In the U.S, BOTOX has reigned supreme as the most popular cosmetic treatment for over a decade. Botox is specifically known as a neurotoxin. Each year millions of men and women opt for this minimally invasive treatment to treat a number of issues. Here at Xanadu Med Spa in Fort Collins, we know that this treatment offers a wealth of benefits. Here are just some of them.
Top 10 Benefits of Getting BOTOX
1. Promotes a Youthful Look
Each day, everyday movements and changing facial expressions cause the muscles in the face to move constantly. As we age, this causes the development of lines, folds, and wrinkles. Injectable treatments work to temporarily improve the appearance of both moderate and severe lines by relaxing the facial muscles. With the facial muscles relaxed, the skin remains smooth, and wrinkles are drastically reduced.
2. It Is Preventative
This treatment has become an extremely popular option for those looking to delay or prevent the formation of wrinkles. More and more people are choosing to start treatment in their twenties and early thirties before any wrinkles have become noticeably visible. The treatment works by blocking the signals our brain sends to our muscles, reducing the muscle’s ability to contract and causing them to relax. By relaxing the muscles that cause facial wrinkles, the treatment can help prevent wrinkles from actually developing.
Many experts now suggest starting treatment as early as mid-twenties or as soon as any visible signs of aging begin to become apparent. By starting early, the aging process can be drastically delayed and minimalized. Fewer treatments will be needed in the future, and there is less chance of ever feeling the need for future facelifts, eye rejuvenation, or any other surgical procedures.
3. It Is Quick and Painless
Unlike many other cosmetic procedures, injecting Botulinum Toxin is a very simple procedure and can be performed very quickly. Depending on the treatment area, each treatment can take as little as 15 to 20 minutes and should not cause any further disruption to the rest of your day. Many patients even choose to have their procedure during their lunch break and face no difficulties returning to work once completed.
As well as being quick, it can also be pain-free, without any need for the application of a numbing agent. However, this is, of course, according to personal preference, and patients can request the treatment area to be numbed. In this case, your doctor will either inject a numbing agent into the treatment area or apply a prescription numbing cream approximately one hour before the procedure.
4. Speedy Recovery, Fast Results
Because this treatment is non-invasive, patients are discharged once the procedure is complete, and there is really no downtime needed. For best results and to avoid any swelling, there are a few things to take into consideration. Patients are advised to avoid lying down or bending over in the first few hours after treatment. Patients should not scratch, rub or massage the treated area for the first few days. Vigorous exercise is discouraged for 24 hours, and smoking should be avoided for the first two days.
Results become visible very quickly. Muscle relaxation occurs in a very short amount of time, and in just a matter of days, a significant improvement will be visible in the fine lines and wrinkles in the treated area. Once you notice the improvements, you can expect them to get better and better until they reach their full effect after around two to three weeks. The results will last for several months. Plus, with repeat treatments, results may appear quicker and last longer.
5. It Can Treat Several Facial Areas
Botulinum Toxin is an extremely versatile treatment and can be injected and used to treat a number of areas of the face. Treatable areas include:
- Glabella (frown lines) – The verticle creases between the eyebrows
- Horizontal forehead lines – Lines that appear when the eyebrows raise
- Brows (hooded eyes) – When the muscle around the eyebrows weakens and drops
- Crows feet – The fine lines that appear at the sides of the eyes
- Bunny lines – Creases that appear when the nose wrinkles
- Upper lip lines
- Masseter – The area from the jawbone to the cheekbone, the chewing muscles
- Chin
- Neck
- Hyperhidrosis of the Axilla – Treatment for excessive sweating in the armpits
6. It Is Safe
The treatment has been FDA approved since 2002 and is one of the most common non-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. It is widely considered both safe and effective for reducing wrinkles and facial lines. To ensure safe practice, always ensure your practitioner is qualified, certified, and experienced in administering Botulinum Toxin injections.
7. It Works on Every Type of Skin
The treatment is effective on all skin types, genders, and ethnicities.
8. It Won’t Freeze Your Face
One of the biggest misconceptions about Botulinum Toxin injections is that it freezes the facial muscles, leaving patients unable to perform facial expressions. That is not true. The treatment relaxes the muscles rather than freezing them. When performed by a qualified and experienced practitioner, patients will still be able to express themselves normally.
9 It Is Not Permanent
At first, the fact that this procedure is not permanent may not seem like a benefit to some. But if you stop and think about the fact that your face shape is constantly changing as you grow older, you’ll begin to see that it is indeed a benefit. You may wish to change the placement of your treatments, or you may even want to stop them altogether.
Those who remain skeptical about the procedure, or do not like the results, can rest at ease knowing effects will wear off in time. There will be no need for expensive or painful reversal procedures.
10. Can Be Used to Achieve a Non-Surgical Facelift
Botulinum Toxin injections can be combined with other cosmetic procedures to achieve a non-surgical facelift. Most commonly, the treatment is coupled with the use of dermal fillers and skin radiance treatments such as laser resurfacing or dermabrasion. By combining these treatments, patients can expect dramatic results without the lengthy recovery period or the unaffordable price tag.
11. It Has Other Uses
BOTOX is not only used for facial cosmetic procedures. It is commonly utilized to help treat a diverse range of ailments, including:
- Migraines
- Excessive sweating in the underarms, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet
- Blepharospasm (eyelid twitching)
- Overactive bladder
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Cervical dystonia (muscle spasms in the neck)
- Multiple sclerosis symptoms
- Excessive salivation or drooling
What Exactly Is BOTOX?
It is the brand name of a purified toxin or drug called botulinum toxin, made by a bacterium named Clostridium botulinum. It is considered a neuromodulator. Here at Xanadu we carry both Botox and Jeuveau as our primary “toxins”. A neuromodulator means that when injected into a muscle, the toxin temporarily paralyzes or relaxes it. It does this by preventing or reducing the release of acetylcholine, a muscle-activating neurotransmitter, causing muscle activity to stop in the targeted area. Activity will slowly regenerate, and effects will disappear over a period of months.
When administered by a trained, reputable, and experienced practitioner, it is completely safe, and there should be no scaring or damage to the skin or muscle. Several other similar neuromodulating injectables are made from purified botulinum toxin type A. These include Dysport and Xeomin Aesthetic.
If you would like to learn more about this treatment or any other treatments we offer, visit us at Xanadu Med Spa in Fort Collins. We aim to help you feel and look your absolute best with our range of med and day spa services, and our friendly team is always happy to talk you through our range of treatments.