Dr. Amanda Lloyd Explains how Botox works to minimize lines and wrinkles

As a commonly requested cosmetic procedure, Botox is used to address fine lines and wrinkles. When injected into areas of the face, fine lines and wrinkles are softened minimizing their appearance. In Encinitas, CA, Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Amanda Lloyd offers a number of anti-aging treatments including Botox to minimize the signs of aging.

Botox treatments are often the first place patients start when they are considering improving their skin and appearance. The frown lines between the eyes, the forehead wrinkles, and the lines around the eyes are often the first areas that start to show the signs of aging. Botox is a safe, effective way to improve these wrinkles.

How Botox treatment works

Botox is a neuromodulator derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum which acts by relaxing the muscles so that the skin has time to recover. The reason we get permanent lines in our skin is that the muscles of facial expressions are constantly moving which results in creases in the skin.

With time our skin becomes damaged by the sun and various environmental factors so that the skin is unable to recover and rejuvenate itself from the creases caused by the muscles. Therefore, Botox is used to gently relax the muscles so that the skin is given time to recover and repair itself making the crease in the skin no longer apparent.

Botox Treatment explained by Dr. Amanda Lloyd

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Dr. Amanda Lloyd from Skin & Vein Institute Encinitas, CA says Botox treatment is one of her favorite things because it does a great job.
Why Botox is so great?
It helps to open up the face and make you look youthful, less tired and ready to take on the world. Fix your appointment today to discuss more regarding the Botox treatment and other treatments available at Skin & Vein Institute.

Video Transcript

Why is Botox your favorite? Botox is probably one of my favorite things because it always works and it does a great job.
It helps to open up the face and make you look less tired, more awake, more excited, youthful and ready to take on the world.

Botox works by relaxing the muscles so that the skin is given the time it needs to repair itself and get rid of those unwanted wrinkles.

- Between the eyes
- Forehead
- Crows feet
- The upper lip (lip flip)
- To decrease the vertical lines around the mouth
- The corners of the mouth
- Chin pebbling
Can Botox be used on the neck?

It can be used in the neck too. The neck is an up and coming place where people are now paying attention.
A woman’s face can look good, but if you look at her neck it will give away her age. So taking care of your neck is important.
Botox can help to retain some of the skin elasticity and the tightness of the skin that prevents the horizontal wrinkles that you get in the neck, so it is a great treatment in the neck.

How long does it take to see the results of Botox?

Botox takes two weeks to fully bind. What this means is you get your injection and when you look in the mirror the next morning you think nothing has happened. Because it takes a full two weeks for it to completely bind and it doesn't always bind evenly during those two weeks. Once you get to the two-week mark I always see my patients back and we check-in and see how the Botox is doing and almost 10/10 times its perfect everyone is happy, they have the look that they were wanting.

How long do the effects last in general?

The label says that it lasts four months, but nobody follows the label. It depends on how much movement you can tolerate. So, if you prefer a more static, less movement look then you will come back a little sooner. If you prefer to have a little more movement then you come back a little later.

The goal of the treatment is really the more important factor. If we are treating some really deep frown lines, we really want to treat about every four months, because we don't want the muscles to begin moving again.
We don't want the skin to be creased by the muscles, so we want the muscles relaxed because we are trying to get that wrinkle to go away.

So by being more regular with your injections, that allows your skin the time that it needs to recover. You spend 30-40-50 years creating these wrinkles they are not going to be gone in two weeks.

Usually, it takes a few rounds of injections to allow your skin enough time to fully recover and get rid of that wrinkle.

Botox is both prevention and treatment. If you do not have wrinkles at rest, Botox can be used to relax the muscles so that the skin is not creased as forcefully as it is without Botox in place, thus, preventing the formation of wrinkles. Additionally, it can be used to treat wrinkles that are already there at rest in the same manner of relaxing the muscles so that the skin can recover.

Often times patients are hesitant to have Botox the first time because the thought of having a toxin injected is scary and unfamiliar. The neuromodulator used to cause the relaxation of the muscles is degraded just like the natural substance in your body that causes the muscles to relax. Therefore, Botox is out of your muscles typically within four months of the injection. This is both good and bad because if you like the results, repeated injections are required. However, if you do not like the results, then the Botox is completely out of your muscles and it is no longer in your system.

Qualified patients

Dr. Amanda Lloyd offers a number of anti-aging treatments including Botox to minimize the signs of aging.

Botox is used to help open up the central face, relax those lines, and give you a happier, more awake appearance. Patients often ask, “what is the best age to start or do Botox?” That depends on the person’s skin and how effective they have been with sun protection. Botox is successful for both men and women. Some patients start preventative treatments as early as their twenties in hopes of avoiding deeper wrinkles. Others start later when wrinkles have fully developed. There is no right age. Botox still works to relax the muscles and smooth wrinkles, regardless of age.

Botox injections are easily tolerated. The entire procedure is over within 10-15 minutes and you can walk out of the office with little evidence of a treatment. There are very few side effects of Botox. Occasionally, there is bruising which can be treated with a laser if it does happen. More rarely, there can be something called ptosis, which is drooping of the eyelid. This can be treated with topical medication if it does happen. Rest assured, in Dr. Lloyd’s hands this is extremely rare and, it does go away since the Botox is metabolized by the body and is not permanent.

Botox often becomes one of Dr. Lloyd’s patients’ favorite treatments because it is safe, effective, and gives you a natural, youthful appearance. You will look well-rested after your treatments. Although commonly used in the upper portion of the face, Botox can also be used for the following purposes: