How Long Does Botox Last in the Forehead?

While aging doesn’t start exactly the same for all of us, we can pretty much bet on eventually developing lines, wrinkles, and folds. One day you might look in mirror and realize they’ve gotten to a point that is distracting and you’d like to do something about them. If you’re looking for Botox in Minnetonka, call Wayzata Cosmetic Surgery in Wayzata, MN to ask about how this game-changing injectable can help you turn back the hands of time on your appearance.

What Causes Wrinkles?

When you think about the appearance of wrinkles, you might just think that it’s the passage of time that makes lines appear on your face. It’s more than that. A few things are at play when your skin develops wrinkles.

Collagen Production

The protein collagen can best be described as the glue that holds our skin cells and layers together, making everything look and feel tight, smooth and bright. It’s a fibrous protein that makes the middle layer of our skin, or the dermis, a solid foundation for the outer layer, or epidermis. When we’re young, we have a strong and solid scaffold on which our cells can regenerate and remain tightly packed together.

Collagen works hand in hand with elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin, as you can imagine, keeps our skin flexible or elastic. This allows it to snap back into place after being moved, stretched, and pulled. Hyaluronic acid attracts moisture to our skin and keeps us looking supple and dewy. As we age, the production of all three declines.

The Decline in Production

One of the biggest contributors to wrinkles and lines is the drop in collagen production. This drop causes weaknesses in the scaffolding just under the surface of our skin. Without elastin keeping our skin bouncing back and the strong structure of collagen, the surface of our skin drops to form lines, wrinkles, and folds.

Movement

Some lines and wrinkles are caused by repetitive motion. These are referred to as dynamic wrinkles because they’re not just a result of lost collagen and gravity. We make the same expressions day in and day out our entire lives. As we do, we use the same set of muscles, and they make the same movements each time. These expressions include:

• Frowning
• Raising eyebrows
• Squinting
• Furrowing eyebrows
• Smiling

Over time, the skin on top of these muscles will begin to form lines, showing a map of the expression. Eventually, these lines can become so deeply etched it can give the appearance we’re still making the expression. For instance, the frown lines between the eyebrows become etched and can make people look angry or upset when they aren’t. This can age someone’s appearance and bring their whole aesthetic down. Other areas where dynamic wrinkles appear include the:

• Forehead
• Corners of the eyes
• Side of the nose
• Around the mouth
• Neck banding

 

Botox

If you haven’t heard of Botox, let us introduce you to the number one requested and physician performed cosmetic treatment in the world. There’s a reason it’s so popular—it’s quick, easy, and effective. Botox is made from a solution of botulinum toxin type A, a purified and natural protein. It belongs to a class of injectables called neuromodulators, so-called because they can disrupt a nerve’s signal from reaching a muscle.

When the impulse to move is blocked, the muscle relaxes. While we know this can provide great cosmetic results, Botox has a fairly long history.

History

In the 1970s, a doctor in San Francisco first used a form of Botox to correct strabismus or crossed eyes. He found that directing the protein into certain muscles forced them to relax, which caused the other eye muscles to take over, straightening them. From there, it was off to the races in finding new ways this injectable could help with certain muscle spasms.

Allergan purchased the rights to the discovery, and it was approved by the FDA in 1987 for the treatment of uncontrolled eye spasms and crossed eyes. Over the next decade, it would be used to help uncontrolled muscle spasms in the neck and shoulder and to reduce the tremors and stiffness that can occur after a stroke.

Cosmetic Application

In the 1990’s, the medical community started to notice how Botox could target certain muscles that were responsible for deeply etched lines on the face. In 2002, the FDA approved its use for the temporary relaxing of the muscles that cause frown lines, forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet.

There are plenty of off-label uses for Botox. Off-label refers to treatments for which the drug has not been approved by the FDA but that the medical community has agreed are safe and effective.

How Does Botox Work to Reduce the Appearance of Wrinkles?

When your doctor injects certain muscles that are causing the movement that causes wrinkles, the muscle relaxes. When the muscle relaxes, the skin on the surface is given a chance to smooth out and the wrinkles diminish or fade.

What to Expect

You and your doctor will decide if this is the right treatment to address your areas of concern. If it is, there’s no preparation for you to do. This is a minimally invasive treatment that requires no downtime and no prep.

Your Appointment

To start your appointment, your doctor will sterilize the skin at the injection sites. They may apply a topical anesthetic to make sure you’re comfortable, though many clients don’t require it and experience no discomfort.

A series of strategic and small injections will be made to manipulate the muscles to achieve your goals. When your session is over, you’re done. There’s no downtime. Your doctor may have specific aftercare instructions for you just to maximize the results.

How Long Does Botox Last in the Forehead?

You’ll see results in about 1-2 days as your muscles slowly relax and the skin begins to smooth, with full results at 7-10 days. When your forehead wrinkles have totally relaxed, you can expect to see results for about 3-4 months. This is the same amount of time other treated areas will experience results too.

Work with your doctor to determine the right follow-up schedule for you so you can experience consistent results. The longer you keep those muscles relaxed, the better the appearance of those lines will be. You also won’t be making those lines any deeper while you’re experiencing the effects of Botox.

Where Can Botox Be Used?

There are many on and off-label uses for Botox. You can receive treatment for lines and wrinkles like:

• Frown lines
• Forehead wrinkles
• Crow’s feet
• Bunny lines on the side of the nose
• Vertical lines around the mouth

As you’re looking for Botox, there are more uses than just dynamic wrinkles. Botox continues to gain popularity as its versatility grows.

Eyebrow Lift

This is a natural progression of just treating forehead and frown lines. When the muscles that pull parts of your eyebrows down are treated, they relax. This allows the muscles that pull the arch and tail up to compensate. This leaves clients with the enviable arches they’ve always wanted.

Some people call this the “non-surgical eye lift” because it can counteract drooping eyebrows and open a client’s expression and face up, making them look younger, happier and more awake.

Gummy Smile

Many people aren’t happy with the amount of gums they show when they smile. If you look at pictures of yourself and wish you showed only teeth, Botox can help. It works to relax the muscles that are over-pulling your lips, revealing your gums. When your doctor injects these muscles, you can still smile, but you only reveal as much as you want.

Hyperhidrosis

Wrinkles and lines aside, if you suffer from excessive underarm sweating, Botox has been approved for the treatment of this condition. The hallmark of this condition is having constant dampness under your arms, and people who suffer from this sweat almost every waking hour of the day. It gets so bad, patients will develop social anxiety and wear only dark and loose clothing in an attempt to hide sweat.

When Botox is injected, it blocks the signal from the nerve to the sweat gland. When the signal is blocked, the sweat gland doesn’t get the message to produce sweat. This is a game-changer for people with this condition, and a life-changing treatment.

Other Anti-Aging Injectables

We’ve talked about dynamic wrinkles and how Botox can address them. But what about the other lines, wrinkles, and folds toward the bottom of the face? There are great solutions to help with the appearance of these lines, too, and the most popular are dermal fillers.

Dermal Fillers

This is another family of injectables designed to address moderate to severe lines, wrinkles, and folds. Most fillers are made of a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid, though there are a few exceptions. The hyaluronic acid is suspended in a smooth and pliable gel so it gets natural results.

There are many different types of fillers on the market so only your doctor can determine which is right for your areas of concern. Fillers can be used to address:

• Lines, folds and wrinkles
• Areas of lost volume
• Thinning lips
• Asymmetry in features

 

Lines, Wrinkles, and Folds

This is one treatment that provides instant gratification. You walk in with deep lines and folds and can walk out looking years younger. These fillers provide instant volume to areas, and because many other them are made from hyaluronic acid, they actually attract moisture to the skin, providing very natural results.

These dermal fillers can be used on:

• Nasolabial folds
• Marionette lines
• Chin wrinkles
• Vertical lines around the mouth
• Crow’s feet

 

Lip Enhancement

Some fillers are created to add subtle volume and give shape to thinning lips. Whether you’ve never had the plump lips you’ve dreamed of or you’ve lost volume over time, dermal fillers can provide a natural-looking but transformative result. Fillers can also be used to correct downturned corners of the mouth. With this small adjustment, the appearance is lighter and more positive.

Lost Volume

When we age, the fat distribution on our faces change. What used to provide us with a full and proportionate face can slip, causing areas of lost volume in our temporal, cheek and cheekbone areas. If you’ve lost prominent features, certain fillers can help you regain the youthful contours you’ve lost.

These fillers can also help with the lost volume on the back of the hands.

Looking for Botox in Minnetonka?

Look no further. If you’re unhappy with the way lines and wrinkles age your face, you shouldn’t put off making an appointment to get back your youthful-looking appearance. Call Wayzata Cosmetic Surgery & Spa in Wayzata, MN and schedule a consultation. A younger-looking and happier you is just a phone call away.