Botox is used very widely and can provide good results when administered by a qualified and experienced practitioner. Evaluating how well a treatment works is not just a matter of looking at the treated area to see if the skin is smooth and wrinkle-free; it also involves examining the entirety of the face to see if the results look natural. Looking natural can mean that the results look symmetrical, but it also means that the treated area does not unnaturally stand out from the rest of the face but is integrated harmoniously.
Experienced Botox practitioners will often recommend using Botox in more areas than just the primary region being treated. Bear in mind that the goal of Botox is not just to reduce wrinkles but to create a balanced, refreshed look. Here are some examples of why confining Botox treatments to a specific area may not always give the optimal results.
Treating Forehead Lines
Forehead lines are generally treated by applying Botox to the muscles responsible for raising and lowering the eyebrows. The Botox injections partially relax these muscles, and limit their range of motion.
However, if Botox is confined to the specific muscles linked to forehead wrinkles, the resulting effect can look quite unnatural. We generally use our forehead muscles in conjunction with other facial muscles, particularly those linked to the area between our eyebrows, which create vertical (glabellar) lines above the nose. Using Botox to treat the forehead without also treating the glabellar lines risks creating a sagging, heavy-looking brow area.
The solution is to treat the forehead muscles at the same time as the glabellar lines. It’s also important to avoid over-enthusiastic use of Botox. A slightly less smooth forehead is preferable if the result looks more natural.
Treating Crow’s Feet
Botox is often used to treat crow’s feet, the lines that form on the outsides of our eyes. But limiting Botox use to this area can result in the rest of the face looking unbalanced, and end up making the overall face look older, instead of the desired youthful appearance.
The solution is to avoid creating a contrast between the treated and adjacent untreated areas. Expanding treatment to include dermal fillers can create more integrated and cohesive improvements. By smoothing lines around the eyes and providing a subtle lift to the cheeks, the overall harmony of the face is enhanced.
Treating the Jawline
Botox is often used to slim the jawline by targeting the large masseter muscles used for chewing. Limiting treatment to these over-prominent muscles can sometimes create an unbalanced and unnatural appearance. Creating a well-defined jawline can draw attention to any sagging skin or wrinkles in the neck or chin areas.
In this case, extending Botox use to include any neck bands can provide a more aesthetic neck profile, and using dermal fillers on the chin area will improve the general contours of the lower face. Together these treatments complement each other and combine to create a more natural look to the face.
Choosing the Right Provider
Using Botox effectively requires a variety of quite different skills. It’s important to choose a medically qualified and experienced practitioner who can identify the precise anatomical elements connected to the area being treated. You also want someone with artistic flair and imagination to envision the changes that can result from any Botox injection, and ensure that these results combine to create natural, integrated improvements.
Using Botox effectively requires not only identifying the optimum places to inject it, but also using the correct amount to avoid totally immobilizing muscles, while leaving enough freedom of movement to allow normal facial expressions to be displayed.
Your Laser Skin Care
Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and have extensive experience in performing Botox procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of other non-invasive cosmetic procedures. We can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.
