Botox is one of the most popular and widely used treatments for facial wrinkles. And if you’re wondering if Botox works if you already have wrinkles, the answer is a resounding YES. In fact, smoothing out facial wrinkles and fine lines, like laugh lines, crow’s feet, frown lines, etc., is the primary FDA-approved purpose of Botox injections.
However, just because Botox treats facial wrinkles doesn’t mean it’s suitable for all types of wrinkles. And yes, you can also have different types of facial wrinkles, caused by different factors. Wrinkles break down into either DYNAMIC or STATIC wrinkles. Before opting for Botox injections, we will determine if you have the type of facial wrinkles that can be treated with Botox or other neuromodulator injections.
Dynamic Wrinkles
Dynamic wrinkles are the facial wrinkles caused by muscle movements when you smile, laugh, concentrate, squint, etc. The most common dynamic wrinkles are crow’s feet around the eyes, forehead lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows.
Botox is primarily used to treat these dynamic wrinkles. Botox is a neuromodulator made of botulinum toxin, a component that temporarily paralyzes muscle activity. It blocks your nerves from communicating with the targeted muscles, thus reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles.
Static Wrinkles
Static wrinkles are those caused by a loss of collagen and elastin in your skin. When you’re young, your skin has lots of elastin and collagen, components that make your skin appear taut, elastic, hydrated, supple, and smooth.
However, factors like age, sun exposure, environmental pollutants strip your skin of natural collagen and elastin, and your body’s ability to produce more collagen gradually decreases. The lack of collagen and elastin gradually leads to static wrinkles, such as the fine lines on the corners of the mouth, cheeks, nasolabial folds, etc.
Botox can reduce the appearance of static wrinkles as well, but not as effectively as dynamic wrinkles. If you have static wrinkles, you should consider dermal fillers, i.e., injectables that infuse your skin with hyaluronic gel or trigger collagen production to temporarily fill the status wrinkles and fine lines.
What does Botox treat?
Botox is often used to treat all types of facial fine lines and wrinkles. However, as previously mentioned, Botox is most effective against dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle activity, such as:
- Moderate to Severe Frown Lines: The 11s that appear between your eyebrows when you concentrate or frown.
- Moderate to Severe Crow’s Feet: The fine lines that appear next to your eyes when you squint or smile.
- Moderate to Severe Forehead Lines: The lines that appear on your forehead when your skin furrows and folds while raising your eyebrows.
If you have facial wrinkles and fine lines you’re itching to get rid of, contact the experts at Saigal Facial Plastic Surgery to discuss your many treatment options.