Am I an Ideal Candidate for BOTOX?

If you feel unhappy with the way that the aging process is negatively affecting your appearance, you can take steps to fight it. There is nothing that can be done to completely stop the aging process, but there are a wide variety of treatments that are available that can address sagging skin, wrinkles, sunspots, and all of the other issues that you are likely to experience as you get older. One of the most popular anti-aging treatments on the market today is BOTOX®.

BOTOX® is talked about in fashion magazines, on social media, in news reports, and almost everywhere else. In fact, it is even a common household word. While it is extremely popular, this does not mean that what everyone says about it is true.

People often refer to this product as a cure-all for every single issue that you are going to experience as you get older. Any time a person does not feel happy with their appearance, someone will likely recommend BOTOX® injections. However, the truth of the matter is that these injections are only designed for one thing when it comes to cosmetic treatments. BOTOX® injections are designed to reduce or erase dynamic wrinkles.

What Are Dynamic Wrinkles?

Dynamic wrinkles are the wrinkles that you see on your face that are due to your skin folding as a result of muscle contractions. If you were to take a moment and look in the mirror and make different facial expressions, you would notice how your skin creases and folds every time you smile, frown, grimace, or make other expressions. When you are young, your skin creases when an expression is made, but then the skin goes back to being soft and smooth when your face is at rest. Unfortunately, the aging process changes a person’s skin. So when you make those same expressions thousands of times throughout your life and your skin gets thinner, those lines become etched into your skin.

How do you get rid of dynamic wrinkles? The first thing that you should know is that topical treatments do not work. Topical treatments can nourish your skin and moisturize it. However, since the problem comes from the muscles causing the skin to crease and fold, nothing that you do at home is going to treat your dynamic wrinkles.

BOTOX® is effective at getting rid of dynamic wrinkles. It is gently injected straight into the muscles. When these muscles are not able to contract in the same way as they did before, this allows your facial skin to rest. Depending on how deep your facial wrinkles are, you can expect these injections to either completely erase or at least reduce some of the creases in your skin.

Many have used this treatment in order to prevent dynamic wrinkles. It is good to know all of the facts when it comes to dynamic wrinkle prevention.

Part of the reason why BOTOX® has become a household name and is so popular is because it really works. It does not promise to do one thing and then disappoint users. It will address your dynamic wrinkles and help you to enjoy a more youthful look.

Are You a Good Candidate?

If you have dynamic wrinkles on your face, you may be wondering if you are a good candidate for these injections. The more you know about the product, the better equipped you will be when it comes to deciding if this is the right treatment for you.

You need to have an issue that these injections can actually treat. If you have dynamic wrinkles, you are likely a good candidate. If you have wrinkles that are the result of facial expressions on your forehead, around and in between your eyes, or on your neck, BOTOX® will likely be able to help you.

As we mentioned, these treatments can be used for individuals who are interested in preventing dynamic wrinkles. However, most of our clients are individuals who have moderate to severe facial creases and wrinkles.

It is good for you to have a realistic idea of the type of improvement that you can expect. You will likely be disappointed if you are in your 40’s or 50’s and expect to look like you are 20 again. However, you will likely be satisfied if you understand that this treatment is going to give you a rejuvenated and refreshed look. It will smooth out your skin and help you look happier and more rested.

Let’s take a look at some of the things that disqualify a person from being a good candidate for BOTOX®. If a person has an allergy to an ingredient in the product, they will not qualify. If a woman is breast-feeding or pregnant, the treatment will need to be postponed until a later time. If a person is under the age of 18 or over the age of 65, they likely will not qualify to use this product for cosmetic purposes.

The skin in the area where the injections will be given needs to be in good condition. If you have an infection near the injection site, the treatment will likely need to be postponed. If you are dealing with a severe infection or illness, this is another time when the treatment will need to be postponed. Individuals who have severe nerve or muscle conditions likely will not qualify.

What to Expect on Your First Visit

It is good for you to know what to expect when you visit us for the first time. This will make you feel comfortable when you meet our doctor.

Your first visit is going to start with an initial consultation. This initial consultation has two basic purposes. First, it allows our doctor to get to know you. Our doctors are concerned primarily about your health. They will not recommend a treatment if you do not make a good candidate for it. They will ask about your health history and examine the areas that you would like to have treated in order to make sure that BOTOX® or any other treatment that you request is right for you.

This initial consultation also allows you to learn more about our doctors and the treatments we offer. It is a good idea to write down any questions that you have ahead of time. Be prepared to talk about the things that are affecting your appearance that you would like to have addressed. You could bring photographs of yourself when you were younger in order to give our doctors a good idea of the results that you would like to achieve.

If it is determined that BOTOX® injections are the right option for you, the treatment may begin as soon as the initial consultation is over, or we may need to schedule you to come in at a different time. You should expect the entire appointment to last less than 20 minutes.

The doctor will likely use an anesthetic cream or a cold pack in order to numb the areas where you have dynamic wrinkles. A thin needle is used to inject the product. Just the right amount of the product is injected into the muscles in order to relax them. This is going to allow the skin to relax, which means that the wrinkles should eventually smooth out.

You may be wondering how many injections you will need. This is going to depend on the area of your face where you have dynamic wrinkles and how severe your wrinkles are. During the consultation, the doctor will be able to give you specific information based on your needs.

You do not have to worry about going through a recovery process after you have these injections given. You can get right back to normal life. Many of our clients schedule their consultation and injection session during their lunch hour. This is possible because the treatments are so short.

Another reason why these treatments can be scheduled during your lunch hour is because you do not have to worry about the obvious signs that you had the injections given. If you have a bit of redness around the area where the treatment was performed, you can easily cover it with makeup.

A Subtle Treatment That Delivers Great Results

You are not going to see the full results from your injections right after they are given. It usually takes at least a couple of days for you to notice a change in your muscles. Many people appreciate this fact. They like the idea that they are going to get results that are subtle and gradual. This means that a person can go right back to work and other normal activities without friends, coworkers, or others being able to tell that they had a cosmetic treatment performed.

After about seven days, you will notice the full results of your treatment. You will definitely notice that your skin is more smooth and that you have fewer wrinkles. However, it is not likely that the results are going to be overly obvious to everyone. This is something else that many people appreciate.

Very few individuals will actually know that you had a cosmetic treatment performed. What people will likely notice is that you look happier and more rested. Dynamic wrinkles cause a person to look angry and tired. When those muscles are relaxed, your coworkers and friends are likely to ask you if you have been sleeping better, if you have been exercising more, or if you have received some good news.

In addition to improving your appearance, these injections are going to give you a boost of self-confidence. When you look good, you feel good. Many have found that dealing with deep wrinkles and not feeling satisfied with the way they look has caused them to lose some of their enthusiasm. It has caused them to miss out on opportunities in life, both in the professional and personal settings. When a person improves their appearance, they get that boost of self-confidence that they need to get out there and live their life to the fullest.

Many have found that these injections are great when they are ready for a makeover. For example, a woman will not qualify for this treatment while she is pregnant or nursing. However, lots of mothers have found that this is a great treatment to include if they are interested in refreshing their appearance and pampering themselves a little bit after their pregnancy and nursing stages have ended.

These injections are not going to deliver permanent results. You are likely to see the benefits that come from these injections for about three or four months. At that point, you can return to our office in order to have another set of injections given.

Many people like the idea that this is not a permanent treatment because it makes them feel comfortable when they try them for the first time. If they do not like having fewer dynamic wrinkles and a more youthful looking face, it will not be long before the treatment wears off. Some view this treatment as a stepping stone to more invasive procedures in the future. They may decide to use these injections to put off a facelift or other lift procedures for a couple of years.

If you are ready to improve your appearance, the educated staff at Wayzata Cosmetic Surgery & Spa are here to help. The best way for you to find out what BOTOX® can do for you and if you are a good candidate for it is to visit our office in Wayzata, MN. The doctor would be happy to look at your overall health and examine your dynamic wrinkles with the goal of coming up with a treatment plan that will allow you to enjoy a refreshed and more youthful look. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!