Over the past 20 years or so, Botox has become one of the most popular noninvasive procedures to help people feel younger. Botox in San Jose is particularly popular with women aged between 40 and 65, although men are now also having it, as are younger people who do it to prevent wrinkles from appearing the first place. So what is there to know about Botox?

The Basics of Botox in San Jose

Botox is injected, which relaxes the muscles. This means that you can’t fully make your normal facial expressions such as squinting and frowning. As a result, your skin won’t wrinkle or be creased. Having the injections refreshes the way you look, created a rejuvenated alert feel. It also lifts the eyebrows, making you look more open and young. It is perfect for forehead frown lines, eyebrow lines, and crow’s feet.

Does it Hurt?

If you have Botox completed by someone with experience and training, the procedure doesn’t hurt at all. You may feel a little bit of discomfort when the needle pierces the skin, but it is very thin and therefore doesn’t cause too much pain. People compare it with a mosquito bite and the sensation is gone after a few seconds. The more experienced someone is, the less likely it is that the procedure hurts, because they will have perfected their technique and because they can really set their patient’s mind at ease, relaxing them before the procedure starts.

There are a few reasons why someone may experience pain during Botox. Those are:

1. Improper technique.
2. Using a needle that is too wide.
3. Injecting the Botox too deeply.
4. Using the wrong dilution agent.
5. A low pain threshold.

The Procedure Itself

Botox is supplied as a powder and then diluted, usually with a saline solution. This is then administered in key places using a tiny needle, around the muscles that you want to stop from contracting. The entire procedure takes between 10 and 20 minutes to complete.

Botox is actually botulinum toxin type A, the same toxin that causes botulism. It is a neuromodulator that stops acetylcholine from being released. This is a natural chemical that is needed for the communication between the muscles and the nerves. It is also this chemical that tells muscles when to contract. When there is no more acetylcholine, the muscles can’t contract anymore. It only does so for a short period of time, however, rather than permanently. However, for that period of time, usually four to six months, the wrinkles will soften as well as those particular muscles can no longer contract.

It usually takes between three and seven days for the effects of Botox to be completely visible. This is because the molecules first have to adhered to the nerves before the signals can really be stopped. Typically, the effects last three months after the first time the injections have been provided, and then progressively longer, up to six months.