Are you considering having Botox?
Sloan Dental explain what is Botox and how long each Botox treatment will last for.
No matter how well you take care of your skin, as we get older and age, wrinkles develop. Smiling, laughing, frowning, kissing and just natural ageing can all cause lines and furrows in the skin.
A good skin cream can certainly help but once wrinkles develop, they only have limited use. Botox however can produce remarkable results which is why it’s become such a popular anti-ageing treatment.
Here’s a closer look at what it is and how long the effects last.
What Is Botox?
It’s a word that’s become part of mainstream vocabulary, but do you know exactly what Botox is?
Botox is actually a brand name, not the actual active ingredient. There are other brand names but none are as well-known; Botox is often used as the generic term for all types of treatment of the same kind.
The active ingredient in Botox is a toxin which is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. In the very small doses used, Botox is a safe treatment and it’s been used for many years successfully.
Botox can be used to treat a severe muscle spasm, excessive sweating and a number of other health conditions but its most common use is for fine lines and wrinkles. Botox relaxes the muscles, and prevents them from contracting. This leaves the skin looking smoother and more youthful with deeper wrinkles softened.
Not all facial creases and wrinkles will respond to Botox as it’s designed to work on areas where expression and muscle movement has caused unwanted lines. By freezing these muscles, the outward appearance will improve. Any wrinkles caused by damage from the sun or gravity won’t show much difference with Botox treatment. This is why it’s essential to go to an experienced practitioner for a consultation first.
Botox does not give a permanent result which is reassuring for anyone who just wants to try it. If you decide you don’t like the results, you can just allow the Botox to wear off naturally. If you do like the results, you can have the treatment repeated as necessary.
How Long Will Botox Last?
If you’re thinking that the effects of Botox sound like something you’d like to try, it’s worth booking an appointment with a professional for a free consultation. The duration of the results can be variable and it depends on the effect you’re trying to achieve and the areas of the face being treated.
For example, Botox tends to wear off more quickly with deep wrinkles but can last longer with fine lines. That’s another reason why it can be more beneficial to get treatment sooner rather than later. Whether you’re a smoker, your age, facial structure and sun damage are all additional factors which can influence how long it lasts.
However, as a very general approximation, each Botox treatment will typically last around four months. When used on the lips it tends to last a bit longer, usually about nine months.
When the Botox begins to wear off you can opt to repeat the treatment to maintain the same appearance. To find out more about what results you could achieve with Botox, get in touch with Sloan Dental today.
