Nasolabial folds, also called smile lines, naturally develop on the face over time. These creases extend from the nose to the corners of the mouth. Besides using at-home skincare routines to lessen smile lines, some people opt for Botox treatments.
Effective and well-tolerated, these aesthetic treatments improve the look of smile lines. How long does it take to see improvement? Here’s more about botox and smile lines.
What Is Botox, and How Does It Work?
Botox injectables are FDA-approved medications used for both aesthetic and medical purposes. botox is a lab-purified form of the botulism toxin–clostridium botulinum.
Injected with a fine needle in very small doses, botox injectables lessen the action of certain muscle groups. When facial muscles move less, the creases and wrinkles become smoother. A more relaxed and youthful appearance results.
In cosmetic applications, botox injectables reduce the appearance of:
- Lines between the eyebrows (also called glabella lines or 11s)
- Crow’s feet lines at the corners of the eyes
- Lines across the forehead
- Nasolabial folds between the nose and mouth (also called smile lines)
- Marionette lines at the corners of the mouth
Sometimes, aesthetic providers combine in-office botox treatments with dermal fillers. Injectable dermal fillers usually contain hyaluronic acid, which plumps and fills out the skin.
In medical applications, Botox injectables help qualified patients with many ongoing health problems, including chronic migraines, overactive bladder, excessive sweating, jaw joint dysfunction (TMJ), crossed eyes, and others.
What Are Botox Treatments Like?
Botox treatments require little to no preparation beforehand. However, you should avoid alcohol and blood thinning medications before having the injections.
During the actual procedure, your provider injects botox into targeted muscles. Most patients report very little discomfort–something like a stinging sensation–during the injection process. From start to finish, the entire botox procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes.
Afterward, you may experience some minor swelling and/or redness at the injection sites. These side effects will subside within a few hours.
You can resume normal activities at home and on the job immediately after botox treatments. However, avoid heavy lifting and strenuous gym workouts for 24 hours.
In effect, you will have no real downtime after your botox treatments. In fact, patients must be healthy enough to receive botox and achieve excellent results.
When Will I See Improvement in My Smile Lines?
Smile lines usually improve some days after botox treatments. You will see gradual facial smoothing and a more relaxed and youthful appearance. However, know that the cosmetic results are not permanent.
Botox treatments will last for many months. However, patients start to see a return of their lines and creases. As such, you should expect to be on a botox maintenance program to keep your facial appearance refreshed and more line-free.
At Family Weight & Wellness Clinic and Medi-Spa, our specialists in health, wellness, and fitness offer a botox loyalty program. Also known as Brilliant Distinctions, this program rewards patients with many botox services. All you have to do is receive regular botox treatments at our clinic in The Woodlands, TX.
Preventing Smile Lines
Of course, the effects of time–smile lines, crow’s feet, and the like–seem unavoidable. However, we recommend all our patients employ some easy at-home strategies to reduce the appearance of smile lines and other signs of aging.
Here are some suggestions you may wish to try:
- Sleep on your back instead of on your side
- Wear sunscreen on exposed areas of skin daily
- Eat a nutritious diet with plenty of water, fiber, and fresh fruits and vegetables
- Stop smoking (see your primary care physician for a monitored smoking cessation program)
- Reduce your alcohol intake
- Apply a quality facial moisturizer twice a day
Botox for Smile Lines in The Woodlands, TX
At Weight & Wellness Clinic and Medi-Spa, only botox-certified professionals administer injections. Our botox injectors are trained by Allergan, the makers of botox. In addition to our specialized training, we are committed to helping you achieve outstanding results from this treatment.
We offer a free consultation to all our patients interested in botox injections for the face and are able to accommodate same-day or next-day appointments.
To learn more about how botox could help your smile lines or to schedule a personalized consultation, call us today at (281) 292-2300 or use our appointment request form.
We will be happy to discuss all your options with you.
