Botox for Cosmetics

Your skin is exposed to a lot every day. In addition to harsh winds, cold temperatures, heat, sunshine, and impurities, your skin also has to deal with a natural aging process. While aging is natural and completely normal, these outside forces can accelerate the process, causing fine lines and wrinkles to form prematurely. These lines and wrinkles can age you well beyond your actual years, which can then significantly impact your self-confidence. At Optimum Oral Surgery Group, we can help to restore a more youthful appearance by reducing lines and wrinkles with Botox.

What is Botox?

Botox is a form of botulinum toxin A, which is a neurotoxin derived from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It is a purified protein that has been cleared for use by the FDA. An injectable treatment, Botox is a liquid treatment that is injected directly into your skin to reduce, and even eliminate, fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a smoother, younger looking appearance.

Uses for Botox

Botox has several cosmetic uses. These include:

There are also several non-cosmetic uses for Botox as well. Botox can be used to treat:

How Does Botox Work?

Botox injections are fairly straightforward. Getting injections takes only about 20 minutes of your time. We use fine-tipped needles to deliver the injections. The most you might feel is a slight pinch or minor discomfort. There is no need for a local anesthetic. After it is injected, the Botox goes to work blocking signals from nerves to the muscles in the treatment area. By blocking these signals, the targeted muscles do not contract. This allows the wrinkles on your skin to smooth out, reducing, and even eliminating their appearance. It can take approximately 3 to 7 days to see the full effect. You may notice some bruising at the injection sites, but this discoloration generally disappears within two days.

Is Botox Permanent?

While Botox is effective, it is not permanent. For most patients, results last 4 to 6 months. As the effects begin to wear off, the nerve signals are restored, and the muscles can contract again. When this happens, wrinkles and lines can begin to reappear. To maintain your results, periodic retreatments are needed.

How Safe is Botox?

Botox is FDA approved and is considered to be a very safe procedure. Just like any other treatment, however, there are some potential risks that are associated with it. Common risks include eyelid or muscle drooping, muscle freezing, and facial asymmetry. More serious but also rare risks include trouble swallowing, speaking, and breathing. We are highly trained and experienced in Botox injections, which greatly helps to reduce the likelihood of these risks occurring.

Botox is a highly effective treatment for reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles on your face, restoring smoother, more youthful appearance. For more information on Botox for cosmetics, and to find out if this treatment is right for you, call Optimum Oral Surgery Group at (856) 437-4432 today.