Have you ever wondered what you could do to make yourself appear more refreshed without a million facial serums? Do you feel like your forehead is starting to wrinkle a little bit or maybe you look more tired than normal? You might be ready to try Botox… Everyone has heard of Botox but not everyone may understand what it is or what it can do. I am here to answer those burning questions!
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What is Botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin that is strategically injected by a certified healthcare provider into the muscles of your face. It paralyzes the muscles so that when you go to make facial expressions you won’t be able to as easily. Depending on how many units are injected you may still be able to have some movement if desired. There are of course potential risks when injecting a neurotoxin into your body such as ptosis. This is when Botox is injected into the forehead and the neurotoxin travels and can cause you to be unable to open your eyelid without physically opening it with your fingers. There are certain areas to avoid injecting to prevent that from happening. Although there are risks, they are rare when administered properly.
Botox is priced per unit. The number of units required will depend on several factors which your provider will discuss with you. Certain areas require more units than others. Of course, your age and the amount of wrinkling you have will also play a factor. Botox can last anywhere from 10 weeks to 6 months depending on what is being treated before you will start to notice the effects wear off.
Where can it be injected?
Botox is used for both cosmetic and medical purposes. I will be discussing medical purposes in another blog post. For the purposes of this post, we will be discussing cosmetic use only. When being used cosmetically the more common places to have injected are your: forehead, glabella, crow’s feet, bunny lines, chin, and neck. Some of these locations are self-explanatory. Let me explain where the others are located. Your glabella is the place situated right in between your eyebrows. This can also be described as your frown lines. When furrowing the brow those lines commonly deepen and over time can cause an angry expression. Your crow’s feet are the lines that appear on either side of your eyes when you smile. Bunny lines are along the upper section of your nose. These appear when you scrunch your nose up for any reason.
Why you should start preventative Botox
Preventative Botox will prevent you from making facial expressions that would otherwise cause wrinkles over time. Now some people don’t like the idea of having a frozen face. You can tell your provider that, and they will simply inject less so you are able to still have some degree of movement.
Botox starting at a younger age can also fill in the tiny lines you already have so over time you appear to be aging more gracefully versus getting Botox later in life and all of a sudden you are aging “in reverse”. One of my favorite benefits of Botox is that I feel it makes me appear well-rested and awake even without makeup on. This is likely because it can subtly raise your eyebrows which opens up your eyes slightly.
Final thoughts
I love all things preventative. Preventative medicine has been proven to catch things early and save lives. Read more about if an annual skin exam is right for you here. I feel the same way about the idea of preventative cosmetics. I am aware this article won’t be for everyone, and it may rub people the wrong way, and that is okay! Botox isn’t for everyone but it is a great option for people that want to look younger for longer. Have you had preventative Botox or maybe you’re planning on starting? If so, comment below!
*Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer. Information on this website is for education and entertainment purposes only. Content is my opinion. It is not substituted for your own doctor’s medical care or advice. One should not make any health or medical-related decisions based in whole or in part on any content on this site. Content is not intended to replace the services of a licensed, trained health professional. Content may not apply to you as an individual. Although I will update my website with current information, this website is not a definitive guide to dermatology.
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