Botox offers amazing benefits for facial anti-aging. Many people are familiar with its mechanism of action in general terms, that it works by freezing muscles of facial expression that cause wrinkles. However, there are some subtle caveats that not everyone appreciates.
The best candidates for wrinkle treatment with Botox or Dysport are those patients who have wrinkles during muscle activity but otherwise do not have severe wrinkles at rest. This can be tested by relaxing the relevant facial muscles to see what effect that has on those wrinkles. If the wrinkles are primarily due to the effect of poor skin tone, loss of underlying tissue or gravity, then Botox is less likely to yield any benefit. In such cases, a dermal filler, such as Juvederm or Radiesse, is more likely to help.
One must also be aware of the effect of relaxing a facial muscle on one’s facial expression. Although wrinkles may go away, expression may be changed. For example, some people have excess skin laxity in their foreheads and keep their forehead muscles working constantly to keep their eyebrows from covering their eyes. If the forehead were weakened in that area, then the eyebrows could fall and cause vision to be obstructed. Only a brow lift would be helpful in such a case.
Skin vitality is also important. Wrinkles formed from dynamic muscle action don’t disappear immediately. The skin remodels itself to smooth out wrinkles over time, but this action depends on the health and age of the skin. For instance, one would expect that a 35 year old with forehead wrinkles would probably see more improvement with Botox than a 65 year old.
When getting Botox or Dysport for the first time, it is very important to go over the cosmetic goals, as well as the risks and benefits. Realistic expectations are key to being satisfied with this procedure.
