Where Do You Inject Botox?
As we age, a variety of factors can cause wrinkling of the skin, including sun exposure, a decrease of collagen production, and facial expressions such as smiling, squinting, or frowning. BOTOX® Injections are a non-surgical procedure that can help to correct signs of aging, including wrinkles around the forehead, eyes, and lips.
Before you decide to try Botox Injections, it’s important to understand how Botox works and where it will be injected so you can minimize risks and achieve your desired look.
How Do Botox Injections Work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic, the brand name for botulinum toxin, improves skin wrinkling by decreasing the wrinkles that result from muscle activation. When injected, Botox interrupts the nerve communication sent from a muscle, which reduces its activity and allows the skin to relax.
Botox is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that requires a thorough understanding of facial anatomy. Because Botox is injected into the musculature of the face, it can create unwanted effects if done poorly.
“If you don’t understand the anatomy, the most common problem I see is a heaviness to the brows,” Dr. Bajaj says. “If a patient wants to correct their forehead wrinkles, the injector administers Botox to the forehead. The problem is the frontalis muscle in our forehead helps elevate our brows. If it’s weakened or paralyzed completely, it can result in the heaviness of the brows.”
That’s why it’s so important to choose a highly qualified Botox injector who understands facial anatomy and can achieve your desired look while minimizing risks.
5 Most Common Botox Injection Sites
Botox Injections are most commonly used to reduce wrinkles around the forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, and neck. Dr. Bajaj also offers specialized Botox procedures for specific corrections. Let’s break down the most common Botox injection sites and how we approach them to minimize risks and achieve a gorgeous final result.
1. Forehead Lines
These long, horizontal creases along the forehead are formed when the frontalis muscle is used, causing the skin to stretch and contract over time. To correct forehead lines, five to 25 units of Botox into the skin pleats every 1.5 to 2 centimeters. It’s important the injections are high enough from the brow to avoid ptosis or drooping.
2. Frown Lines
Facial movements, such as frowning or squinting, cause the skin above and between the brows to stretch and contract. Over time, this creates small wrinkles between the brows, which is common even in younger adults. To correct frown lines, we administer up to five injections of Botox to the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles (located beneath and between the brows). Up to 25 units of Botox should be adequate for this procedure. We make sure we don’t inject past the midline of the brow, as this can cause drooping.
3. Crow’s Feet
Because the skin around the eyes is thin, crow’s feet can be more pronounced than other facial wrinkles. To correct crow’s feet, we administer 2.5 units of Botox into the pleats, along the orbicularis oculi and procerus muscles (located beneath the brow line and between the brows, respectively). It’s important to avoid injecting too close to the eyelids, as this can cause drooping.
4. Brow Lift
When placed appropriately, Botox can create the same effect as a brow lift by injecting above the outer area of the brows to create a lifting effect. You’re at risk of brow drooping if the person performing the injection isn’t highly skilled in this specific area.
5. Lip Wrinkles
Commonly referred to as “smoker lines,” lip wrinkles are small, fine lines spanning out from the lips. Lip wrinkles are extremely common in aging adults. To correct lip wrinkles, the injector will administer approximately five units of Botox per line along the orbicularis oris muscles surrounding the lips and mouth.
Join us for our next Botox and Filler Day!
Want to learn more about Botox at Bajaj Plastic Surgery? Call our office at 405-810-8448 to book a consultation. To receive a special discount, ask about our upcoming Botox and Filler Day on Thursday, July 2, 2020. This event is by appointment only, so call now to reserve your spot!