The skin takes a lot of damage over the years, and it’s not always easy to repair. As we age, our skin becomes less elastic and more prone to wrinkles and fine lines. At Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV, we offer Botox to help our patients reverse the signs of aging and get the youthful look they desire.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox?
1. People Who Have Wrinkles on Their Forehead
Wrinkles form on the forehead as a result of repeated muscle contractions. When you frown or raise your eyebrows, the muscles in your forehead contract, and over time, these contractions can cause the skin to crease and form wrinkles. Although wrinkles can vary in size and depth, they typically follow a similar pattern, appearing as horizontal lines across the forehead.
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and less elastic, which can make wrinkles more pronounced. For many people, wrinkles can be a source of concern because they can give the face a tired or angry appearance. Fortunately, Botox treatment can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the responsible muscles.
2. People Who Have Crow’s Feet Around Their Eyes
Crow’s feet, also known as laugh lines or character lines, are wrinkles that form on the outer corners of your eyes. When you smile, squint, or frown, the muscles around your eyes contract, causing the skin to fold and cause crow’s feet. Over time, these repetitive movements can lead to permanent wrinkles.
Crow’s feet are more likely to develop as you age due to a decrease in collagen and elastin production. However, they can also affect younger people who have excessive sun exposure or who smoke cigarettes.
3. People Who Are Starting To See Signs of Aging
As we age, our skin changes in many ways. We start to see fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, and a decrease in natural collagen production. These changes are most apparent on the face, where the skin is thinner and more delicate. In addition, the hands are often one of the first places to show signs of aging. Sun damage, loss of elasticity, and age spots can all make your hands look older than you feel.
Most people try to hide the signs with makeup. But there’s no need to feel ashamed of aging skin. There’re many benefits to taking care of aging signs as soon as they appear. First, early treatment can help prevent more serious problems in the future. For example, if you don’t treat wrinkles, they may become deeper and more severe over time. In addition, early treatment can often be less expensive than waiting until wrinkles are more pronounced.
4. People Who Have Lip Lines
Lip lines are wrinkles that form around the mouth or on the skin of the upper lip. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including smoking, sun exposure, and repeated pursing of the lips. Lip lines are usually more prominent in people who have fair skin. By injecting a small amount of filler into the lips, the lines can be plumped up and made less visible. With regular treatment, lip lines can be significantly reduced.
Consultation
The initial consultation is an important part of the treatment process. During your consultation, we will go over your medical history and ask about any medications you are currently taking. We will also assess your skin condition and discuss your goals for treatment. It is crucial to note that this treatment is not a permanent solution, and touch-ups will need to be repeated every few months to maintain results.
Even if you are not sure if you want to receive treatment, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more about the procedure. It is also a chance for us to get to know you and your individual needs. We believe that the consultation process is essential for ensuring that our patients are confident and comfortable with their decision to receive treatment.
Preparation: Things To Avoid
In order to ensure that you get the best possible results from your treatment, there are certain things that you should avoid doing in the week leading up to your appointment. Here are six things you should NOT do before your Botox appointment.
1. Drinking Wine One Week Before Your Appointment
Wine is a naturally acidic beverage, and acids can increase inflammation in the skin. This can lead to bruising and swelling after dermal injections, so it’s best to avoid drinking wine for at least one week before your treatment.
2. Taking Anti-Inflammatory Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen and aspirin can also thin the blood and make you more prone to bruising and swelling after injections. If you’re taking these medications on a regular basis, be sure to stop at least one week before your treatment. Also, be sure to disclose this information during your initial consultation.
3. Eating Foods That Contain Garlic
Garlic is another food that can thin the blood and make you more susceptible to bruising and swelling after injections. So if you’re planning on eating garlic-containing foods in the week leading up to your appointment, be sure to cut back or eliminate them altogether. You may also want to consider using Arnica to add flavor to your food. Arnica is a natural herbal remedy that can help reduce bruising and swelling.
4. Applying Makeup
Makeup can interfere with the effectiveness of dermal filler, as well as increase the risk of complications. For example, if makeup gets rubbed into the injection site, it can cause bruising and swelling. In addition, makeup can also block the view of the injection site, making it more difficult to place the needle correctly.
Finally, some cosmetics contain ingredients that can increase the risk of bruising or bleeding. To ensure that your treatment goes smoothly and safely, be sure to arrive with a clean face.
Treatment
On the day of treatment, we will begin by cleansing your skin and then applying a numbing cream to help minimize any discomfort. Once the numbing cream has taken effect, we will carefully administer a series of injections. The number of injections will vary depending on the desired results.
During the injection process, you may feel a slight sting or pressure. However, the numbing cream should help to minimize any discomfort. After the injections have been administered, we will apply ice to the treatment area and give you some aftercare instructions. In most cases, you will see visible results within a few days.
Post-Treatment Care
1. Keep Your Head Up
For the first 24 hours after your treatment, avoid lying down or resting your head on your hands. This will prevent the toxin from migrating to other muscles in your face and creating a “frozen” look. If you must lie down, prop up your head with pillows.
2. Don’t Touch Your Face With Dirty Hands
Touching your face can increase the risk of spreading germs. The injection site is still vulnerable and susceptible to infection, so it’s best to keep your hands away from it. Additionally, if you touch your face after treatment, you may inadvertently move the toxin to another area of your face, causing unwanted side effects.
3. Avoid Strenuous Exercise
Exercise can increase the rate at which the body metabolizes the toxin, causing it to break down more quickly. Exercise can also cause sweating, which can irritate the injection site and increase the risk of infection.
In addition, strenuous activity can cause swelling and bruising, making it more difficult to see the results of the treatment. For these reasons, it is best to wait until the treatment has had a chance to take effect before embarking on any physical activity.
4. Stay Out of the Sun
Exposure to UV rays can cause the toxin to break down faster, which will minimize its wrinkle-reducing effects. In addition, excessive sun exposure can cause new wrinkles to form, which would erase any gained benefits from the treatment. Therefore, we recommend limiting your time in the sun and making sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing when you do go outside.
Get Rid of Wrinkles and Look Fabulous With Dermal Fillers
While there are many products on the market that claim to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Botox is one of the most effective treatments available. The effects typically last for 3-4 months, and there is minimal downtime following treatment. If you are concerned about wrinkles and would like to explore your treatment options, contact us today at Mountain State Cosmetic Surgery in Beckley, WV.
