Botox

What is Botox?

Botox is an injectable treatment that smooths fine lines and wrinkles without surgery or downtime. A popular treatment for lines in the upper face, Botox offers fast, natural-looking results that can restore your youthful appearance and give you the confidence you deserve.

Along with Botox, the providers at Salida Dermatology offer Dysport®, another popular injectable that targets unwanted lines and wrinkles.

How does Botox work?

Botox is a neuromodulator that relaxes wrinkles by targeting the muscles that cause them. The medication interferes with the nerve signals that tell your muscles to contract. When the muscles can’t contract, the skin is unable to fold. Existing wrinkles start to soften within days of treatment. Botox can also prevent fine lines from evolving into deeper wrinkles.

Can Botox treat all wrinkles?

Botox treats dynamic wrinkles, which form from repeated muscle movement. Expressions such as frowning and smiling cause dynamic lines to appear over time. When you’re young, these wrinkles subside when your face is at rest. As collagen and elastin production decline and your skin thins, dynamic wrinkles show whether your face is moving or not.

Examples of dynamic wrinkles include:

• Crow’s feet
• Forehead lines
• Glabellar lines (between the eyebrows)
• Bunny lines (on the nose)
• Vertical lip lines

Neuromodulators can’t address static wrinkles, which develop due to volume loss. These lines include nasolabial folds and marionette lines. Salida Dermatology offers Juvéderm® dermal fillers to minimize the appearance of static wrinkles.

Your dermatology expert can combine neuromodulators and fillers to rejuvenate your appearance.

What can I expect from Botox?

Botox is a relatively comfortable treatment, but your provider can apply a topical anesthetic to minimize pain. Once you’re ready, your provider injects Botox into your skin. The injections take only a few minutes, though they can take longer if you have multiple treatment areas.

You may experience minor bruising, swelling, and redness at the injection sites, but these effects typically subside within a couple of days. Most patients see noticeable improvements within seven days.

How long does Botox last?

Botox and Dysport typically last for about three to six months. Once the medication wears off, you can return to Salida Dermatology for maintenance injections.

Call Salida Dermatology today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about Botox.