Botox is a protein that can block certain chemical signals from traveling along the nerves, causing the muscles of the face to relax, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
It’s approved for use in people aged 18 and older, but most clinicians agree the best time to start using it is in your late 20s or early 30s. That might sound early, but it’s a great way to protect your skin while it’s still naturally youthful and stop deep lines from developing in the first place.
DOES BOTOX MAKE YOU LOOK YOUNGER?
The right age to get Botox will vary from person to person and it’s a careful balance. If you start too young, the effect may make you look older than you really are; if you wait too long, your wrinkles will start to develop. It’s important to discuss your decision to start Botox with an expert injector.
Take AK Beautiful You, for example. Our injector, Sara Dunlap, is the number one Botox and Juvéderm injector in the state of Alaska. She’s a registered nurse with almost 20 years of experience working with clients to achieve their cosmetic goals and achieve natural-looking results. She has worked with thousands of clients during this time and her practice grows year after year.
Something she says often, which we think is good to keep in mind, is this: “If you think it’s expensive to be injected by an expert, wait until you’re injected by an amateur.” Botox isn’t the kind of thing where you want to look to save money, because the cost to fix bad work often exceeds the cost of getting a perfect result the first time around. Do your research and choose someone you trust.
How Should I Choose a Botox Injector?
There are two main things to keep in mind when choosing a Botox injector.
The first is their reviews. Visit their website, Google profile, or Facebook profile, and see what others say about their work. That’s one of the beautiful things about the internet: people will say exactly what they think, so you’ll be able to get a picture of what you can expect when you visit.
The second is their portfolio. All professional injectors will have a portfolio of their work, so you can see how often they perform a particular type of procedure and what results they get. Sara, for example, has a public Instagram page where you can see all of her most recent work. You can see lots of before-and-after shots, with a description of what was done, to learn about the process.
How Often Should I Get Botox?
Botox is not permanent. The effects usually last for about three or four months, but it depends on your facial muscles. Everyone is slightly different, so it’s important to check in with your injector and develop a personalized treatment plan. This will ensure your wrinkles go away and stay away.
Usually, the first dose will be low, just so your injector can see how you react. If that goes well, they will increase the dose, which will create a more noticeable effect. Different parts of your face may require different amounts of Botox – for example, you may have crow’s feet that are deeper than your smile lines or the furrows on your forehead. Talk to your injector about your vision.
How Does Botox Affect Your Face?
Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles when they contract. It essentially functions as a non-surgical face-lift, because it can be done in a short appointment and can take years off your face. It’s also much more common than you might think. If you’ve ever looked at someone and marvelled at how dewy and worry-free her face is, there’s a reasonable chance she invested in Botox early.
It’s important to note that Botox won’t leave you expressionless. It’s injected into specific muscles, forcing them to relax, but it leaves all the surrounding muscles with full function. You’ll be able to smile, frown, laugh, cry, and express a range of emotions – you’ll just look a few years younger!
Where Can I Get Botox?
If you’re interested in getting Botox for the first time, we welcome you to make an appointment to come and see Sara. You can call us at (907) 313-6987 or email us at info@akbeautifulyou.com.