What can Botox do for you? Considering Botox?
Are you wary of trying Botox? Is Botox safe? Is it right for you? Here are answers to the most common Botox questions from Botox West Des Moines IA specialists Michon Leddy and Sue Schooler.
Have you been thinking about getting BOTOX® Cosmetic but not sure whether it’s right for you or even safe? At Skin Iowa in West Des Moines, IA we want you to have all the answers so you can make an informed decision about whether Botox will be a good solution for you. Here are the answers to the most common questions about Botox from Botox West Des Moines IA specialists Michon Leddy, PA-C, and Sue Schooler, PA-C.
What will Botox do for me? How does it work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic works beneath the surface of the skin, targeting and relaxing specific underlying muscles that contract and cause frown lines and crow’s feet to form over time, says Botox West Des Moines IA specialist Michon Leddy.
Botox prevents the injected muscles from contracting, which causes the skin above these muscles to relax and smooth out, and also helps prevent new skin wrinkles from forming, explains Botox West Des Moines IA specialist Sue Schooler. Botox is most commonly used to reduce or eliminate:
• Glabellar Lines. Glabellar lines are those vertical lines between the eyebrows and the nose that furrow and make you look angry even when you’re not.
• Crow’s feet. Crow’s feet are the lateral wrinkles that extend from the outer corner of your eyes when you smile. As you age, particularly if you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun, these crow feet will remain visible whether you are smiling or not.
• Forehead wrinkles. Forehead wrinkles are exactly what they sound like—they are the horizontal lines that form on your forehead as you age and occur when the large muscle in your forehead (the frontalis muscle) remains contracted.
• Bunny lines. If you wrinkle your nose, you can see horizontal lines across the bridge of it. As we age, these bunny lines can become more prominent.
• Lipstick lines. Lipstick lines are the vertical lines that form on your upper lift when you suck on a straw. They are caused by frequent use and over time can become more prominent.
• Neck lines. Botox can also be used in vertical neck bands to soften wrinkles that form in our necks as we age.
• Other areas. Have another spot in mind? Come in for a free consultation. It’s possible Botox or another product, such as a cosmetic filler, may be right for you.
Unlike cosmetic fillers, Botox results are not immediate. It may take anywhere from 24 hours to 7 days for maximum results to be visible. Most people start noticing a reduction in wrinkles in 3 to 4 days.
Is Botox Safe? Does it hurt?
Botox has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration since 2002.
Botox stays within 3 centimeters from where it is injected so you don’t have to worry about it migrating to other parts of your body. Cosmetic doses (less than 100 units) are significantly lower than a toxic dose that would be harmful systemically (2,500-3,000 units).
The needled used to inject Botox is very small, so most people tolerate injections quite well. A Botox injection only takes a few seconds and the injection sensation can range from “barely felt it” to “a tight pinch.” Most areas treated require a few injections. A small bump may occur at the injection site. This bump usually dissipates quickly, often before you leave the office.
Is there any downtime after receiving Botox?
Most people don’t bruise after Botox, however there is a chance a bruise at the injection site may develop. To reduce the chance of bruising don’t take ibuprofen, aspirin, and other blood thinners for 24 hours before or after the procedure. You can resume most activities after Botox, but avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after your injections and don’t lay down for about 4 hours after treatment. This helps prevent the Botox from moving even a little bit. Don’t get a facial or massage the area(s) for at least 24 hours.
How long does Botox last?
The average duration of Botox is three to four months. Because Botox relaxes muscles, it also helps prevents new wrinkles from forming.
Will Botox make me look fake?
The most important factor when choosing Botox cosmetic is to choose an experienced Botox specialist. Both Michon and Sue are certified physician assistants that have been injecting Botox in the Des Moines, IA Metro for more than 15 years each. Knowing where to place the needle and how much Botox to use is crucial to creating a natural and lasting result. With proper Botox injection, you will still be able to animate your face and look like yourself, only with softer and/or fewer lines.
How much does Botox cost?
Botox for cosmetic purposes is not covered by insurance. Botox West Des Moines, IA is priced at $14 per unit. The number of units of Botox you’ll you need depends on what you want to achieve and how deep and numerous your existing wrinkles are. Most treatments range between $100 and $300. Although treatment is not cheap, it isn’t any more expensive than the price of a salon haircut and color, and Botox will last much longer.
Michon Leddy and Sue Schooler are certified physician’s assistants (PA-C) that have more than 30 years of combined experience working with Botox and other derma fillers. They are happy to provide you with a free consultation to determine whether Botox is truly right for you.
What does it mean to be a certified physicians assistant? Find out in an upcoming blog!
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