You should appreciate and love what you see in the mirror, no matter your age. The inevitable signs of aging will creep up on all of us. If you’re disheartened or bothered by your changing appearance, you don’t have to grin and bear it. There is an array of innovative solutions to address the signs of aging so you can look as young on the outside as you feel on the inside. Call Pinnacle Dermatology in Birmingham, MI to discuss your anti-aging options, including BOTOX.
What Causes the Signs of Aging?
Of course, the passage of time ages us, but what causes the actual physical changes to our faces? It’s a decline in our production of collagen. Collagen is a protein in our skin that’s responsible for its tight structure and smooth and taut surface. Collagen works with two other powerhouses in the body—elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin keeps our skin elastic so it bounces back in place, while hyaluronic acid helps the skin attract and keep moisture for a dewy and supple look.
As we age, our collagen production slows down. Production peaks about the time we turn 18 and declines every year after. As the production of collagen and elastin slows down, our skin is more susceptible to wrinkles from various causes, including gravity and sun damage.
Another cause is the loss of volume. Our skin fails to fill in voids left by our diminishing skin structure. When gaps develop below the surface of our skin, there isn’t enough collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid to support it, so it falls, creating a wrinkle. The lack of collagen and elastin also contributes to dynamic wrinkles—those created when we make the same movements repeatedly. Dynamic wrinkles can be treated using BOTOX.
What Is BOTOX?
BOTOX is the brand name of a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The FDA approved BOTOX in the late 80s to treat a condition called blepharospasm, or uncontrolled blinking. It was then discovered that it could successfully target dynamic wrinkles by addressing them at the source: movement.
Over time, you make the same facial expressions repeatedly using specific muscles in your face. When BOTOX is injected into these muscles, it blocks the signal from the nerve to that muscle. When the impulse to move is halted or significantly reduced, the muscle relaxes. As the muscles underneath relax, the skin attached also relaxes, causing wrinkles to smooth out.
In 2002 the FDA approved Botox to treat moderate-to-severe frown lines, making it the first of its kind to be approved for aesthetic use. Today it remains the only FDA-approved treatment to temporarily improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines in adults.
Uses of BOTOX
BOTOX is the number one requested cosmetic procedure worldwide for a reason: it gives patients the results they want. This treatment is successfully used to improve the look of:
- Moderate to severe frown lines between brows
- Forehead creases and lines
- Crow’s feet
- Bunny lines
This treatment can also help people suffering from excessive sweating by blocking nerve impulses to the sweat glands, preventing them from producing too much sweat.
What to Expect
BOTOX treatments are quick and easy, with many clients scheduling sessions on their lunch break. Your doctor may apply a topical numbing agent to the injection site to maximize your comfort. A series of small injections are then made into the targeted muscles. There is no downtime associated with this treatment.
It can take up to a week for you to see results. Once your wrinkles smooth, your appearance will become more youthful and you will look rested and refreshed. The results last between three and four months. If you follow your doctor’s recommended schedule for maintenance sessions, you may enjoy seamless results.
This is not a dermal filler and won’t work on wrinkles caused solely by sun damage and gravity.
Other Injectables
If you want to round out your new youthful appearance, dermal fillers may help you achieve the smooth and naturally supple look of youthful skin without deep wrinkles and folds. Talk to your skincare specialist about how dermal fillers can help address some of the most common concerns of aging:
- Thinning lips
- Vertical lines around the lips
- Deep folds around the nose and mouth
- Down-turned corners of the mouth
- Loss of volume in areas like the cheeks and temples
- Loss of volume in the hands
Dermal fillers require no downtime and offer immediate results. Talk to your provider about your specific areas of concern. There are many fillers to choose from because each one is designed to do something different and address different areas of your face and body. Your provider can help you decide which is right for you.
Results from fillers can last up to a year or more depending on the filler and area being treated. Again, with the right schedule of maintenance sessions, you can enjoy seamless results.
Call for a Consultation
You should love the image you see in the mirror. If you don’t, you can take control of your own aging process and start addressing the imperfections that can be disheartening and discouraging.
Reach out to the seasoned team at Pinnacle Dermatology in Birmingham, MI to discuss all the innovative options available to help you achieve the results you want. Setting up a consultation is the first step to a more self-assured, confident and youthful-looking you.
