10 Facts About Botox

Each year in the US, over seven million Americans receive Botox treatments with one shared goal. This is to get smoother, younger-looking skin.

Botox: Purpose, Procedure, and Results

Developed over decades, Botox is the most common injectable in cosmetic surgery. Its impact on the beauty industry is undeniable. Unlike creams and serums marketed as anti-ageing solutions, Botox treats imperfections.

Treating wrinkles and fine lines

Examples include forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, drooping eyelids, and more. They are treated at the source by temporarily relaxing facial muscles. This not only targets existing lines, but helps to prevent future ones, too.

Quick and effective results

Furthermore, an average Botox treatment takes 15 to 30 minutes. Known as a “lunchtime procedure,” injection time is quick and non-invasive. This allows you to return to your daily activities shortly after.

With regular use, Botox can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, particularly dynamic wrinkles. These are caused by muscle movements, such as smiling and squinting. Even after discontinuing use, you’ll be left with a more youthful appearance than if you hadn’t received treatment at all.

Everything You Need To Know About Micro-dose Botox

There’s more than one way to receive Botox injections. Let’s discuss some of the main Botox treatments.

Typical treatments

During a typical treatment session, you may receive an injection of anywhere between 60 and 80 units of Botox. These are spread out across the face to treat, among other issues:

• Forehead lines 
• Frown lines 
• Crow’s feet 
• Drooping eyelids 
• Smile lines 
• Neck lines 

Preventative treatments

This is helpful for many in treating existing wrinkles. However, a growing trend in aesthetics is a preventative measure called “micro-dosing” that helps soften the function of facial muscles.

Micro-dosing involves injecting 20 to 30 units instead of the typical 60 to 80 units. This aims to smooth out lines, but also helps prevent deeper wrinkles from forming over time. Micro-dosing is ideal for younger people in their 20s and 30s. This is when people begin to see fine lines when their face is resting.

What Does Botox Do to the Face?

Botox is one of the most popular brands of botulinum toxin injections. When used on facial muscles, it temporarily blocks nerve receptors and prevents wrinkles and lines from forming.

Temporarily relaxes facial muscles

Many wrinkles and lines on your face are dynamic wrinkles. These are caused by muscle movements, like smiling, laughing, squinting, or frowning. Botox temporarily relaxes these muscles, resulting in smoother skin and preventing deeper lines and wrinkles in the future.

Different from other injectables

Botox is not the only injectable used in aesthetic medicine aimed at creating a more restorative and youthful appearance. Injectables are often referred to interchangeably when describing cosmetic treatments. However, they each offer unique benefits to diminish the signs of ageing.

As mentioned, Botox is a neuromodulator that temporarily relaxes muscles. This smooths skin in areas where repeated muscle movements have created fine lines and wrinkles. It is not a filler. Unlike neuromodulators, dermal fillers sit under the skin. Dermal fillers provide support and volume in areas where there has been a loss of collagen and elasticity.

Botox is used to treat “dynamic” wrinkles rather than “static” wrinkles. Unlike fillers, it can be used as a preventative measure. Through standard and micro-dosing treatments, Botox can help you prevent future wrinkles. At the same time, it also addresses your current areas of concern to enhance your beauty with younger-looking skin.

When Should You Start With Botox?

Botox works to address your existing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as prevent future ones. Therefore, experts agree that the ideal time to start treatment is anytime in your mid-late 20s or early 30s.

Getting ahead of your wrinkles

You’ll likely notice fine lines when your facial muscles are resting by this age. This is a good indicator that it’s time for treatment and early enough to maintain your youthful appearance.

A common misconception about Botox is that discontinuing its use will cause you to look older. The reality is quite the contrary. You may have put off starting treatment for this reason. Thus, you’ll be happy to know that regular injections will actually make you look younger. This is due to the preventative qualities, even after it wears off.

Getting help from a trusted professional

If you’re younger than the recommended age for a treatment, you may not yet be an ideal candidate. There’s no risk when receiving treatments earlier than in your mid-20s. However, experts agree there’s not much of an upside either if you aren’t yet exhibiting the telltale signs of ageing.

That said, using chronological age to determine when treatment is necessary may be useful, but it’s largely irrelevant. What’s more important is looking at the dynamic wrinkles themselves. Regardless of age, the best time to start is when movement wrinkles begin to linger after facial movement has stopped.

You may be thinking of getting treatments before the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Or, maybe you’re just not sure if it’s right for you. We recommend that you consult with a trained professional who can help determine if Botox is right for you.

What Happens When You Stop Using Botox?

Botox is specifically designed to target areas of the face and neck prone to dynamic wrinkles. They are treated, and the deepening of future lines is prevented. While Botox is effective when used regularly, ceasing treatments will cause your wrinkles to return.

The return of wrinkles

When the softening of your facial muscles wears off, the lines on your face will begin to show again. This occurs particularly in areas like your forehead, eyes, and mouth, where your facial expressions and movements are most pronounced. 

A lasting impression

While Botox isn’t a permanent solution for ageing, it does have a lasting effect, even when you stop using it. Ceasing treatments may cause your wrinkles to return to some degree. However, experts have observed that you will still look younger after stopping than if you hadn’t used Botox at all.

Part of this can be attributed to the preventative nature of the treatment. You may not be able to turn back the hands of time. Still, Botox will help prevent and soften future lines and wrinkles. This will leave you with a more youthful appearance than you may have been able to achieve without using it. 

Learn More About Botox

Would you like to learn more about Botox and how it can help delay the effects of ageing? Are you interested in how it can provide you with smoother, younger-looking skin? Schedule a booking with a facial plastic surgeon or visit The Eram Clinic in the heart of Zurich.