How Does a BOTOX Cosmetic Treatment Work?

Do you have crow’s feet, forehead folds, or smoker’s lines making you look older than you feel? Do you feel self-conscious about other dynamic wrinkles on your face? If so, BOTOX Cosmetic injections at Peachtree Dermatology in Atlanta, GA may be a good fit. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this treatment, including how it works, how quickly it works, and how long the results usually last. Read on to learn more.

How Does a BOTOX Cosmetic Treatment Work?

BOTOX Cosmetic treatments eliminate dynamic wrinkles, lines, and folds by blocking some of the nerve signals that tell the muscles to move. Over several days, the Clostridium botulinum in the injectable settles into the appropriate places, and the muscles relax. Once the muscles relax, the dynamic wrinkles smooth. With the smoothing of the dynamic wrinkles in the muscles, the skin smooths.

How Quickly Does This Treatment Work?

This treatment works incredibly quickly. It starts working immediately, but it may be one to four days before you start seeing an improvement in your appearance. All told, it may take around 10 days for your final results to become apparent.

What Can I Do to See My Desired Results Faster?

If you are eager to see your BOTOX Cosmetic results as quickly as possible, you should exercise the treated muscles 120 times daily. It is advisable to tense and relax your treated muscles 40 times per session with a 10-minute break between sessions. Another effective step you can take to see your final results faster is to follow all aftercare guidelines.

What Aftercare Guidelines Will I Need To Follow?

Since it takes a while for the medication to spread throughout the treatment areas and settle in where it belongs, you should avoid touching the treated areas for 24 hours after your injections have been administered. It is also essential that you remain upright for at least four hours post-treatment. Furthermore, it is extremely important that you refrain from strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours post-treatment. You should also avoid:

• NSAIDs
• Alcohol
• Tobacco products
• Dehydration

How Long Will the Results of My Treatment Last?

Most of the time, the results of this treatment last between three and four months. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. For example, depending on the areas you are treating, the severity of your muscle hyperactivity, and the dosage of medication you receive, you may be able to enjoy your desired results for up to six months.

​Generally, the results of ​treatment last longer if you treat less active muscles. ​A higher dose of medication also usually results in longer-lasting results.

Is There Anything I Can Do To Enjoy Longer-Lasting Results?

To help your BOTOX results last longer, it is important that you keep your skin hydrated and moisturized. You should aim to drink at least six cups of water, tea, and other hydrating fluids daily, and you should make sure that you’re eating foods that are rich in water. To keep your skin moisturized, apply an occlusive moisturizer to your treated areas once or twice daily.

You should also avoid tobacco consumption and excess alcohol consumption if you want to keep your skin smooth and beautiful for as long as possible. Consuming these substances damages the supportive substances in your skin that help to keep it volumized, healthy, and tight. Another effective step you can take to extend the longevity of your results is to protect your skin from the sun. You should also get regular touch-up treatments.

Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?

To confirm that BOTOX injections are right for you, an initial evaluation with a qualified ​dermatologist is required. However, you ​can generally expect to qualify for this treatment if you are concerned about the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. ​One reason you need to meet with a ​dermatologist is to ensure that your cosmetic ​concerns are caused by overactive muscles rather than volume loss.

Another reason you need to meet with a skin expert is that we need to ensure that this treatment will be safe for you. There are ​contraindications, and there are preparation and aftercare guidelines you ​must be willing ​and able to follow. We will discuss all of this with you and answer any questions you may have, including what to expect during your injection session.

What Contraindications Should I Be Aware of?

There are many contraindications for this treatment that ​you should be aware of. For example, you should know that ​you will ​not qualify for this treatment if you suffer from ​a neuromuscular disorder, like ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome. You also will not be able to get treatment if ​the skin in your targeted treatment areas ​is infected or otherwise irritated.

Furthermore, you should not receive this treatment if you have a history of anaphylaxis or are allergic to bovine protein. Additionally, pregnant and breastfeeding women ​should not get BOTOX injections. Moreover, taking ​blood-thinners, oral muscle relaxants, ​or certain sleep aids will preclude you from treatment.

What Preparation Steps Are Required?

Before your BOTOX injections can be administered, you must stop consuming any form of blood-thinner or anticoagulant. You also must ​stop taking any other medication or supplement that can affect your treatment. Moreover, you will not be able to drink ​alcohol or consume tobacco products for 24 hours prior to your injection session.

Since we can’t treat irritated skin, you should also limit sun exposure and wear ​broad-spectrum, high-SPF sunscreen when ​sun exposure is ​unavoidable. Additionally, you must avoid ​using any products that may irritate your skin, like skincare products containing retinol, glycolic acid, AHAs, or BHAs. Using depilatory creams in the treated areas should also be avoided.

Schedule an Initial Consultation Today

BOTOX Cosmetic injections work by relaxing muscles that are too tense. Over time, this smooths out the skin above the muscles, improving your countenance for several months. To determine if you are a good fit for this treatment, contact us at Peachtree Dermatology in Atlanta, GA to schedule an initial consultation.