Cosmetic Botox Treatment

If you’re fed up with wrinkles spoiling your facial appearance, you may want to consider Botox as an alternative to a surgical facelift.

Cosmetic Botox is a muscle relaxant treatment that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and is the most popular nonsurgical aesthetic procedure in the U.S.

It entails injections of Botox – purified botulinum toxin type A – which can relax muscles for three to four months at a time. The injection procedure is straightforward, with minimal preparation and little if any downtime.

Cosmetic Botox applications go under brand names such as Xeomin, Botox Cosmetic, and Dysport. They block nerve signals to facial muscles, which softens your expressions and reduces wrinkles.

The facial areas most commonly treated with Botox are those where muscle activity results in problems such as creases around the eyes (crow’s feet), vertical lines between the eyes (frown lines), and forehead furrows – lines running horizontally above the eyebrows.

Is Botox Safe?

Botox treatment is minimally invasive, with no general anesthesia or incisions. Dosages are extremely small, which prevents poisoning from the toxins while producing the desired aesthetic result.

It was approved in 1989 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for medical treatment of eye muscle problems. In 2002, the FDA gave the go-ahead for Botox as a cosmetic treatment for frown lines between the eyebrows, and in 2013 approved it for treating crow’s feet.

A 2016 clinical study confirmed Botox as a simple, effective, and safe treatment for reducing facial wrinkles, and the following year Botox Cosmetic was approved by the FDA for treating moderate to severe forehead lines.

The Cosmetic Botox Procedure

Cosmetic Botox is an in-office procedure, and local anesthesia can be used to numb the treatment area before a thin needle is used to administer injections into specific muscles.

The procedure takes 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of injections. The full benefits are typically visible within a week, and a single treatment lasts three to four months

Botox has few negative side effects. Any minor bruising usually disappears in a few days. Headaches can occur but are rare and, like bruises, fade over a day or two.

After Botox Treatment

You should be able to resume your everyday activities immediately after Botox treatment.

However, you need to avoid applying any pressure to the area, including rubbing or massaging. This can dilute the effects of treatment by spreading the Botox to other parts of the body.

Additional Botox treatments can be performed after a few months to maintain your appearance.

Cosmetic Botox Costs

The cost of a botulinum toxin cosmetic treatment ranges from $100 to $600, depending on factors such as:

• Size of the treatment area.

• How many areas you want treated.

• The number of injections needed.

• Your Botox provider’s price per treatment area or price per unit.

Because Botox cosmetic treatment is an elective procedure, it’s not covered by health insurance.

Benefits of Cosmetic Botox Treatment

Wrinkles and fine lines that spoil facial appearance develop as skin gradually loses its elasticity as we get older. This can happen while we’re still relatively young – in our 30s or earlier – and the problem intensifies as the aging process continues.

The cosmetic application of botulinum toxin type A provides a temporary solution and can be repeated every few months.

As well as improving appearance, cosmetic Botox can also boost your self-confidence – when you look good, you feel good. And the Journal of Psychiatric Research points to evidence that Botox can be a therapy for depression, by limiting the capacity for frowning, which enhances your mood.

Pros and Cons of Botox Vs. Facelift

Facelifts appear to be on the decrease as an ever-increasing number of individuals look to nonsurgical cosmetic solutions like Botox.

Figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveal that:

• From 2000 to 2016, the number of cosmetic surgical procedures dropped by six percent.

• From 2000 to 2017, the number of minimally-invasive or non-invasive cosmetic procedures rose by almost 200 percent.

Facelift

A facelift is a surgical procedure in which skin is tightened and muscles lifted to address the problem of sagging skin and deep wrinkles.

Advantages of a facelift include:

• Longer-lasting results than injectable treatments.

• Capability to treat more severe issues.

Drawbacks of a facelift:

• General anesthesia carries additional risk.

• Longer recovery time than Botox injections – two weeks or more.

• More swelling and bruising.

• Stitches may be present for several days.

Cosmetic Botox

Botox provides a popular alternative to facelifts and can smooth wrinkles and lines around the eyes, forehead, and mouth.

Benefits of Botox include:

• Minimally invasive and fast treatment.

• No recovery time necessary.

• More affordable than surgery – depending on the number of treatments.

Botox drawbacks:

• Botox treatment is a temporary solution, so further injections may be needed.

• Cannot fix problems such as sagging skin.

Is Cosmetic Botox Right for Me?

Botox is suitable for women and men alike. If you’re aged 18-plus and generally healthy but concerned about facial wrinkles, chances are you’re a good candidate for cosmetic Botox treatment.

Botox is likely to be right for you if you want to fix a problem such as crow’s feet or frown lines or you find that makeup is accumulating in facial creases.

Botox won’t be suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a problem such as weak facial muscles or a facial skin infection.

What to Look for in a Cosmetic Botox Provider

As the most popular aesthetic procedure in the world, Botox treatment is available from many providers. This means that if you’re thinking about getting cosmetic Botox for the first time, deciding where to go for treatment can be challenging.

Friends who’ve had cosmetic Botox treatment may be able to recommend a clinic but it’s important to do your own research ad well.

Injecting Botox is a procedure demanding expertise, so it’s essential to consider only qualified cosmetic Botox practitioners – established medical clinics or dental offices.

If you find a qualified Botox provider who also offers facial fillers, it can be a strong indication they’re specialists in cosmetic facial treatments.

Factors to consider when deciding on your cosmetic Botox provider include their qualifications and experience and the type of product they use.