Are you considering a botox treatment? Get educated before you go in for treatment. Here’s your guide to botox and the best botox injection sites.

Are you considering Botox treatment for health or beauty reasons? Then you should learn everything you can about how it works and the best Botox injection sites.

When Botox first came out, information about the treatment could be hard to find. However, these days, it’s easy to learn everything you would want to know about Botox injection sites and treatment.

In this essential guide, we’ll walk you through all the information you should have before scheduling an appointment. Keep reading to learn what Botox can do for you!

What Is Botox?

The brand name Botox actually refers to toxin made by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum.

For many years, this toxin was known as the cause of botulism, a type of food poisoning. However, when applied in very small amounts at the proper Botox injection sites, this toxin can actually be medically beneficial.

One of the most serious effects of botulism is paralysis. However, scientists have discovered how to use that effect to their advantage. When a very small, diluted amount of Botox is injected into certain muscles, the muscles can be deliberately weakened, which can be a medical benefit in many situations.

In the late 1980s, Botox was approved by the FDA. It had been shown to be an effective treatment for things like lazy eye and uncontrollable blinking, because it weakened the out-of-control muscles that caused these issues.

Soon, cosmetic doctors like Dr Aesthetica discovered that Botox was an effective treatment for wrinkles, creases in the face and other signs of aging.

How Does Botox Work?

This treatment works by blocking nerve signals from reaching the muscles. When a muscle is injected with Botox, it can’t contract as much as before. This helps wrinkled or creased areas relax, giving a softer, smoother appearance.

Botox is typically used on areas like crow’s feet, forehead fine lines, and frown lines. The injection can be given without anesthesia in a matter of minutes. The doctor will target the Botox injection sites with a fine needle, which the patient can hardly feel.

In a few days to a week’s time, the Botox treatment reaches its full effect. The only side effect experienced by the vast majority of patients is a bit of bruising around the treatment area. Anti-inflammatory meds and aspirin shouldn’t be taken for the two weeks prior to treatment to help reduce bruising.

After treatment, the results usually last for about four to six months. The muscle action will return slowly, along with the wrinkles or lines. Eventually, the patient will need re-treatment.

However, after enough treatment sessions, the wrinkles usually start to look less obvious, because the muscles are learning to relax on their own.

Botox Injection Sites

There are many great Botox injection sites where this treatment can benefit you. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones.

Forehead, Eyes, and Temples

Near the top of the face, you’ll find three main kinds of wrinkles that can be treated:

• Horizontal forehead creases, sometimes called surprise lines, that are caused by repeatedly raising the eyebrows
• Frown lines, which are vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows that appear most when someone frowns
• Crow’s feet, or the small horizontal lines at the outer corners of the eyes that can reach up toward the forehead, and appear most when a person squints or smiles

These are among the most popular Botox injection sites, and they often respond the best to treatment.

A side effect of treating frown lines can be a “frozen forehead” effect when the area can’t move, reducing the patient’s facial expressions. However, this only happens when a high Botox dose is given to combat more severe lines.

After some time, the frown lines will respond to the treatment by relaxing on their own, and the dosage can be lowered to allow for more natural expressions. Zero wrinkles doesn’t have to mean zero facial expressions!

If a large dose of Botox is applied on the forehead, the eyebrows may start to feel heavy, because the forehead muscles become too relaxed. Again, adjustments to the dosage given can help reduce this effect while still combating wrinkles effectively.

When the crow’s feet are treated, eyelid drooping occasionally occurs, in which the eyebrow and eyelids drop and feel heavier. Prescription eye drops can be given to reduce the drooping effect until the Botox dosage can be adjusted.

The alternative is having the eyebrows raised too much, giving a slightly surprised look. However, an experienced doctor will strategically apply Botox to the right parts of the face to avoid any of these problems.

Mouth and Nearby Areas

The mouth and areas around it are a second popular location for Botox sites:

• Smile lines, which stretch from the corners of the mouth to the edges of the nose, create major facial creases when someone smiles (these are medically known as nasolabial folds)
• Marionette lines show up at the corners of the mouth and reach down toward the chin
• Smoker’s lines are the vertical wrinkles that can show up all around the lips – they’re named that way because the act of smoking can make them appear faster

Botox can help combat minor marionette and smile lines. However, if the creases are so deep that they’re very noticeable even when the face is in a resting position, Botox won’t help.

The smoker’s lines are easier to combat using Botox. But if the patient is still a heavy smoker, the treatment’s effect won’t last long.

No matter where the treatment is applied, Botox works better on younger skin. Botox will work better when the skin is hydrated and elastic, so it’s best to start Botox treatments early. This can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles in the future, because you’ll start training your muscles to relax early.

Considering Botox Treatment?

If you’re thinking about Botox treatment, you should always consult with a professional. Talk about the issues you’re hoping to combat, and they can help recommend the best Botox injection sites to use.

Looking for more cosmetic treatments to reduce the signs of aging? Check out our guide to varicose vein treatment.