One of the earliest signs of aging is the development of creases and lines on your forehead. These lines can make you look chronically angry or sad as well as make you look ten years older than you are. Nowadays, you can quickly rid yourself of a brow line with minimally invasive Botox cosmetic treatments.
When you make facial expressions like smiling, frowning, or wrinkling your forehead during intense periods of concentration, muscles under your skin pull the skin around. When you are young and have springy, elastic skin, it just springs back into its normal configuration afterward.
However, beginning as early as age 20, the skin starts to become thinner by around 6% per decade and its water, elastin, and hyaluronic acid content all progressively decrease. These changes cause the skin to become more rigid, and it stops bouncing back after the muscles pull at it and instead settles into lines and creases that become increasingly deeper and more visible over time.
What is Botox?
Botox is a toxin that is produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. This bacterial species can grow in certain foods, and if people consume food contaminated with it, they can develop botulism food poisoning. Most cases of botulism have been linked to faulty home canning procedures.
The toxin temporarily paralyzes muscles by blocking the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles.
While it may sound scary to inject a toxin into your face, the tiny amount used only affects the muscle into which it is injected and has no toxic systemic effects.
Once the muscles that are pulling on the skin become paralyzed, the lines and creases smooth out and disappear. Botox works best when it is initiated relatively early during the aging process; if the lines and creases become too deep, to achieve the desired smooth, perfect brow, fillers might need to be used in conjunction with Botox.
Some experts believe that Botox can prevent wrinkles and creases from forming in the first place, and suggest people who want to maintain their smooth, youthful look should initiate regular Botox injections starting around age 25.
What is the treatment like?
The actual treatment is quite straightforward. A tiny needle is used to inject the Botox into the areas to be treated; it only takes a few minutes to treat the brow. If crow’s feet and mouth lines are also being treated, it takes longer. It is important to seek out a highly-skilled, trained, and qualified individual to perform the injections because if they are not placed in the correct locations, they won’t work very well, and you may end up with a drooping eyelid for a week or two.
It is important not to rub your face for several days after the injections to avoid accidentally moving the Botox from its injection site. Pat, don’t rub or massage, while washing, drying, and moisturizing your face.
How long does it last?
Some of the effects of Botox will be immediately apparent, but it takes about seven days before the full effect is visible. Unfortunately, Botox is not permanent, and generally, the injections need to be repeated every four months.
Is it safe?
Botox injections, if properly placed, are very safe. Botox has been FDA approved to treat brow lines and has also been FDA approved to treat a fairly large number of different medical conditions, including migraines, excessive sweating, and overactive bladder. An estimated 72 million Botox procedures were performed in 2017.
Different Types
Although most people use the word “Botox” to refer to any agents used to treat wrinkles and other conditions by blocking the movement of specific muscles, it is a brand name. There are several different products on the market that act similarly to Botox but have slightly different characteristics, such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau.
1. Botox
Botox is made by Allergen. It was the first product on the market and has a demonstrated track record of safety and efficacy. It has to be refrigerated for storage.
2. Dysport
Duysportis made by Ipsen. Like Botox, it has to be refrigerated for storage. Dysport is more diluted than Botox or Xeomin and around three times as much of the product is needed for injection into each site. This larger volume may increase the risk of the product moving away from the desired site and causing unwanted reactions such as a drooping eyelid.
3. Xeomin
Xeominis made by Merz. It is stable at room temperature. It is believed to be less immunogenic than Botox and Dysport, both of which can induce the production of antibodies against these products, which block their efficacy in around 2% of users. Xeomin has been found to induce blocking antibodies in less than 1% of users. Individuals who develop blocking antibodies against Botox or Dysport often but not always find that Xeomin is still effective. However, it may need to be injected as often as every two months versus every four months for the other products.
4. Jeuveau
Jeuveau is made by Evolus. It is a recent introduction to the market, and little information is available about it. The company is pushing it heavily as a much cheaper product that the other ones available.
Some clinics let the patient choose which product to use, while other dermatologists have a strong preference for a particular product for particular uses.
Final thoughts
If you are unhappy about your wrinkled brow, Botox injections can easily correct the problem. They can be used in conjunction with fillers to smooth out even very deep creases and have a long and proven track record of safety.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
