Botox is more popular than most of the celebrities who swear by it. Every year, injections of Botox (and other botulinum toxin brands) are the most popular cosmetic procedure performed worldwide, and it has been that way every year since Botox was first approved by the FDA for aesthetic use in 2002.

So, maybe you should have a little Botox for your holiday parties. That way your crow’s feet, forehead lines, and the 11s between your brows won’t come with you to the festivities!

At Providence Plastic Surgery, Dr. Gear has extensive experience injecting Botox, so you can expect only the best results.

How does Botox do its work?

While most people have heard of Botox, many don’t really know how it works. Dermal fillers such as Juvederm “fill” a wrinkle from beneath. They simply add volume (in the case of hyaluronic acid fillers they do this by binding with nearby water molecules) to the area beneath the wrinkle, pushing the depressed skin back upward.

Botox takes a wholly different approach. Botox only works on what are called “dynamic” wrinkles. These are the wrinkles that occur when we make certain facial expressions such as squinting, showing surprise, laughing, and similar behaviors. These are expressions and are made mostly with the muscles on the upper third of the face.

When Botox is injected into one of these muscles it temporarily paralyzes the muscle. It does this by blocking the nerve messages from the muscle to the brain. When the brain doesn’t receive the message to contract the muscle, the muscle remains relaxed. Without the contraction, the wrinkle that forms on the skin above never forms.

Botox only works on dynamic wrinkles; it has no effect on wrinkles that are on display at all times. These are called “static” wrinkles and they are the result of sun damage, declining collagen production, and other factors. Marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and the like are static wrinkles.

How long does Botox work its magic?

Botox keeps the injected muscle from contracting for around four months in most people. At that point, the body will absorb the now-inert material and the muscle will begin to contract again. At that point, another Botox session will continue your results.

You can erase your crow’s feet from your holiday gift list with a Botox session at Providence Plastic Surgery. Call us at (704) 771-1747 to schedule an appointment.