Over the past few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people choosing to undergo cosmetic aesthetic procedures such as Botox injections.
Everyone wants to look their best, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Cosmetic procedures aren’t just for celebrities anymore, they’re for everyone.
What actually is Botox and what is it used for? What can you expect when heading in to get your Botox injections?
We’ve put together a Botox guide to demystify the process and give you an idea of what’s involved.
Read on to check it out.
What Is Botox?
Botox is the commercial name given to the injectable form of the botulinum toxin. This toxin is a neurotoxic protein that comes from the same bacteria that causes the disease botulism.
However, only very small doses of the toxin are used for commercial purposes, and Botox has numerous benefits for both the beauty and the healthcare industries.
What Does Botox Do?
For cosmetic purposes, Botox is generally used to relax the facial muscles to give a more youthful appearance. Botox works by blocking signals to certain muscles to stop them from contracting.
This can work to smooth out the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, particularly between and on either side of the eyes, and wrinkles on the forehead.
However, Botox only works on wrinkles that are dynamic, meaning ones that come and go depending on the movement and positioning of the face.
Wrinkles that remain visible regardless of how the face moves will not be affected by Botox.
How Is Botox Administered?
When you arrive at your Botox appointment, you will be sat in a chair and given some time to get comfortable.
Your practitioner will wipe your face clean before they begin planning where the injections are going to go.
You may be asked to clench and unclench certain facial muscles to aid this process. Finally, the Botox will be injected into the correct areas using a thin needle.
These injections shouldn’t be painful. Your practitioner may apply a topical anaesthetic to ensure you don’t feel anything while the procedure takes place.
What Happens Afterwards?
Botox injections don’t take long to complete, often as little as 20 minutes. Once the procedure is finished, you will be free to leave and go home. Botox doesn’t start working straight away.
You can expect to wait up to three days to see any change, and even up to three weeks for the full effect to become apparent.
You should avoid touching or rubbing your face for a few days after the procedure. This can affect how the Botox settles and ruin the end result.
For similar reasons, you should avoid any exercise or strenuous physical activity for at least 12 hours after your injections.
Botox isn’t permanent. The effects usually last between three and four months before they begin to fade away.
Conclusion
If you want to get rid of those crows feet, Botox could be the way to go. Use this Botox guide to know what to expect!
Love, Sarah xoxoxo
