What Specific Wrinkles Does BOTOX® Treat?
For years, the most popular cosmetic treatment in the world has been BOTOX® and similar wrinkle-relaxing injectables. Professional studies and surveys reveal that millions of treatments happen around the United States each year, with patients seeking a smoother-looking face in order to appear refreshed, rested, and more youthful. At Dermatology Group of Arkansas, BOTOX® remains a highly popular choice—though many patients come in having heard of the treatment, but wondering what it can actually do.
There are many uses for BOTOX®, but the treatment has three specific cosmetic approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Here’s a closer look at those wrinkles.
Frown Lines
The technical term for these wrinkles is “glabellar lines.” They’re named for the glabella, which is the area of the forehead between and above the eyebrows. When you knit your eyebrows together, the glabella moves along with them. Over time, this repetitive motion can cause small lines to appear. These lines most commonly develop as two short, vertical creases. In addition to the nickname frown lines, they are also called “11s.”
Forehead Lines
Raising and lowering your eyebrows, whether because you are making a facial expression or squinting, also moves the skin above on your forehead. As with the glabella, the constant motion that plays out over years and decades can gradually cause creases to form. These horizontal forehead lines, often referred to as furrows, can run almost from temple to temple, becoming deeper over time.
Crow’s Feet
Squinting and smiling alike contribute to the formation of crow’s feet, which may resemble thin bird claws to some people, but most often appear as fine lines the radiate toward the temples from the outer corners of the eye. Technically known as lateral canthal lines, these wrinkles are also happily known as smile lines due to the expression related to their appearance. Having crow’s feet may be considered a sign of a life well lived—since it’s filled with so much smiling—but many people want to smooth them out all the same in order to achieve a more youthful appearance.
BOTOX® can be applied to more areas than just these three. Using the injectable for a cosmetic treatment apart from frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet is known as an “off-label” use. These are commonly performed around the country, with experienced injectors providing treatments to relax bunny lines next to the nose, provide a slimmer-looking jawline, and more.
Ready to learn about what BOTOX® could do for you? Reach out to the injectors at Dermatology Group of Arkansas by sending a message online or calling 501.227.8422.
Look Young, Feel Young: 7 Ways BOTOX® Can Help “Turn Back Time”
In the quest for a youthful appearance, many have turned to BOTOX® as their secret weapon. Particularly, those searching for BOTOX® in Little Rock have discovered its transformative power. Beyond smoothing out a few fine lines, the injectable offers numerous age-defying benefits. Let's explore seven ways BOTOX® can help “turn back the hands of time” for anyone who wants a more youthful look.
1. Smooths Out Wrinkles
The most well-known benefit of BOTOX® is its ability to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. From forehead lines to crow's feet and frown lines between the eyebrows, it relaxes muscles responsible for making creases, providing a smoother, more youthful complexion.
2. Lifts the Brow
As we age, our brows may begin to droop. BOTOX® can offer a subtle brow lift, opening up the eyes and giving a more rested and youthful appearance. This minimal but effective lift can make a significant difference.
3. Reduces Excessive Sweating
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can be a troubling condition, making it difficult to feel confident. BOTOX® can be used to temporarily block the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands, effectively reducing sweat production.
4. Alleviates Migraine Pain
For those suffering from chronic migraines, BOTOX® can be a game-changer. It is believed to block neurotransmitters that carry pain signals from your brain, significantly reducing migraine frequency and severity.
5. Minimizes Acne
By reducing oil production, BOTOX® can actually help in managing acne. While not a first-line treatment, it's an interesting benefit for those looking for an all-in-one solution to their skincare woes.
6. Softens Jawline
For individuals with a strong jawline due to overworked muscles, BOTOX® can create a softer appearance by relaxing these muscles. This results in a more feminine and youthful contour.
7. Corrects Downturned Corners of the Mouth
Downturned corners of the mouth can create a lasting frown. BOTOX® can help lift these corners, contributing to a happier and more inviting facial expression.
The anti-aging properties of BOTOX® offer more than just aesthetic benefits; they can also significantly impact one's confidence and well-being. If you're in Little Rock and curious about how BOTOX® can rejuvenate your appearance and help you look and feel younger, contact the Dermatology Group of Arkansas. Our experienced team is ready to answer all your questions and guide you on your journey to a refreshed and revitalized you.
When Can You First Expect to See the Effects of a BOTOX® Treatment?
How long does it take BOTOX® to work? Our Little Rock-based Dermatology Group of Arkansas team knows that questions like this—“Why are my BOTOX® results taking so long?” and “Why doesn’t BOTOX® work right away?”—are familiar to many people who are considering wrinkle injections.
The primary ingredient in BOTOX is a neurotoxin derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Used in very small, purified doses, it relaxes facial muscles as a way of making moderate to severe facial wrinkles less noticeable. The injections are very shallow, made just beneath the surface of the skin in the target muscle. One of the main advantages of this procedure is getting fast results. However, the results for this treatment won’t show instantly. The effects will begin after a couple of days, and then the maximum effects are typically seen 10 to 14 days later. Most patients will notice some improvements within around three to four days after their injections, but the timeline for results will vary depending on several factors.
The results for botulinum toxin treatments will show up faster when they are used for finer lines, such as crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes and small forehead lines. The medication may work more slowly on deeper or more etched-in lines, like wrinkles on the forehead or between the eyebrows. The concentration of the product and the way it is injected into the muscle will influence the final results.
The reason for the “wait” is because it takes time for the muscle to absorb the neurotoxin, after which the chemical will stop or weaken the muscle contractions causing the wrinkles. It takes a short while before the protein tells muscles to “shut off” and the chemical acetylcholine is silenced. The area that was treated will soon appear to be smoother and more refreshed.
If at first you don’t think the treatment gave you the results you want, wait for the full 10 to 14 days for it to settle in.
Our Little Rock-based team at Dermatology Group of Arkansas will explain more about how injectable treatments can soften wrinkles—and what to expect in terms of timelines. Call us at 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422 or submit a contact form online and schedule a consultation.
How Can You Make Your BOTOX® Results Look Natural?
Do you look normal after BOTOX®? That’s what Little Rock-area patients who are having the injectable treatments for the first time to reduce dynamic wrinkles often ask us. While there are many topical skincare options and minimally invasive treatments for addressing wrinkles, botulinum toxin injections are still considered to be the most effective method for reducing moderate to severe expression lines on certain areas on the face.
In addition to wanting to reduce pesky wrinkles around the eyes and forehead, patients also hope that the results will look as natural as possible on their face. Basically, they want to enhance their natural beauty rather than looking like someone else—or worse, a robot. Due to some common misconceptions about BOTOX®, patients are sometimes worried that the results from wrinkle injections will cause them to look “expressionless” or “frozen.”
The truth is that this is far from the case. Experienced injectors are trained to administer BOTOX® in a way that relaxes key muscles, but preserves the patient’s ability to continue making the wide range of facial expressions.
In other words, the answer is yes: Your results will look normal. BOTOX® only affects specific muscles in the face and won’t prevent you from showing emotion. However, it can sometimes seem as if some people’s results look more subtle than others. If your goal is to make your results look as natural and attractive as possible, here’s what you should know about getting wrinkle-relaxing injections.
The key to a natural-looking result is choosing an injector who uses the correct techniques and has a deep knowledge of facial anatomy. Be sure to start slow and ask us for subtle results that won’t look obvious. Tell us what your ultimate goal will be from the treatment. Our injectors have the experience to create customized results that suit your face, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals.
Still wondering about how you can look “normal” after BOTOX®? Our Little Rock-based team at Dermatology Group of Arkansas can provide a detailed answer to this question and explain everything involved in the treatment process in detail. Call us at 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422 or submit out a contact form online and schedule a consultation if you’re interested in finding out more.