Botox injections can smoothen dynamic wrinkles, forehead lines, crow’s feet, smile lines, etc. However, despite the treatment’s effectiveness, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to all wrinkle problems.
There are a few things you need to understand about wrinkles to help you find the right treatment. First, wrinkles are classified as either dynamic and static. Next, there are only certain kinds of wrinkles that can be treated by botox injection.
Two Types of Wrinkles
It’s important to keep in mind that each type of wrinkle requires a specific procedure. Before you get a botox injection, it’s best to learn about dynamic and static wrinkles. The more you know about these types of wrinkles, the better you’ll know which botox treatment fits your needs.
Dynamic wrinkles
For younger people, collagen and elastin allow their facial muscles to return to their original state after movement. But as one grows older, these muscles become less capable of going back to their normal shape.
Dynamic wrinkles form through the movements of the facial muscles. The repetitive stretching of the facial muscles through smiling, blinking, or the furrowing of the eyebrows can cause the appearance of crow’s feet, bunnies, fine lines in the forehead and lips, and other facial lines like worry lines, laugh lines, and marionette lines.
Static wrinkles
Static wrinkles are an inevitable part of life as a person ages. These wrinkles form when facial muscles lose elasticity with age and fall prey to gravity. Marionette and laugh lines can also turn into static wrinkles over time, that’s why it’s still always a good practice to take good care of your skin.
In perspective, botox treatments only reduce wrinkles that form during the movement of the facial muscles; this means botox treatment is more effective in treating dynamic wrinkles. Static wrinkles, however, will need additional dermal fillers to be treated effectively.
Botox treatments are effective with the following wrinkles:
- Crow’s feet
- Glabellar lines
- Bunny lines
- Forehead wrinkles
- Lipstick lines or perioral lines
- Chin crease
When undergoing botox treatment, it’s important to note that a single procedure will not permanently smoothen a wrinkle. The effects of the treatment could only last about 3 to 6 months until the muscle returns to being responsive again. The good thing about botox is that you can undergo the treatment periodically to extend its effects.
How Botox Works
Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a type of neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The toxin is capable of blocking signals coming from the nerves to the muscles. It’s poisonous in huge amounts, but when used in weaker doses, it’s effective in reducing wrinkles on the face.
The muscle in the injected area will not contract, allowing the wrinkle to soften and relax. The botox injection does not leave you with a frozen face; instead, it only prevents your facial muscle from contracting too much.
The Bottom Line
Injectables are becoming a household name in the cosmetic industry thanks to their effectiveness and minimally invasive nature. Today, botox is becoming more popular among millennials and young adults, especially in treating dynamic wrinkles. The procedure offers outstanding results even without surgery, and so it’s now one of the biggest reasons why most patients avail it several times a year.
If you have questions about Botox treatments, please feel free to contact us.