Have you noticed that certain lines and wrinkles on your face become more noticeable when you smile, frown, and even just talk? Repeated muscle movements can lead to wrinkles, but luckily, Botox can relax these muscles and create smoother, younger-looking skin. Our expert staff at Murphy Plastic Surgery here in Englewood, CO, are highly trained in administering this quick and effective injectable that helps patients feel naturally more beautiful and themselves.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox?

If you’re over 18 and have noticed moderate-to-severe wrinkles that become more pronounced when you move your face, you may be interested in this treatment. While many of our clients here at Murphy Plastic Surgery are in their 40s and 50s, we encourage anyone who’s feeling self-conscious about lines and wrinkles to come in for a consultation, regardless of age. Because this incredible treatment can even prevent wrinkles from developing in the future, it can be a great option for candidates in their 20s.

What Is This Treatment And How Does It Work?

This treatment is used to combat “dynamic wrinkles”, which are the lines and wrinkles caused by doing the same facial movements repeatedly. Unlike other injectables that target the skin itself, Botox is a neuromodulator, which means it’s injected into the muscles underneath the skin. Once there, it blocks communication between the muscles and the surrounding nerves. The nerves are unable to tell the muscles what to do, and so the muscles simply stop moving even when they’re being told to do things like “laugh” and “smile”.

And what does this look like on the skin? It means that even though you’re still laughing and smiling, the muscles aren’t contracting, so the overlying skin is staying smooth. Because this treatment is highly targeted, and the product is sent to the muscles by way of a very fine needle, there won’t be any changes to the face outside of the treated areas. This gives patients natural-looking, subtle results that don’t change their face shape or structure, but rather enhance their existing beauty.

Are Neuromodulators Safe?

Not only does this treatment have FDA approval, but over 4.4 million Americans used a neuromodulator of some kind in 2020, including men. That kind of popularity should instill some confidence in potential new clients! Botox itself has been available since 1985, so its methods and results are tried and tested. Importantly, our expert team here at Murphy Plastic Surgery has had years of training, so you can feel totally secure during treatment knowing that you’re in the best hands.

Where Can This Treatment Be Used?

Dynamic wrinkles can occur all over the face. A very useful way to figure out if your wrinkles are dynamic is to see if they become more pronounced when you emote, but you’re unsure, we’ll be happy to talk you through things in more detail during your consultation. Some of the most common areas this treatment is used include:

• Frown lines (the eleven-shaped lines between the eyebrows)
• Crow’s feet (wrinkles around the eyes)
• Tear trough (under the eyes)
• Lipstick lines (thin lines around the mouth)
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Chin dimples
• Bunny lines (creases at the top of the nose)
• Eyebrows/hooded eyes
• Nasolabial folds (the lines from the edge of the nostrils to the edge of the lip)

What Should I Expect Out of Treatment?

Before

Ahead of any actual treatment, you’ll need to come in for an initial consultation. This is your chance to talk us through your cosmetic concerns and goals, and we can ensure that this treatment will be the best course of action to remedy them. We’ll also go through your medical history, including any medication you’re on, to make sure you’re a healthy candidate. If we determine that Botox is the right treatment for you, we’ll draw up a treatment plan, including how much product we’ll use and where the injections will be made.

Steps To Take

Before your treatment, we may ask that you tweak your lifestyle slightly so you’re in optimal condition. Blood thinners such as aspirin and fish oil tablets should be avoided since they can cause bruising on the skin after an injection. If you take specific medications, we may ask that you stop taking them in the lead-up to treatment. On the day, we’ll ask that you come in without any makeup or sunscreen on, since foreign substances can contaminate the needle.

Your Appointment

We perform this treatment in our stunning Englewood office. We’ll first apply a topical numbing cream to the treatment areas on your face you experience maximum comfort throughout the process. We’ll then make the injections, following along carefully with the treatment plan. Many patients report the needle is so fine they can hardly feel anything! The entire appointment will only take a few simple minutes, and then you’re free to go. We don’t use anesthetic, so you can drive yourself to and from your appointment.

Is There Downtime Required Afterwards?

Unlike surgical cosmetic solutions, there’s no taking time off normal life needed after this treatment. Patients can immediately go back to work, out to lunch, pick up the kids from school – whatever the normal routine is. We’ll ask that you avoid a few things that could slow your body’s ability to heal, such as intense exercise or high temperatures like in a sauna or hot tub. This will only be for a few days, however.

How Long Does It Take Until I See Results?

The results of your treatment will develop gradually as your body absorbs the product and your muscles relax more and more. Some people see wrinkles start to soften in as little as seventy-two hours, but optimal results are generally achieved at around the two-week mark. This is when the muscles will have relaxed completely, and can no longer contract as you move your face. The result is a more youthful-looking complexion with a diminishment in wrinkles and lines.

How Long Will the Results Last?

Most patients can enjoy their gorgeous results for between four and six months. After this, the effects of treatment will wear off and lines will start to appear as before. But don’t worry! We’ll welcome you back for a maintenance session where you can achieve the same results all over again. These sessions are as simple as the first one so they’re not a time-drainer. We can also update your treatment plan as new areas of concern arise.

Why Do People Undergo This Treatment?

While wrinkles and lines are a perfectly normal part of aging and don’t do anything to diminish a person’s beauty, it can be confronting to look in the mirror and not recognize the person looking back. Cosmetic treatments like this one allow patients to have some control over their skin, the same way diet or exercise affords them control over their body, or dye and a cut for control of their hair. And because this treatment offers very natural results, patients love that they still look like themselves after.

Many people who struggle with dynamic wrinkles also go to great lengths to keep their faces as still as possible, so as not to create more wrinkles or accentuate what’s already there. It can be draining to spend all day worried about how your face is moving or what it looks like. We believe people should have the freedom to laugh and smile as they please without carrying around these concerns, and Botox gives patients that freedom.

What if This Treatment Isn’t Right for Me?

Certain medical conditions and medications may prohibit you from being a good candidate for this treatment. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding may also be advised to seek out alternative solutions. There’s also a chance that your wrinkles aren’t dynamic at all but caused by other things like a loss of collagen or hyaluronic acid; important nutrients that keep the skin supple and firm. If this is the case, we may suggest a different but equally effective treatment such as a dermal filler or a skin peel.

Are You Ready for Smoother, More Youthful-Looking Skin?

With Botox, you can relax contorting muscles and enjoy smooth, uncreased skin. Patients love that they feel more gorgeous and look younger as they laugh and talk freely, knowing their faces are staying gorgeously even and soft. If you’re ready to explore this incredible treatment, we’re ready to hear from you. Call us at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO, today.