Facial lines and wrinkles are unavoidable as we age, though luckily we live in a time where many different treatment options are available for these issues. One of these options, Dysport, has become quite popular due to its effectiveness and reputation for safety. Here at Soza Clinic in Richardson, TX, we’re experienced in administering this therapy and we regularly treat adult patients, both young and old.
Younger patients often start treatments early as a preventative measure, before the tell-tale signs of aging have had a chance to take root. Our older patients use it as both a corrective and preventative treatment, to revitalize areas where lines and wrinkles already exist while delaying or preventing those that haven’t developed yet. So if you’re wondering if you’re the right candidate for this treatment, here’s what you need to know about it and how it works.
Dysport is normally suitable for those who have concerns about wrinkles or fine lines in their skin or anyone who would like to prevent or delay these issues before they surface. An ideal candidate is one who is 18 years of age or older and who understands what this therapy can and can’t do. The results of this treatment can take some time to show up, and while it’s very effective, it can’t treat every type of line or wrinkle.
Also, you should be in good health and not nursing or pregnant. If you have any diseases or disorders, such as blood clotting or neuromuscular issues, this treatment may not be right for you, and we’ll want to know about this so that we can determine if another one of our treatments may be safer and more appropriate.
Dysport is a medication that is commonly used as a skincare therapy to reduce the appearance of both lines and wrinkles on the face. It works by blocking the neurotransmitter signals that are responsible for muscle contractions, which leads to less wrinkling and firmer-looking skin.
Although it is a neurotoxin, it’s considered to be safe and has the added benefit of stimulating collagen production within the skin. Along with elastin, collagen plays a role in giving the skin its plump, tight texture. As we get older, the body begins to produce less collagen, which can lead to not only wrinkles and lines but also sagging skin and other issues. The collagen-boosting effects of this medication can therefore help diminish some of these issues.
Before your treatment session, we’ll want to carry out a brief consultation where we’ll discuss your aesthetic goals and examine any skin issues you might have. We’ll also want to palpate your muscles to see how tense they are, which helps us determine how much medication you’ll need for each treated site.
The therapy session itself should only take about 15 minutes, though it may take more or less time, depending on how many areas we’ll be treating. Before making any injections, we’ll ensure that each target area is properly sanitized.
The injections are made with a microneedle, which is much smaller than the types typically used in clinics and hospitals to draw blood. This means that it shouldn’t be painful, and the only feeling you’re likely to experience is a small pinprick sensation with each injection.
After your treatment, you’ll be ready to return to regular activities immediately because there’s no downtime and no long recovery period. There are a few precautions we’ll ask you to take, which are just to ensure that the results last a long time and that the medication stays within the areas we’ve treated. For the first few days after treatment, we recommend that you:
You shouldn’t expect to see results for at least one to two weeks. This is how long it normally takes for the full results to take effect. However, it’s not uncommon for some patients to begin noticing some muscle-relaxing effects quite soon, even within a few days.
The reason why it takes some time for this medication to work is that it blocks nerve signals in the body that tell the muscles to contract. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for these signals, but this medication has little effect on any acetylcholine that is already circulating in your body at the time of treatment. So, it will take a bit of time for any already circulating acetylcholine to be removed naturally by the body.
The effects of Dysport are temporary and typically last anywhere between three to five months. For some patients, the effects may even last up to six months, though this is usually seen in those who have been receiving injections for longer than two years. This is because the medication can help to retrain your facial muscles over time, where they learn to naturally relax and contact with less force when making facial expressions.
Other factors can also play a role in how long the effects last, including your metabolism. Because your body breaks this medication down and expels it over time, a high metabolism can sometimes lead to the effects wearing off within three months or so. Smoking, an unhealthy diet, excessive heat or sun exposure, and not drinking enough water can all weaken the effects over time as well.
While there are many different types of skin issues that this therapy can treat, it’s proven to be most effective for expression lines and wrinkles. These are the types that appear whenever you make certain facial expressions, such as frowning, smiling, or scrunching your face.
When we’re younger, expression lines often disappear quickly when we make a straight face again, but as we get older, they can last much longer and become permanent. This is due to a gradual reduction of collagen and elastin in the skin, as well as many other factors that can affect the quality of our skin.
Regardless of your age, Dysport can be effective at any time in your life, depending on your reasons for wanting treatment. Some choose to only return for additional treatments when more corrections are needed, while others prefer to take a more proactive approach. These two treatment approaches differ in the following ways:
Some of our patients choose to take a corrective approach where they only return for additional injections when the results begin to wear off and lines and wrinkles become visible again. If choosing to take this approach, you can generally expect to return anywhere between three to six months, as this is the time frame when the results will normally wear off.
Others prefer to take a more proactive approach by scheduling appointments ahead of time every three to four months. Since this is the soonest time frame when results will normally wear off, some prefer to return then so that they can maintain their revitalized look year-round. This approach is particularly popular with those who are younger in age since many don’t yet have any wrinkles or lines to correct.
In addition to its popularity, which means that it’s been tested in the real world on millions of other people, Dysport is safe for many reasons. Unlike surgical procedures, such as facelifts, the effects of this treatment are temporary, so there’s less need for commitment. Also, we only use sterilized microneedles, which are not known for producing any significant pain. It’s also a targeted treatment, so the areas we treat are the only areas that receive this medication.
Dysport is effective, minimally invasive, and normally takes less than 15 minutes to administer, making it an ideal treatment for many different conditions. Contact us today at Soza Clinic in Richardson, TX to schedule your initial consultation, so we can determine if this treatment is the right one for you. We look forward to helping you with all your aesthetic goals, whether you’re looking to correct existing lines and wrinkles or prevent future issues before they appear.
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