Botox® is a minimally invasive injection that is primarily used to treat wrinkles and facial creases, including forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines. Over time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Botox® to treat conditions like chronic migraines, neck spasms, crossed eyes (strabismus), eyelid twitching (blepharospasm), and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Despite the positive results, it’s not a permanent solution. The outcome will vary from person to person, but typically you can expect the results to last from three to six months.
For cosmetic use, the location of the injection and the amount used are the biggest factors that may affect how long it lasts. Other factors include your age, the elasticity of your skin, and wrinkle depth.
Botox® prevents the muscles in certain areas of the face from contracting, allowing the skin to remain smooth and unwrinkled. When these muscles aren’t used, they eventually get shorter and smaller, so, over time, regular use may extend the results for longer periods of time.
Keep in mind Botox will not help with wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity. The best way to prevent new wrinkles is to keep your skin healthy. Here are some easy steps you can incorporate into your daily routine:
- Hydration: Your skin is the largest organ in the body, and the best thing you can do to care for it is to stay hydrated. Set a goal of at least 64 oz. each day. This will also help improve your digestion and circulation.
- Avoid smoking: Not only does smoking increase wrinkles and age your skin, but it can also make it thinner.
- Skincare routine: If you don’t already have a daily skincare routine, it’s time to start one. At a minimum, you should be using a gentle skin cleanser to remove dirt and dead skin cells and a hydrating moisturizer.
- Sun protection: Limit sun exposure and start adding sunscreen to your daily skincare regimen. A broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is plenty.
Of course, not all wrinkles can be prevented since many come from facial expressions over time, like smiling, frowning, or laughing. Botox® can be a great way to minimize the appearance of aging without surgery or the downtime that often follows.
To determine how frequently you can safely receive Botox® injections to achieve your desired results, call (919) 781-1050 to schedule a complimentary consultation with our certified aesthetic nurse specialist.
