How Does BOTOX Treatment Work?

At Eternal Dermatology in Fulton, MD, our goal is to help our patients feel more confident in their skin, and one way we do that is by creating non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatment plans with anti-aging cosmetic injectables. If you live in the Baltimore, MD, area and are interested in beginning a BOTOX treatment plan, we can design a customized treatment that can target each of your areas of concern and restore smooth, wrinkle-free skin.

How Does a BOTOX Treatment in Baltimore, MD Work?

There is much more involved with a BOTOX treatment in Baltimore, MD than simply showing up for your scheduled appointment. The entire treatment process is multi-faceted and includes different steps that work together to ensure an exceptional injection experience and that you achieve the best possible results.

Your Consultation

The first step in the treatment process is your initial consultation at our Baltimore, MD, area office. Your consultation is important because it allows us to learn more about your treatment goals and confirm your treatment eligibility. While most patients make good candidates for this wrinkle-relaxing injectable, some may not due to safety precautions. Pregnant and nursing women do not qualify for treatment, and neither do those with an allergy to the proteins in the product.

When you arrive at your consultation, we will ask you some questions about your medical history, and we will need to learn about any experience you’ve had with neuromodulators. We will also answer any of your questions, make treatment recommendations, and then once we confirm it’s right for you, we will design your customized treatment plan. At this time, we can give you more information about how to prepare for your treatment and then schedule your appointment.

Preparing for Your Treatment

Once we schedule your appointment, you will need to take some steps to prepare your body for the injections. You will need to temporarily discontinue using blood-thinning supplements and medications, including but not limited to vitamin E, fish oil, ibuprofen, aspirin, and ginkgo. Important that you avoid alcohol consumption for at least 24 hours before your treatment.

If you plan on working out, do it before your scheduled appointment since you’ll need to refrain from strenuous activity for 24 hours after the treatment. You can also drink plenty of water to ensure your skin is hydrated and avoid sun exposure or anti-aging skincare treatments or products that could inflame or irritate your skin.

Your Injection Appointment

On the day of your appointment, plan on arriving with clean skin, but if you can’t, we will cleanse the treatment area before administering BOTOX. Your actual treatment will only take 30 minutes or less from start to finish. We can apply a pre-treatment numbing cream at the injection sites to enhance your comfort, but most patients don’t need this step.

During your appointment, we will administer the right amount of product to specific muscles of your face. The most common treatment areas include the forehead, the outer corners of the eyes, and the area between the eyebrows. BOTOX can also treat muscular conditions that cause pain or discomfort and has some off-label cosmetic uses.

Following the Post-Care Instructions

Once your treatment is over, you can resume all your normal daily activities. Because the treatment is so quick, you can return to work if necessary or go about your day. You must follow some specific post-care instructions to ensure the best results. You will need to:

• Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours post-treatment
• Avoid direct sun exposure
• Avoid activities or environments that increase body temperature (saunas, hot tubs, steam rooms, sunbathing)
• Avoid touching the treatment sites
• Keep your head elevated for at least four hours after treatment
• Avoid sleeping on your face to prevent putting pressure on the treatment sites
• Avoid professional skincare treatments for the first two weeks after your injections
• Avoid blood-thinning supplements, medications, and alcohol for at least 24 hours post-treatment

Scheduling Follow-Up Treatments

You will notice your results within the first week of treatment, and they’ll continue to improve for the first 30 days. However, BOTOX injections only deliver temporary results, so in order to maintain a wrinkle-free appearance, you will need to schedule maintenance treatments throughout the year. Results typically last three to four months, sometimes longer.

As soon as you notice that your expression lines are making a gradual reappearance, you can schedule a maintenance treatment. Most patients find they need less product at maintenance appointments than they do at their initial treatment. At your maintenance treatment, we will evaluate the treatment areas and then administer the exact amount of product needed to once again relax the muscles in the area to restore smooth skin.

Erase Your Expression Lines

BOTOX is the perfect solution for men and women in the Baltimore, MD, area who want to subtly eliminate expression lines yet still preserve a natural-looking appearance. If you’re interested in learning more about BOTOX treatments, we can help. Contact us today at Eternal Dermatology in Fulton, MD, to schedule your initial consultation, the first step of this treatment process that will end with you looking and feeling more like your younger self.