount into your face, it provides you with a much more pleasing reaction. It’s also used to treat migraines and a few other issues.

This bacterium blocks communication between our muscles and our nerves. When we are perplexed by something and frown, the nerves send a message to the muscles telling them to frown. This, over time, causes frown lines to form ( wrinkles between the eyebrows), especially as we age and our skin begins to lose its elasticity.

When you inject Botox ® into the area where you have certain wrinkles like frown lines, the nerves no longer can send those signals and those frown lines go away. At Thaxton Plastic Surgery, we can use Botox® to safely and quickly treat frown lines and crow’s feet.

The Botox® Process

While Botox® can be very effective, it’s important that our patients understand some basics about this process. Although they may find plenty of information about the process on this site, on our social media profiles, that we have recently promoted in partnership with The Marketing Heaven, they can learn a lot about it, having in mind a large number of comments left by our clients who went through the procedure. Obviously, we do use needles to inject the Botox® into your muscles. There will be some discomfort associated with these injections. In some cases, people will feel some pain for several minutes after the injection, although this isn’t true in all cases.

Botox ® does not provide instant results. While some patients will see improvements in just a day or two, typically it can take a week or more for the Botox® to truly work its magic. We recommend that patients avoid alcohol in the weeks leading up to treatment, as well as not taking aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications. Avoiding these medicines can reduce bruising after your Botox ® treatment.

Additionally, for several hours after treatment, it is recommended that you avoid exercise and rest, without lying down, for about six hours. You definitely want to keep your head upright for several hours. This can help prevent bruising, as well. Again, avoid taking anti-inflammatories and drinking alcohol, as well.

The effects of a Botox® treatment typically lasts about three or four months, and you will want to call us and schedule treatment before this time period is over to continue to enjoy the effects of Botox®.

But What About My Smile Lines & Other Areas?

Botox ® definitely is the wrong option for treating smile lines. Botox ® causes muscle paralysis, and while it might be no big deal when people can’t see you frown, you definitely still want to be able to smile.

Fortunately, we do have options for lessening the appearance of those smile lines. For instance, Juvederm® can be a great option to consider. This is an injectable treatment as well, and the results can last up to a year. Other options include Juvederm Vollure® and Juvederm Volbella®, which are other types of dermal fillers.

There are even non-surgical treatments that can tighten up the skin around your neck, such as ThermiTight. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We can help you find treatment options that truly meet your needs, whether it’s Botox® or a combination of services.

Who Should Avoid Botox®?

We do not recommend that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding undergo Botox® treatments. In some cases, people with neurological diseases also are not good candidates for Botox®.

Healthy Body = Better Skin

In addition to options such as Botox ® and Juvederm ®, there are a few other ways to help your facial skin look its best. Staying hydrated definitely helps, so don’t forget to drink plenty of water every day. We’ve all heard the old axiom of drinking 8, 8-ounce glasses of water, some people don’t need as much and some might need more, especially on days when you exercise.

Using a good moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF coverage also can benefit your skin, and we highly recommend wearing a hat as well, especially if you are outside during peak sunlight hours, from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Not only will this benefit the look of your skin, it lessens your risk of skin cancer.

Eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and getting a good night’s sleep also will benefit your skin as well as your entire body. Of course, all of this will help you look and feel better, but if you want to truly turn the clock back a few years, safe and effective procedures such as Botox®, definitely can give your look that boost you’ve been hoping for.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment for Botox® or another treatment, give us a call at any time. Be sure to take a look under the “Non-Surgical Services” tab on our homepage, as this will allow you to check out all of the options and see a few helpful photos and videos of the process.