Chances are, you’ve heard of BOTOX before. In the past few decades, this cosmetic treatment has become famous around the world. It’s much more effective than anti-aging creams and lotions, and it provides you with long-term results. At RefineU Medspa in Oklahoma City, OK, you can get neuromodulator injections several times a year to maintain your youthful complexion.
How Often Can You Get BOTOX?
Botulinum toxin is a substance that immobilizes the muscles in the treatment area and stops them from creating facial expressions that cause wrinkles. The injectable works best on dynamic lines that only appear when the patient is frowning or smiling, not when their features are at rest. Although neuromodulator injections are designed to be long-lasting, they don’t produce permanent results.
After several months, botulinum toxin gets absorbed and secreted by the body. That’s why most patients come to the clinic several times a year. Typically, neuromodulators last for three to four months at a time, but it depends on the treatment site, the condition of the skin, the patient’s metabolism, and their lifestyle. Some people get top-up injections every two months, while others only get two treatments per year.
How to Prolong the Results
Although you can’t control the speed of your metabolism or the condition of your treatment site, you can do several things to prolong your botulinum toxin results. Take great care of your skin after your session. Use anti-aging skin lotions and serums to prevent premature wrinkling. If you’re not sure which products are best for your skin type, ask us. We have years of experience in the cosmetic industry, so we can develop a great skincare routine for you.
Always wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 during the day. This protects your face from damaging UV rays. Eat a healthy diet that contains all the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay in good shape. If you struggle with your nutrient intake, speak to us about our IV bar. We can create a customized cocktail that replenishes and revitalizes your cells.
How to Combine Botulinum Toxin with Other Treatments
At RefineU Medspa, we offer a wide range of treatments aside from botulinum toxin. If you’ve been experiencing severe signs of aging or multiple cosmetic issues, you might need to use several of our methods. Many patients who get neuromodulator treatment also ask for dermal fillers. These injectables use hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin, reduce wrinkles, and augment the lips. Other popular options are laser therapy, microneedling, and the thread lift.
Although these treatments are minimally invasive, they can’t always be combined. You might have to wait for at least two weeks after each session, so the body can recover, and the effects become visible. During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss which methods make sense for you and come up with a treatment sequence that allows you to experience the best results.
What Do Neuromodulator Injections Treat?
If you’ve never had neuromodulator injections before, you might not know which conditions they can treat. Most commonly, they address issues related to aging. Because botulinum toxin stops the muscles in the face from creating certain shapes, the aging process is stopped in its tracks. Patients often notice that they no longer have small lines and wrinkles and that their features look smoother than before.
Botulinum toxin is also used to address conditions related to the lips. After we inject the substance around your mouth, the muscles relax, and the lips curve outwards. This creates the beautiful, plump appearance many patients desire. Those with very thin or unevenly shaped lips might benefit from a combination of neuromodulator treatment and dermal fillers.
Expected Results
Immediately after your session, you’ll feel slightly different. However, the botulinum toxin takes a few days to start relaxing your muscles. Typically, you have to wait for two to four days to experience the initial results. After ten to fourteen days, your face stops changing, and you can see what your features will look like for the next few months.
Your face might feel slightly different because some of your muscles are immobilized. You might no longer be able to raise your eyebrows quite as much, for example, if you’ve had BOTOX on your forehead. However, you can still create the full, wide range of natural facial expressions, so your ability to interact with others won’t be affected. As discussed, your results will likely last for three to four months or slightly longer if you have a slow metabolism and take good care of your body.
What to Expect During the Appointment
One of the reasons why botulinum toxin has become so popular in recent years is that each appointment only takes a few minutes. To begin, we numb your treatment area, so you don’t feel any pain when we inject the neuromodulator. We carefully mark your face and then use very fine needles to perform the injections.
Botulinum toxin is often called a lunchtime treatment because it can be performed during a patient’s lunch hour. Afterward, they can go straight back to work or their normal activities. Very little preparation and recovery time is required, which makes this treatment great for busy people, those with young children, and those who have very demanding jobs.
The Recovery Process
You don’t have to take time off or rest at home after a botulinum toxin session. However, it’s important that you closely follow all our guidelines because they ensure your safety and help you to experience excellent results. Avoid blood-thinning substances like NSAIDs and vitamin E supplements for several days before and after your appointment to speed up the healing process.
Care for your injection sites by keeping them dry and clean at all times. We might recommend that you avoid certain cosmetic products for a few days. Don’t expose your face to direct sunlight, and avoid strenuous workouts for a few days. Delay using hot tubs, jacuzzis, and saunas until your body has had a chance to adjust to the botulinum toxin treatment.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Almost everyone is a good candidate because this method is so gentle. Patients who are suffering from the first signs of aging or aren’t happy with the shape of their lips are excellent candidates. They can get treated even if they have minor health issues or allergies. However, we can’t administer neuromodulator injections to those who have serious skin issues at the treatment site or a history of anaphylaxis.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, delay your session until several months after your baby is weaned. Speak to your primary physician if you’re being treated for a serious health issue like cancer. They can let you know whether botulinum toxin is likely to cause problems with your medical treatment.
What Age Do Most People Start?
We treat patients of all ages at the clinic, but we almost always recommend that people start neuromodulator injections before they have deep lines and wrinkles. It’s always easier to address small issues than major ones. Botulinum toxin is great at treating dynamic wrinkles that start appearing in a patient’s late 20s or 30s. That’s why most people come to see us at 35-40.
You might want to come to the clinic sooner if you drank heavily or exposed your skin to a lot of UV radiation when you were younger. However, you might not need treatment until your 40s or 50s if you have naturally smooth and healthy skin, or you’ve taken excellent care of your body.
Will I Build Up Immunity Over Time?
Sometimes, patients delay treatment or come to the clinic infrequently because they are worried that they will build up a botulinum toxin immunity. While there is a small chance of this happening, it is very uncommon. The vast majority of people continue to get excellent results from neuromodulator treatment for several decades.
If you’re worried about immunity, don’t book more than four treatments per year. Take good care of your body, and ask us to give you the lowest possible dose. At RefineU Medspa, we offer several neuromodulator injectables, so patients can keep getting treated even if they no longer respond well to the traditional botulinum toxin injectable. Dysport is made slightly differently, and it contains fewer of the proteins the body can become immune to.
Stop the Aging Process Now
BOTOX is one of the most popular nonsurgical beauty treatments in the world. It’s safe, effective, and easy to administer. Typically, patients come to the clinic three or four times a year to maintain their results. However, the frequency of treatment depends on the person’s metabolism, cosmetic issue, and lifestyle. Send us a message at RefineU Medspa in Oklahoma City, OK to find out more about neuromodulator injections.
