Although wrinkles on the face are a normal appearance as you age, they can be unsightly. They often appear on the forehead, around the eyes, cheeks, and lips and make one look tired and older. Many people opt for botulinum toxin, popularly known as botox injections, to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. Botox shots are known to relax some muscles in the face to make the wrinkles less noticeable.
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Types of wrinkles
Wrinkles fall under two categories: dynamic wrinkles and very fine lines. The facial muscles that move when you smile, squint, or laugh are known as dynamic wrinkles. They often form around the lips, between the eyebrows, on the forehead, and on the corner of your eyelids.
Surprisingly everyone has dynamic wrinkles since birth, but they grow more profound and visible with age. The best thing about botox injections is that they make the wrinkles less visible.
In contrast, very fine lines and wrinkles form when the collagen in the skin begins to thin. Sun damage and aging can cause collagen thinning, making the skin stretch and sag creating fine wrinkles. Although botulinum injections do not erase fine lines, there are other ways to minimize their appearance.
How does botox work?
According to research, a specific type of bacteria produces botulinum toxin. It is toxic in high amounts but can reduce facial wrinkles in small weaker doses. When a doctor injects botox on your skin, it blocks the nerve glands responsible for muscle contraction. Consequently, the muscles relax, reducing the visibility of wrinkles.
The effect of botox lasts for three to six months; therefore, repeated sessions are necessary to maintain the effect. When undergoing botox in London, the doctor first rubs anesthetic cream on the affected area to numb it and then injects the botox medicine into specific facial muscles.
The process takes a few minutes, and only a qualified doctor should do it. You should also enquire from your doctor what activities you should avoid immediately after the treatment to avert side effects. Generally, you will start noticing the disappearance of wrinkles in the treated area within the first week of the treatment, and the effect remains for up to six months and starts to wear off.
Does botox work in reducing facial wrinkles?
Yes, botox injections work in reducing facial wrinkles. However, the efficacy may vary from one person to another, and some people do not notice any difference after getting the botulinum shots.
It is best to discuss what to expect from the botox injections with your doctor. They can evaluate your face and determine whether Botox injections will work for you or not and other options you may have. Note that you should be healthy and at least 18years old to get botox injections.
What are the side effects?
Common side effects of botox include:
- Eye redness.
- Tearing.
- Irritation.
- Headache.
- Bruising in the injected area.
A less common side effect is drooping eyelids which should go away when the botulinum medicine wears off in a few months. The doctor may recommend using eye ointment or drops to reduce the side effect. You should avoid pressing the injected area for about four hours after the treatment.
