Somewhere along the journey toward aging, many people find themselves staring into the mirror and wondering where those lines and creases came from. There’s not much that can be done to outright prevent crow’s feet, laugh lines, frown lines, and other wrinkle formations from taking hold of our face and making their mark. When the time finally comes to face them down in the mirror, panic sets in and money gets spent on over-the-counter treatments with ingredients you cannot pronounce. Letting these wrinkles form and reacting after the fact is the method most people use to fight aging. Yet, with a proactive approach and regularly timed Botox treatments, you could revolutionize the way you age.
About Botox
Approved by the FDA for cosmetic use, Botox is an injectable substance derived from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Don’t let the word “bacteria” fool you, however; it is a sterile, purified protein that is tremendously useful in diminishing the wrinkles on the face and neck. When used to treat wrinkles on the face, Botox is injected into the facial muscles of the treatment area. The muscles are temporarily paralyzed, alleviating some of the strain on the skin and soft tissue. Wrinkles become less visible when the muscles aren’t contracting, so your face looks smoother and younger almost instantly.
It is common for most patients to experience slight discomfort and mild swelling after a Botox treatment, but these side effects will not be significant enough to interrupt your daily routine. There is no need to take any downtime or time off from work after a Botox treatment, unless you choose to do so on your own. As the swelling and discomfort dissipate, you should see your full results emerging day by day. Most patients see these results within five to seven days of their procedure. These results are not permanent, although patients should expect to benefit from them for up to six months. Follow-up treatments can be planned in advance by consulting with your plastic surgeon and then there’s no need to let your youthful appearance waiver for even a moment.
The Right Age for Botox
Aging tends to surprise most of us, especially 20- and 30-somethings who might start to see the signs around their eyes and mouths. As soon as these lines appear, it’s a sure bet that more will begin to follow over time. These original fine lines will gradually deepen as well, forming bigger creases and even more aging problems to fix. With Botox treatments, however, these lines won’t have the chance to deepen when the muscles beneath them have been paralyzed.
Yes, even as young as your 20s and 30s, Botox can become part of your regular maintenance routine as a way to keep the signs of aging at bay. Schedule a consultation to create a plan of action to fight the aging process with regular injections. For those patients who have already created their own plan, fine lines and wrinkles are effectively diminished and prevented with regular Botox treatments. Preventive measures are always preferable to reactive ones. In the case of the early signs of aging, prevention can do much to maintain your natural youthfulness and glow.
Facing Botox’s Risks
The good news is that Botox carries very few actual risks for its patients. Even regular treatments of Botox have been shown to present a patient with very few risks, so there’s no likely danger to this plan. Reactions and side effects of Botox include:
- Numbness of the treatment area, usually temporary
- Tingling in the area, also temporary
- Prolonged redness and/or swelling at the injection site
- Allergic reaction to the Botox formula
If you react to Botox in any way, alert your surgeon so that he or she can take steps to help you address your symptoms. Keep in mind that the benefits of Botox far outweigh the minimal risks. Controlling the aging process is both safe and effective with the use of regular, timed-out Botox treatments.
Plan With the Right Surgeon
As an experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Sheldon S. Kabaker can guide you smoothly through the process of plotting out your own Botox treatment plan. An Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgeon and Hair Transplant Specialist, he also offers nonsurgical skincare treatments at his practice. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine in 1964, before serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and seeking active duty in Vietnam. Dr. Kabaker has studied and taught facial plastic surgery internationally in countries including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Today, he continues to educate himself while delivering exciting results for his patients. To book a consultation with Dr. Kabaker, contact his office located at 3324 Webster Street in Oakland, CA, by calling (415) 379-9015.