The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with older age can make anyone feel less confident about their looks. Botox, a minimally invasive treatment that we offer here at Franklin Skin and Laser at Cool Springs in Franklin, TN, can help to minimize or eliminate these issues and can restore a person’s radiant, youthful appearance once again.
As one of the safest anti-aging treatments available, this therapy can also be used in the prevention of wrinkles that are likely to appear later in life. So whether you’re currently experiencing lines and wrinkles or you’re looking for a way to prevent them, here’s why you should consider Botox and why age matters when starting treatment.
What is the Best Age for Getting Botox?
While this therapy is FDA approved for anyone over 18, it may be more beneficial at some ages than others based on a variety of different factors. To prevent future signs of aging, some of our patients opt to start treatment as soon as possible, with many starting the first session in their mid to late 20s. Genetics, stress, and other factors can bring about the telltale signs of aging for some people much earlier than others.
If you already have wrinkles and lines that have affected your confidence or that you’re simply dissatisfied with, then this treatment can still be beneficial if administered sooner rather than later. Not only can it help to reduce or eliminate any pre-existing wrinkles, but it may also prevent them from worsening over time.
How Does Botox Work?
Botulinum toxin, or Botox, is a neurotoxin that’s injected into targeted areas of the body to promote muscle relaxation. When we smile and make certain facial expressions, the muscles in our faces contract, causing lines in the skin to quickly appear before they disappear again once we relax these muscles.
As we get older, these temporary lines can become permanent as the skin loses its elasticity and its ability to bounce back from these temporary changes.
Collagen production, which is vital to skin health, is what gives our skin this elasticity and, over time, our bodies gradually produce less of it. Because this therapy can relax muscles and has the ability to stimulate collagen production, it can help reduce the appearance of many wrinkles and lines in the skin.
Your Initial Consultation
Once you schedule your first appointment at our Cool Springs location, there’s an initial consultation that allows us to answer all your questions, assess any wrinkles or lines you currently have, and ensure that this is the right form of therapy for you. We will ask you about your aesthetic goals, so we know which areas you’d like treated.
We will also ask you about any pre-existing medical issues or allergies you might have and any current medications you’re taking. Because this therapy involves injections, you may need to speak to your healthcare provider beforehand if you’re taking blood thinners or other medications that may increase the risk of bruising or bleeding.
What Happens During Treatment?
Each session is normally very quick, with most taking less than five minutes, though this can vary based on how many areas we treat. If needles make you uncomfortable, we can always treat some areas during your first appointment and others at a later date.
The injections themselves are considered to be very safe and will feel similar to having blood drawn. How much Botox we inject will depend largely on how many wrinkles and lines you have and whether your muscles are hyperactive or not. Some patients have more active muscles than others because of stress or other factors, and this can play a role in how deep some lines and wrinkles tend to be.
Is There Any Downtime Afterward?
There is no downtime after treatment, and you can return to work or your regular activities immediately, though strenuous exercise should be avoided at first. Gentle facial exercises, such as making different facial expressions, are recommended because they can improve circulation to the treated area, which can boost the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
Our injections are targeted for specific muscles, so you should not rub the treated area for the first five hours after treatment, since this can reduce the overall effectiveness of the medication. You should also try to stay sitting up during this time, as it’s important that you don’t press your face against a pillow for the same reason you shouldn’t touch your face.
How Quickly Does It Work?
Once the medication is injected, it slowly begins to spread throughout the muscle where it works to block acetylcholine production. This relaxes or completely paralyzes the muscle, though the process can take some time, and results may be experienced by some patients much sooner than others. You might begin to feel the muscles relaxing within 24 to 48 hours, though you may not see any obvious changes in your appearance for at least a week or two.
How Long Do the Effects Last?
While most people can expect the effects of this therapy to last around three to four months, this can widely vary for different reasons. Some of our patients have experienced longer-lasting effects, especially those who have received regular treatments for years. The following are just some of the many factors that can influence the effects of this medication:
Amount Used
One of the most important factors in how long the effects last is the amount of Botox we inject during each session. For an issue like forehead wrinkles, there are many sites on the forehead that we can treat. The dosage for each injection, or the number of units, can vary from person to person based on many factors, including the size and tone of the muscle being treated.
Larger amounts will normally last much longer than smaller ones, though this too can vary because of the same factors. In any case, we will always aim for the most optimal dosage based on your needs and the muscles we’re treating.
Your Metabolism
Similar to other medications, this neurotoxin is metabolized by the body, though this gradually occurs over many months. Because people have different metabolisms, patients with fast metabolisms may see the effects wear off around the three-month mark after treatment, while those with slow metabolisms may experience longer-lasting effects. Exercise, diet, and other things that can affect your metabolism may also influence how long this treatment lasts.
Previous Treatments
The body is an amazing thing in that it can adapt itself and learn new ways of functioning over time, which is why many of our patients here at Cool Springs have experienced longer-lasting effects than those who have just started treatment.
The muscles sometimes learn to relax more in their natural state after they’ve been treated with this medication. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for long-time users to only need touch-up treatments every six months instead of every three to four months.
Condition of the Skin
Because people have different skin textures and types, this can also be a factor in how effective the initial treatment is and how long it lasts. Some skin types are less supple or tight than others, and some lines and wrinkles can be much more severe and have a deeper depth than others as well. Smoking, genetics, sun exposure, diet, and many other factors can all affect the texture of your skin and how it responds to this therapy.
How Many Times Can You Get Botox?
How often you return for follow-up injections will depend on different factors, including your reasons for wanting treatment. If your goal is to prevent wrinkles before they form, then you may want to return to our office at Cool Springs every 3 to 4 months.
If you’re being treated for lines that have already formed and you plan to wait until they reappear before returning, then follow-up injections can take place anywhere between three to six months. Because this therapy may last longer for some than others, you may not need to return again for up to six months.
Schedule a Consultation
Botox therapy offers a quick, safe, and effective solution to both preventing and correcting the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. To see what this treatment can do for you, contact us today at Franklin Skin and Laser at Cool Springs in Franklin, TN to schedule a consultation, and we’ll be here to answer all your questions.
