Is it just me or is botox becoming less stigmatized these days? Or maybe that’s just something I keep telling myself! I always tell my patients that botox is by far the easiest way to dip their toes into cosmetic injectables. With a good 30+ years of favorable research,botulinum toxin is being used not only for aesthetics, but also for headaches,bladder control, and excessive sweating among other reasons.
Botox is injected into the muscle and it works to block the signal from the nerve to the muscle. The result is a relaxed muscle and softened lines. As we age, repetitive motion of certain muscles in our face will etch in lines that then become difficult to erase. Sort of like when you keep folding a piece of paper over and over in the same spot. That crease becomes deeper and deeper. So utilizing botox to relax these movements will prevent the lines from becoming deeper.
So you can see with this example, starting botox early is HUGE!!! If we can prevent those lines from forming, why wouldn’t we? When you start to notice faint lines while resting-this is when you want to start treating. I’ve treated young women in their 20’s and 30’s for preventative reasons.
So why the hesistation to start? I think a lot of patients are worried about looking “overdone”. We’ve all seen that celebrity or friend who has had a bit too much. Just like anything, everything in moderation. More is not always better! And that is why it is important to know your injector and feel comfortable with them. Let them know you want to start slow if you are new to botox. Nowadays, the trend for injectables seems to be moving to a more natural look (thank goodness. Goodbye kylie lips!). So yes, there is a way of utilizing botox and still looking natural.
What if you already have those deep lines? Come in for a consult. While we may not be able to completely get the deep lines to resolve, it’s at least worth a look!