What is Botox?
Botox, short for botulinum toxin, is a cosmetic injectable. It works by treating the muscles in your face that cause dynamic wrinkles, or the wrinkles that are created by recurring facial expressions. As a result, Botox is extremely effective at eliminating:
- Frown lines (the lines between your eyebrows)
- Forehead lines
- Crow’s feet (the lines at the outside corners of your eyes)
Botox is the brand name for one type of botulinum toxin treatment, but Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic also offers Dysport®, another cosmetic injectable for dynamic wrinkles. While Botox and Dysport work similarly, there are some differences between them. Dysport, for example, is specifically designed to eliminate the lines between your brows.
Talk with your Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic provider about your cosmetic goals. Once they understand how you want to refresh your appearance, they pick the right cosmetic injectable for you.
How does Botox work?
Both Botox and Dysport work by directing an extremely small amount of botulinum toxin into the muscle that’s creating your wrinkle. This temporarily freezes the muscle, relaxing its contractions. Once the muscle is relaxed in this way, the skin above it smooths, dramatically reducing — and often completely eliminating — the appearance of the wrinkle.
What should I expect during and after Botox?
Botox and Dysport are popular treatments because not only are they highly effective, but they’re also extremely convenient. Most treatments take just 15 minutes or less and there is no downtime. You can get your Botox or Dysport treatment on your lunch break, then continue on with your day immediately afterward.
What’s more, because the needles used to inject the treatment are so small, most patients report the entire process is virtually painless.
The results from both of these cosmetic injectables usually last between 3-6 months. As the effect of the botulinum toxin wears off, your wrinkle may start to reappear. At that point, Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic can offer a quick touchup treatment to maintain your results — and your youthful appearance.
You’re not stuck with your wrinkles. To learn more about Botox or Dysport, call Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic or schedule an appointment online today.
