In a nutshell, Botox stops facial muscles from contracting. This paralysis of the muscles helps the skin not to wrinkle up.

Botox can help with both static and dynamic wrinkles, which will be explained in detail below. Some other questions I’ll answer in this blog post include:

• How long does Botox last?
• At what age should you start getting Botox?

What Does Botox Do Inside of the Muscle?

Your muscles depend on receiving signals sent from chemical neurotransmitters inside of your muscle cells. These chemicals spark a series of events that cause your muscle to contract.

When Botox (a neurotoxin) has been injected into a muscle, this neurotoxin blocks the neurotransmitter signal from reaching your muscle. When the signal is blocked, it never receives the “green light” to contract, so it remains relaxed.

A relaxed facial muscle means that the skin above that muscle looks smoothed out and less wrinkled. These “dynamic” wrinkles (wrinkles that form from facial expressions) are temporarily unable to form.

When placed in facial muscles around the eyes (crow’s feet) and between the eyebrows (“elevens”), your face will look more youthful because dynamic wrinkles simply cannot form.

How Long Does Botox Last?

Sadly, this highly effective treatment does not last forever. For most individuals, Botox lasts approximately 3 to 6 months. Every person is different, so stay open-minded.

Over time, you and your doctor will discover how long it lasts for you before needing touch up injections. The most common touch-up schedule is 3-4 times per year to maintain excellent results.

At What Age Should You Start Getting Botox?

This question can be easily answered in three words: static wrinkle prevention. Static wrinkles form after years of repeated facial expressions etch permanent wrinkles into the skin. To help fade them, Botox keeps the muscle relaxed underneath. However, to fill in the etch marks, dermal fillers must be used.

In short, many of our patients start getting Botox in their 20’s to prevent the formation of static wrinkles in the future.

Click here to read about how long it takes for Botox side effects to go away.

Read this other article on what not to do after getting Botox injections.

Botox, Dermal Fillers, and More – Beatitude Aesthetic Medicine

My name is Dr. Aeria Chang. Since 2008, I’ve delighted my patients with Botox, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, RF microneedling, Thermage, Ultherapy, and other advanced cosmetic treatments.

In fact, I’m in the top 5% of injectors in the country when it comes to the number of injections I perform each year. As a Platinum Injector for Allergan, Inc. (the maker of Botox and Juvederm), I have the skills and experience it takes to help you love your results. Call me today to set up your consultation and first treatment.

We have a revolving first-time client special – just ask us about current pricing. Our office number is (619) 280-1609. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

*Botox and Juvederm are registered trademarks of Allergan, Inc., an AbbVie company.