Are you preoccupied with frown lines? Are your normal facial expressions impacted by signs of aging? If so, you could benefit from treatment with Botox, the leading neurotoxin treatment for dynamic lines and wrinkles in the skin. We offer this product, along with our other top-quality services, at Optimize Face MD in Aliso Viejo, CA.
What Is Botox?
Botox is an FDA-approved neurotoxin injectable designed to temporarily prevent select muscle movement and eliminate dynamic wrinkles. It is typically used in the upper half of the face, including the forehead, brow area, and around the eyes.
How Long Does It Last?
Each patient’s experience will vary based on their areas of concern and aging progression. In addition, following the instructions we provide for your recovery period may help prolong your final results. Generally, this product tends to last between 3-4 months for most patients.
We can provide touch-up treatments to enhance your final results, and our doctor can give you a better idea of how long you can expect your results to last during your consultation.
What Is the Difference Between Dynamic and Static Wrinkles?
When it comes to aging concerns, wrinkles consistently rank high on our patients’ lists. However, many patients don’t know that there are actually two distinct types of wrinkles: dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. These wrinkles have different causes and, more importantly, are treated with different products to achieve younger-looking skin.
Dynamic Wrinkles
Dynamic wrinkles are connected to repeated facial muscle movement. Over time, our habitual expressions create lines in the skin, especially in the forehead and around the eyes. These lines may be barely visible when the face is at rest, but they become more noticeable when you smile, laugh, or frown. They often grow deeper as you grow older and may eventually become a permanent part of all your facial expressions.
Common types of dynamic wrinkles include frown lines, glabellar lines between the brows, and crow’s feet. These aging concerns can all be effectively targeted with a neurotoxin treatment like Botox
Static Wrinkles
Static wrinkles are connected to collagen and elastin breakdown in the skin. This normal part of the aging process results in skin that begins to sag and droop in certain areas, including the cheeks, undereye regions, jawline, and chin.
With this skin laxity come lines, wrinkles, and folds, which often begin developing in your mid to late 20s and can make you look older than you actually are. As opposed to dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles are not connected to muscle movement and therefore cannot be adequately treated with a neurotoxin.
Instead, these concerns are typically treated with a dermal filler that can volumize the skin and erase wrinkles. We offer a number of versatile fillers that can be used to correct static wrinkles or combined with a neurotoxin treatment to address both dynamic and static wrinkles in one simple treatment.
How Does a Neurotoxin Treatment Work?
In order to correct dynamic wrinkles, this treatment targets the facial muscles connected to your areas of concern. This is accomplished by injecting small doses of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin, a byproduct of the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. This potent neurotoxin is refined and purified to make it effective for anti-aging treatments.
During your treatment, the neurotoxin is injected into the target muscles with a small syringe. Over the course of several days, it blocks nerve signals to the muscles and prevents the normal range of movement without impacting your normal facial expressions. This allows the product to temporarily prevent the appearance and development of dynamic wrinkles and achieve smooth, wrinkle-free skin without invasive measures.
Am I an Ideal Candidate?
If you’re a man or woman over the age of 18 who wishes to correct dynamic wrinkles, you may be a good candidate for treatment with Botox. In order to be approved for this treatment, you should be generally healthy and free from any health concerns or skin conditions that may inhibit successful treatment. You should also have informed, realistic expectations for the results you may achieve with this treatment.
This treatment may not be ideal for patients whose primary concern is static wrinkles. In this case, our doctor can recommend an appropriate dermal filler than can provide skin-smoothing results in minutes. In addition, this product is not ideal for patients who are currently pregnant or nursing. If you’re unsure whether Botox is right for you, our doctor can determine your candidacy for treatment during your initial consultation.
What Can I Expect?
When you trust our dedicated staff with your cosmetic goals, you can expect to experience our care and expertise during each step of your treatment process.
Consultation
Before you schedule your first treatment, you’ll have an initial consultation with our doctor. This appointment allows us to examine your skin and areas of concern, review your medical history, and determine whether this treatment option is right for you.
If you’re approved for Botox injections, we will recommend a personalized treatment plan and provide detailed instructions to help you prepare for your first appointment. We may also take pictures of your areas of concern to compare to your final results. Once your consultation is complete, you can schedule your first treatment and begin looking forward to reaching your goal of wrinkle-free skin.
Preparation
In order to prepare for your first round of injections, we recommend protecting your skin from irritation by avoiding certain skincare products and treatments. These may include harsh exfoliants, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and some forms of hair removal in the target skin. We also recommend that you avoid any untested skincare products that may cause an allergic reaction as this could require you to reschedule your appointment until your skin heals.
In addition, you should protect your skin from sun damage by applying sunscreen every day and limiting your time in direct sunlight. We also recommend that our patients avoid both artificial and outdoor tanning methods for at least 1 week before treatment to reduce their risk of irritation. In general, limiting your skin’s exposure to UV and UVB rays is essential to good skin health and may help prevent accelerated aging, discoloration, sunburn, and skin cancer.
Finally, you may be asked to stop taking certain anti-inflammatory and blood-thinning medications, including ibuprofen and aspirin, before your treatment. This can help reduce your risk of excess bleeding and bruising during the injection process. If needed, we may provide you with additional instructions for preparation based on your unique circumstances.
Treatment
On the day of your first appointment, you may wash your skin as normal. However, we recommend that you avoid applying any makeup or skincare products once your face is clean. At our office, one of our staff will examine your skin for signs of irritation prior to beginning the treatment process. We will then apply a topical numbing cream to your skin to ensure your comfort during your appointment.
Using a small, fine syringe, we will inject the neurotoxin product into the target muscles. The dose of the product used will be predetermined to perfectly match your specific needs and treatment goals. Most patients report that the injection process is pain-free, and a typical appointment lasts just 15-45 minutes in total.
After your injections are complete, we may massage the treated muscles to help work the injected product into the target area to ensure optimal results. We will also provide you with instructions for your recovery, including how you can check for your results as they develop. Once your appointment is finished, you can return to your normal daily activities with zero downtime required.
Recovery
While a typical recovery process lasts approximately 2 weeks, it’s important to continue protecting your skin from irritation as the injection sites heal. You should avoid touching or rubbing the treated areas for at least 1 week to ensure that the product has time to settle into your muscles. In some cases, patients who touch their skin prematurely may disturb the product and impact the appearance or effectiveness of their final results.
As the product takes effect, you can watch your results develop by checking your face in the mirror each day and making a series of exaggerated facial expressions. Over the first few days after treatment, you should see the treated muscles slowly stop moving with the rest of your face. This change will be subtle and will not affect your normal expressions, but it can completely eliminate dynamic wrinkles and achieve a youthful appearance.
For most patients, the injection sites heal completely within 2 weeks of treatment. Your final results may appear between 7-14 days after your first appointment. If needed, touch-up treatments can be scheduled after your results are visible to enhance your results.
Results
Once your final results have appeared, you can look forward to 3-4 months of smoother, more vibrant skin. Dynamic wrinkles should be noticeably diminished or even eliminated for this period, and the treated muscles will remain paralyzed until the product begins to wear off. In some cases, this process could be accelerated by harmful sun exposure, which may cause the product to deteriorate.
When you notice your areas of concern beginning to reappear, it’s time to schedule your first follow-up appointment. In general, most patients need just 3-5 appointments per year to maintain their ideal image. This treatment can be used indefinitely to both continue treating dynamic wrinkles and prevent new signs of aging from developing due to repetitive muscle movement.
Contact Us to Learn More!
If you’re ready to reclaim youthful skin and erase dynamic wrinkles, Botox is a non-invasive treatment that can easily fit into your busy schedule with a quick, painless appointment and no downtime. Best of all, this injectable can help you regain satisfaction in your appearance by eliminating signs of aging and allowing you to express your emotions with confidence.
To learn more about this neurotoxin treatment option, contact our team of professionals at Optimize Face MD in Aliso Viejo, CA, to schedule your initial consultation today! We look forward to serving you and helping you reach your cosmetic goals!
