There’s no question that Botox is a popular and effective solution when it comes to treating wrinkles and facial creases. Millions of procedures are done each year in the United States, and that number only continues to rise as interest in the practice increases. At Coastal Dermatology & Surgery Center, patients often ask what application techniques we use and what to expect during the process. If you’re interested in receiving Botox treatments, here’s what you need to know about your first and following appointments.
Botox is a neuromodulator that’s carefully injected into a specific muscle of the face to block the nerves that cause them to contract. It weakens muscle action in the area injected, which then prevents the muscle from wrinkling the skin and creating finer lines as a result of certain facial expressions. Before scheduling your first treatment, make sure you notify your doctor of any previous injections within the past four months. You should also let your doctor know if you’re currently taking any muscle relaxants, sleep aids, or allergy medications. If you take blood thinners, you may need to stop using them for several days before your Botox appointment to reduce risk of bleeding or bruising.
To reduce any possible discomfort, we numb the skin using a topical cream or ice before starting the procedure. We then use a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into the skin and muscles. Although the number of injections needed per treatment will depend on the extent of the area being treated, each session typically takes about 10-15 minutes. Once we’re done and you leave our office, you can resume most of your normal daily activities. We do recommend avoiding any vigorous exercising for at least 24 hours, as well as rubbing or massaging the treated areas – this might cause the toxin to move to different areas and affect the success of your treatment.
You’ll notice the effects of the Botox within a few days after treatment and the results will last about three to four months. After that, you’ll need to follow up with additional appointments. We often start with lower doses to see how well treatment works for you; larger amounts are used for ongoing Botox injections for the best results. Many of our patients notice that with regular use of Botox, the muscles in their faces or other parts of the body begin to train themselves over time based on the treatments. This means that you may be able to extend the amount of time between Botox treatments because wrinkles may not reappear as quickly as they once did. While Botox is 100% safe, we recommend sticking to one treatment every three to four months to prevent taking too much Botox in your system, which can lead to problems with your natural look.
Coastal Dermatology has years of experience administering Botox and we support our patients through every step of the process. Whether you’ve had a Botox treatment before or if it’s your first time, we want you to feel confident and comfortable during the entire procedure. Contact us if you have any questions about the treatment process or if you’re ready to make an appointment with us.