Areas That Can Be Treated With Botox
Most people are aware of Botox by reputation, especially since it’s the world’s first FDA-approved wrinkle relaxation injectable. However, few understand how it works exactly and why it addresses some facial lines but not others. Botox belongs to a category of cosmetic injectables known as “neurotoxins,” and it minimizes the appearance of wrinkles and lines caused by the overuse of certain facial muscles.
When you smile, frown, raise your eyebrows or purse your lips, you may notice certain lines developing around your face. When you’re young, these lines express certain emotions and then smoothen away once the emotion passes. However, as you grow older, the overuse of your facial muscles deepens these lines and wrinkles, making them stay on your face perpetually. These are known as dynamic wrinkles.
Botox contains a neurotoxin component that blocks communications between your facial muscles and the nervous system. By preventing the transmission of signals, it temporarily paralyzes or relaxes the facial muscles related to certain dynamic wrinkles. As such, the targeted injection of Botox gradually relaxes your fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a smoother and more youthful appearance.
Areas commonly treated with Botox include:
Forehead Lines
Forehead lines are the horizontal creases that appear on your forehead when you raise your eyebrows. Over time, these forehead lines deepen enough to stay on your face even when you have a neutral expression. These are some of the most common treatment areas for Botox.
Sagging Eyebrows
Most people immediately consider surgery when they experience sagging eyebrows. But you can also restore your eyebrows to a neutral position with carefully-delivered Botox injections. Botox relaxes the muscles pulling your eyebrows down, allowing them to return to their original position.
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet, also known as laugh lines, are the small creases that appear around your eyes when you smile and laugh. Botox injections can relax these lines, smoothing the sides of your eyes.
Frown Lines
Frown lines are the vertical creases that appear between your eyebrows when you frown or think deeply. They’re also called “glabellar lines” because they’re formed because of the overuse of your glabellar muscles. They make it seem like you’re perpetually angry or grumpy. Fortunately, Botox injections can smoothen these lines as well.
Bunny Lines
Bunny lines appear on either side of your nose when you scrunch them up. They usually spread down from the bridge of the nose. Treating bunny lines is an “off-label” use of Botox, i.e., it’s not officially approved by the FDA.
Marionette Lines
Marionette lines start from the corners of your mouth and extend down to your chin, bring your mouth down into a perpetual frown. Small doses of Botox can restore your mouth to a neutral position and minimize the marionette lines.
Cobblestone Chin
A cobblestone chin is what you get when you purse your mouth, leading to wrinkles and creases in the center of the chin. Treating this area requires a small dose of Botox because overcorrection may cause complications with the lips.
Neck Bands
The neck bands and vertical lines form when your platysma muscles start sagging with age. Botox injections help the platysma muscles relax, restoring your neck’s youthful contours.
AcquaBlu: Botox Injections in Pittsburgh
Botox injections are perfectly safe and FDA-approved, but they must be delivered by reputable experts. Incorrect injection of Botox may lead to medical complications or the less severe but equally-dreaded “frozen expression.” For patients in Pittsburgh, Acqua Blu is one of the country’s top 2% Allergan Botox providers—we carefully examine your wrinkles to curate the optimal dosage and treatment areas for your specific needs and will have you looking great, very safely.
