The platysmal bands are two muscles that are present on both sides of the neck. Because the skin on the neck is considerably thinner than that on the face, and because the skin around the neck gradually sheds fat deposits and collagen as you age, these muscles tend to become more evident over time. They're usually well-hidden and only show up when you clench or grimace your teeth when working out or when you're under a lot of stress.
Genetics, weight loss, teeth clenching, and stress and anxiety are all documented causes of neck age lines.
When we are under a lot of stress and worry, our bodies clench and tense up, especially around the neck, shoulder blades, and teeth. Even when you're doing something helpful for your body, like a high-intensity workout, some muscles tend to stiffen up in anticipation of a stressful situation.
The platysmal bands get constricted and shift forward as a result of this. The platysmal bands are free-floating, which means they aren't tied to ligaments that hold them back or limit their movement like other muscles in your body. Certain repeated actions in your body will continue to push them forward over time, causing them to become more noticeable on a long-term basis. Additionally, as you get older, the skin surrounding your face and neck thins down, making the underlying muscles and bone structure more visible.
Did you know that in the United States, millions of Botox® treatments are conducted each year? In 2018, a record-breaking 7.4 million botulinum toxin treatments were administered, a figure that is expected to rise year after year. Botox® is a prominent treatment at OC Beauty Med Spa and is one of the most innovative and breakthrough anti-aging treatments available today. Botox® is trusted by millions of men and women for perfect face rejuvenation.
Botulinum toxin type A, a potent neuromodulator, is used to cure wrinkles. The pure version of neuromuscular toxin stops wrinkle-forming muscles in their tracks, giving a wrinkle-free, smooth face that appears years younger. Some patients have even compared the outcomes to those of brow lifts or eyelid rejuvenation procedures. Treatment is quick and easy to plan, and it may easily be done during a lunch break.
To enhance the look of wrinkles, we can combine the botulinum toxin treatment with facial fillers such as Juvéderm®, Voluma®, Restylane®, Perlane®, Radiesse®, or Belotero. Botox® is used to treat dynamic wrinkles. Face muscle contractions like squinting or frowning cause these wrinkles. Fillers give volume to the face while also softening wrinkles. Botox® can be used alone or in combination with fillers to provide effective rejuvenation and natural-looking results.
What Happens When You Get Botox®?
Our injectable treatments are generally done in a pleasant and private treatment area at our clinic. We start with a quick assessment to make sure Botox® treatment is a safe and effective choice for the patient. we let our patients ask as many as questions they have regarding their treatment, and we'll do our best to address them before the injection. We are committed to our patient education and want each patient to be involved and informed throughout their treatment.
Before giving the injections, we generally use a topical numbing cream to guarantee the patient's comfort. This numbing substance is applied to the skin and immediately begins to work.
Depending on the size of the treatment area and the amount of product used, therapy typically takes 15 minutes or less. Our specialists at OC Beauty Med Spa will assess your facial anatomy to decide where each injection should be administered. We start by cleaning and preparing the area for therapy. Then we inject small quantities of Botox® into the muscles that are responsible for wrinkles and fine lines with a very thin needle. The botulinum toxin in the product prevents muscles from contracting by blocking nerve impulses. The lines and wrinkles can be smoothed and faded by preventing these contractions. This therapy only works on dynamic wrinkles such as wrinkles around the lips, nasolabial folds, crow's feet, lines between the brows, and forehead creases because it relaxes muscles. If the wrinkles don't fit into this group, we might suggest additional treatment choices. For face rejuvenation, we provide both surgical and non-surgical options.
After the injections, we may use an ice pack to reduce any pain or prevent swelling. It won't stop you from driving yourself home and will wear off fast. Patients can return to work and most other activities immediately after treatment at our facility. After Botox® treatment, the patient may experience minor redness or swelling, but these side effects will diminish quickly. They can return to their normal activities almost immediately, but they should avoid strenuous activity or exercise for the rest of the day. Avoid rubbing or stroking the treated area since this might spread the Botox® to other regions of your face, creating complications. We show you how to help people get back on their feet step by step. Botox® recovery is quick, painless, and requires no time off work.
Therapy with botulinum toxin usually lasts three to five months; after the benefits of your treatment have worn off, you should schedule another treatment. If you like your results, we can help you start on a regular treatment plan so you always appear fresh-faced and relaxed! Maintaining your appearance is simple because each treatment takes only a brief in-office visit and no downtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Botox?
Botox® temporarily relaxes facial muscles, reducing the appearance of dynamic facial wrinkles such as frown lines and furrowed brows caused by repetitive muscular activity. It works by preventing the injected muscle from contracting by inhibiting nerve impulses to the muscles. The FDA has authorized Botox for the treatment of crow's feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles. Off-label applications include softening and smoothing lip lines, "bunny lines" on the nose, chins, and neck bands. It can also produce a "lip flip" when injected over the top lip.
The neurotoxic can also relax jaw muscles. The jaw muscle is a frequent location for Botox injections, whether for jawline treatment or faces slimming. Treating this area has good aesthetic benefits and can help patients who grind their teeth.
Treatment for hyperhidrosis (underarm perspiration), strabismus (lazy eye), persistent eyelid twitching (blepharospasm), chronic migraines, different forms of muscular spasms, and vaginismus are among the medicinal applications.
What are the benefits of Botox?
Botox is the gold standard for reducing the appearance of dynamic fine lines and wrinkles induced by muscle activity. The treatments are quite painless and fast. Injections can take as little as five minutes in some situations. There is practically no downtime. As long as your injector doesn’t overdo the Botox dosage, your face should still look natural, not frozen. That’s why it has such a high Worth It Rating from RealSelf members.
What should I consider when getting Botox treatment?
Botox treatment results aren't permanent. You'll need to see your doctor every three to four months to maintain your results. Bruising, which can develop at the injection site and persist for up to a week, is a common Botox adverse effect.
Asymmetrical effects, such as a drooping eyelid or corner of the mouth, might occur if you're injected incorrectly, and this type of result takes three to four months to go off.
Seeing an injector who isn't trained or licensed, or who uses a botulinum toxin that hasn't been purified or authorized for human use, might put you in danger of a medical emergency.
Our team of specialists at OC Beauty Med Spa only uses FDA-approved, top-of-the-line neuromodulators. Botox isn't for you if you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to get pregnant soon; the medicine hasn't been studied in such situations.
When should you start receiving Botox injections?
It is authorized for people above the age of 18. If you start it in your 20s or early 30s, you can prevent it. Treatments regularly can help to prevent the production of new lines.
Many of our younger patients use Botox as a preventative precaution, and the effects are fantastic. Treating patients at a younger age reduces the formation of deeper lines and wrinkles in these regions.
Who should avoid Botox injections?
A healthy adult who is neither pregnant nor breastfeeding is a suitable candidate.
Botox is not recommended during pregnancy, since its safety has yet to be proved in human trials. We've had patients who had no idea they were pregnant but gave birth to healthy children.
There are several contraindications to using it, even though it is typically well-tolerated.
- If you're allergic to botulinum toxin, don't have this therapy.
- If you have an infection around the injection site, you must first treat it.
- It is not advised for those who have a neuromuscular condition (like multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis).
Inform your doctor or injector about any medications you're taking, including over-the-counter, flu vaccinations, and prescription antibiotics, as well as supplements and vitamins.
Should you consider baby Botox?
Smaller dosages of Botox are used in Baby Botox treatments, preserving the natural expressive range of your face muscles. Microdosing is popular among young adults who want to avoid wrinkles in the future, but it's also an excellent choice for anybody who is new to the therapy or is concerned about seeming overdone.
Because we use fewer units, each treatment is quite affordable, but the lifetime of Baby Botox is generally lower because you are receiving less than the required amount for a given region. Treatments can be done every one to two months to maintain your outcomes. With more moderate to severe wrinkles, this method may be less effective. The microdose may not be efficient enough for the muscle if the creases are evident, especially if it is a stronger muscle.
Baby Botox is ideal for people who are younger or who do not have major wrinkles or creases.
What are the risks of Botox and what are the side effects?
Botox has been demonstrated in clinical trials to be safe, with few risks and adverse effects. Dry mouth, fatigue, soreness at the injection site, headache, neck pain, and vision issues such as blurred vision and dry eyes are the most prevalent.
Botulinum toxin injections can cause serious but uncommon side effects such as difficulty eating, breathing, or speaking. It's also possible that it will spread accidentally to other parts of the body, resulting in drooping eyelids, a lopsided grin, or crooked eyebrows. These dangers are magnified if you go to an injector who isn't adequately educated or certified. Our specialists at OC Beauty Med Spa have years of Botox treatment expertise, and these kinds of dangers are quite rare in the hands of professionals.
Allergic reactions are also uncommon, but they can occur hours or even days after receiving Botox injections. If you experience hives and itching, wheezing, fainting, or swelling in your face, tongue, or throat, seek immediate medical attention.
If you have any concerns about these risks, please ask us to go through the prescription information in the drug guide with you and answer any questions you may have before you are treated.
What happens during a Botox treatment?
The procedure begins with a consultation during which you and our specialist discuss your problems, goals, and medical history to confirm that the injectable is appropriate for you.
Photographs may be taken as well, so you can see the results of your therapy. Following that, your face is cleaned, and the practitioner injects the problem regions.
Botox injections are a lunchtime treatment that takes around 10 minutes to complete. You can go out and have your therapy, then return to the office promptly.
Any redness or bruising that remains can be easily concealed with cosmetics.
Are Botox injections painful?
Because the needle used for Botox injections is so tiny, most patients only feel a slight pang of discomfort. If you're worried, a topical numbing medication might be requested before the surgery. Because it's such a short and painless treatment, most patients don't need a numbing lotion beforehand.
What should you stay away from after Botox?
The injection is generally easy to recover from. you will get a few little pimples on the face that will last 15 to 20 minutes. The most essential thing to understand is how to minimize the risk of it spreading to other places. To lower the risk, follow these guidelines:
Forget about lying down for 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, Botox is linked to the muscle. To reduce the danger of diffusion, we recommend sitting erect for the first 90 minutes. This is an extremely unlikely scenario, yet it has been reported.
Do not exercise for the first 24 hours. Exercise stimulates blood flow throughout the body, including to the face, which is why your face flushes and becomes red when you exercise. This enhanced circulation is beneficial to your skin, but it raises the chance that the Botox will be removed from the injection site before it has had time to fully integrate into the neuromuscular junction. We don't like this for two reasons: 1) it may leave less Botox where we want it, perhaps reducing the impact, and 2) we don't want to raise the chance of it acting anywhere other than where it's supposed to.
For the next four hours, don't massage the treated regions. We also advise patients to avoid doing anything that puts pressure on the affected region. Wearing tight caps or pressing ice packs on your skin are examples of this. We run the danger of the drug migrating or dispersing and paralyzing a neighboring muscle if we do this. Patients can wash their faces gently that night, but we advise them to wait until the next day to use scrub brushes.
There's always the danger of bruising when you have injections, and it might take up to a week for it to go go. Stopping anything that thins the blood (and isn't medically essential) a week before your checkup will help you avoid bruising. Alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as fish oil and vitamin E supplements, are all examples.
When can you expect to see effects and for how long will they last?
Botox's effects aren't instantaneous since it has to connect to receptors on nerve cells to relax muscles. The effects might be seen as early as day two or three. Muscle weakness might take anywhere from seven to fourteen days to fully manifest. After two weeks, we may visit our patients again to examine the full aesthetic effects and see whether they require any touch-ups.
Fine lines improve during three- to four months when the muscles relax and do not move, and they improve much more the longer you use Botox.
Every individual is unique. Because your body is constantly producing new receptors and neurotransmitters, each patient's effective [Botox] paralysis will vary. While the average is three to four months, we estimate the range to be two to six months.
When Botox wears off, does it make you appear older?
No, not at all. If you stop having treatments or miss an appointment, the benefits may fade over time, and your muscles will revert to their natural motions, which may include frowning and wrinkles.
