BOTOX is an FDA-approved injectable muscle relaxant proudly offered at Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS, conveniently located near Kansas City. It was first approved by the FDA to treat blepharospasms and drooping eyelids, but today it is used for much more than that. Today, we’re taking a closer look at where this versatile injectable can be used, how to prepare for treatment, and much more. Let’s get started.
Where Can BOTOX Be Used?
BOTOX, sometimes referred to as botulinum toxin, is most commonly used to treat horizontal forehead folds that deepen when you raise your eyebrows and vertical frown lines that are exacerbated by frowning. However, this is by no means all this neurotoxic protein can do.
People also commonly seek this treatment to eliminate crow’s feet around the corners of their eyes that deepen when they smile or squint. Additionally, you can use this treatment to eliminate bunny lines around your nose and lip lines. Furthermore, this injectable muscle relaxant can improve the appearance of your chin and neck.
How Long Will My Treatment Session Take?
Individual treatment times vary, but you should not be surprised if your injection session only takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete. We will advise you on how long you should anticipate your session lasting during your evaluation in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Factors affecting how long your session will take include:
- The severity of your concerns
- The number of concerns you have
- The size of the targeted areas
- If you need complementary treatments
How Quickly Does This Treatment Work?
This treatment starts working immediately, but it may be one to four days before you start seeing the results of your treatment. Furthermore, you can generally expect it to take 10 to 14 days before to deliver optimal results.
What Can I Do to See My Desired Results Faster?
One of the most effective things you can do to see your desired results faster is to exercise the treated muscles regularly. For example, you should squint and relax your eyes 40 times if you had crow’s feet treated. You should generally aim for three sets of 40 repetitions per day separated by 10-minute breaks.
How Long Can I Expect My Desired Results to Last?
If you have never received BOTOX before, we will administer a smaller dose during your first appointment so we can evaluate how the medication affects you. We pride ourselves in delivering natural-looking results to every client. Since clients receive smaller doses at first, the ideal results of the first treatment may only last for a couple of months.
With subsequent treatments, however, desired results tend to last for three to six months. Several factors affect how long the final results of this treatment last. For instance, younger people tend to enjoy longer-lasting results because their skin tends to be better supported by collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other supportive substances.
What Can I Do to Extend the Longevity of My Results?
To enjoy your optimal results for as long as possible, you need to take excellent care of your skin. For instance, you should maintain a healthy diet so that your skin has enough of what it needs to keep itself rejuvenated. Aim to get your recommended daily allowance of all micronutrients and incorporate protein into every meal. You can also help to extend the longevity of your results by staying hydrated, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, and not smoking.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
You will most likely qualify for this treatment if you have concerns that can be attributed to overactive muscles. However, you need to attend an evaluation with a qualified dermatologist in the Kansas City area to confirm that you are a good candidate. It is important that you share your complete medical history so that we can ensure there are no contraindications.
Furthermore, we will ensure that your treatment process will go smoothly by advising you on how to prepare for your injection session and all of the aftercare guidelines you’ll need to follow. Additionally, we will evaluate the cause of your concerns to ensure that this treatment will address your concerns effectively.
What Contraindications Should I Be Aware of?
We will discuss the contraindications of this treatment more thoroughly during your initial consultation. Some of the most common contraindications include an allergy to bovine protein and a history of anaphylaxis. Additionally, you may not want to consider this treatment if you suffer from a condition that causes slow wound healing or you have developed keloid scars in the past.
Moreover, you will be considered a poor fit for this treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Furthermore, this treatment will not be considered appropriate for people with bleeding disorders, muscle conditions, or nerve conditions.
How Should I Prepare for My Injection Session?
It is extremely important that you do not drink alcohol or take blood-thinning medications prior to your treatment session. Additionally, you must avoid taking any dietary supplements, like vitamin E supplements or garlic supplements, that can affect your blood viscosity.
Furthermore, you need to take steps to ensure that the intended treatment area is not irritated when you arrive for your appointment. In the two weeks leading up to your appointment, you need to protect your skin from potential sun damage. For instance, you should minimize sun exposure when the sun’s UV rays are particularly strong. Moreover, you should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
What Should I Avoid After Treatment?
Strenuous Physical Activity
One of the most important things to avoid after getting BOTOX injections is strenuous physical activity. For example, you should not lift heavy weights for 24 hours following your treatment. You also shouldn’t do any vigorous cardio.
Profuse Sweating
Primarily, it is important to avoid strenuous physical activity because you don’t want to increase your blood pressure too much. Secondarily, you should avoid strenuous exercise so that you don’t sweat profusely. Additionally, you need to prevent excessive sweating by not exposing yourself to an excessive amount of heat. For instance, you should not take a steaming hot shower or relax in the hot tub after your treatment.
Consumption of Harmful Substances
It is also very important that you avoid the consumption of harmful substances after your injections have been administered. For example, you will not be able to smoke cigarettes or consume any other tobacco products due to the potential effects to your blood pressure. Similarly, alcohol consumption should be avoided following your injection session.
What Should I Do After My Treatment?
Wear Sunscreen
While there are several things you should avoid after your BOTOX injections, there are also several things you should do. For instance, you need to protect your skin from sun damage by wearing adequate sunscreen. It should not be expired, it should protect against damage from all types of UV rays, and it should have a sufficient sun protection factor for your skin tone.
Sleep On Your Back
It is also important that you sleep on your back once your injections have been administered. If too much pressure is applied to the treatment areas, the medication can spread outside the intended regions, affecting your results. Note that it is a good idea to use at least two pillows with a fair amount of loft to elevate your head above your heart. Also, it is important to note that you should not lie down during the first four hours following your injection session.
What If This Treatment Won’t Be Effective for Me?
If this treatment won’t be effective for you, dermal filler injections may be a better fit. We offer several injectable dermal fillers designed to treat cosmetic concerns in different regions of your body. Among the fillers we offer are JUVEDERM, VOLUMA, and RADIESSE.
JUVEDERM
JUVEDERM is an FDA-approved dermal filler that can easily erase moderate or severe rhytids and folds caused by volume loss. This is a popular anti-aging treatment for a number of reasons. One reason it is so popular is that it provides fairly rapid results. This treatment is so effective that you should only expect to need one session to achieve your desired results, and you can expect to see your final results in just 10 to 14 days.
Another thing to love about this injectable filler is that it provides long-lasting results. Your experience may vary a bit, but you can generally expect to enjoy your ideal results for approximately one year. There are several factors that affect how long you can expect to enjoy your desired results, and some of them you have influence over. For example, you can expect your desired results to last longer if you protect against sun damage and maintain a healthy diet.
VOLUMA
VOLUMA is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler designed to enhance the appearance of the midface. Usually, people get this treatment when their cheeks are starting to look gaunt. However, it can also be used to address other cosmetic concerns, like aging signs in the under eye area.
Additionally, it can be used to enhance the appearance of the jawline and recontour the cheek bone. Note that VOLUMA results can generally be expected to last for two years.
RADIESSE
RADIESSE is an incredibly versatile dermal filler. It is commonly used to erase marionette lines that run from your chin to the corners of your mouth and nasolabial folds that extend from the corners of your nose to the corners of your mouth. However, it can also be used to augment the cheeks, restore volume to the backs of the hands, recontour the chin and jawline, and volumize the temples.
This injectable filler is a bit different from JUVEDERM and VOLUMA primarily due to its ingredients. While JUVEDERM and VOLUMA contain hyaluronic acid, this injectable filler features synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) microspheres suspended in a carboxymethylcellulose gel carrier. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect the results of this treatment to last for 12 to 18 months.
Schedule Your Evaluation Near Kansas City Today
BOTOX can be used to address a wide range of concerns caused by overactive muscles. It is usually used to treat forehead folds and frown lines. However, it can also be used to eliminate crow’s feet, bunny lines, lip lines, and neck bands. If you are in the Kansas City metropolitan area and think you could benefit from this treatment, contact us now at Aesthetic Surgical Arts/Mia Bella Donna Medspa in Overland Park, KS to schedule an evaluation.
