
Life leaves its mark on your face in a few ways. Static wrinkles form as a result of sun damage, diet, smoking, and other lifestyle choices. Dynamic wrinkles develop after years of facial movement–laughing, crying, frowning, and smiling.
While you wouldn’t trade years of laughter and the occasional tears for anything, you probably want to do something about the lines your facial expressions have left behind. LUX~A Medical Spa offers BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments at our practice in Bluffton, South Carolina. Since it was first approved by the FDA in 2002, medical providers and patients have come to know and trust Botox. Learn more about how it works.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox contains an ingredient, onobotulinumtoxinA. It’s a type of protein produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. OnobotulinumtoxinA helps ease the appearance of dynamic wrinkles by relaxing certain muscles.
Every time you make a facial expression, whether it’s a frown or smile, the skin crinkles up in certain areas. Common spots for dynamic wrinkles include between the eyebrows, at the corners of the eyes or across the forehead. After decades of moving your face, those crinkles start to become visible even when you aren’t smiling, frowning, or making another expression.
Relaxing the muscles responsible for certain facial expressions eases the movement of the skin. A few days to a week after treatment with Botox, you’ll notice that the treated area is smoother and more youthful-looking.
While Botox works on most dynamic wrinkles, it’s most commonly used to treat the following:
- The 11s: Also known as frown lines, the “11’s” are the two vertical lines that form between the eyebrows. They can make you look tired or angry.
- Glabellar lines: Also known as horizontal forehead lines, glabellar lines stretch across the forehead and form when you raise your eyebrows.
- Crow’s feet: Sometimes called smile lines, crow’s feet are the little wrinkles that extend out from the corners of your eyes. They develop after years of squinting, crying, and laughing.
Botox is administered through an injection. The needle used is very fine and causes minimal discomfort. You might feel a tiny prick each time the medical provider injects the skin.
When deciding to have Botox, it’s important to choose a trained professional, both for your safety and the quality of your results. Trained medical providers, such as dermatologists, plastic surgeons, nurse practitioners, or physician’s assistants, have ample experience performing Botox injections and following safety guidelines. They also know how to adjust the treatment to give patients the results they want.
Contrary to popular belief, Botox doesn’t have to “freeze” your face. The treatment eases your muscle movements to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but you’ll still be able to smile, frown, and laugh as before. If you’re concerned about looking natural, talk to your provider before treatment. They can adjust the treatment to help you best reach your goals.
What To Expect From Botox?
Before your Botox treatment, your medical provider at LUX will talk to you about the areas you want to treat and the lines that concern you. They’ll then inject Botox into the appropriate areas using a very small needle.
Botox treatments are given in units. The number of units you need depends on how many areas you’re treating and the size of each area. Pricing depends on who is performing the treatment.
Whether you get Botox to treat frown lines, forehead lines, or crow’s feet, the process typically takes 10 minutes or less. You can schedule Botox on your lunch break and be back at work for the rest of the day.
There’s no downtime after Botox and it’s safe to resume most activities immediately after treatment. The exception is exercise and strenuous activity. You’ll want to wait at least 24 hours before you head to the gym, go for a run, or take a yoga class.

Botox doesn’t cause instant results. The treatment needs some time to work. Some people notice a smoothing of their lines starting a few days after the injections. Typically, the full results appear within a week.
Results don’t last forever. Botox wears off after a few months. Once the effect has worn off, you’ll begin to move the muscles as before and the lines can reform. To keep up the results, repeat treatments are recommended. You can schedule maintenance treatments every few months to keep your wrinkles away.
While Botox is generally safe, there are some side effects to know about. Your medical provider will discuss potential side effects with you before your treatment. They’ll also let you know what to do if you experience any adverse effects after Botox.
Botox Benefits
Botox Side Effects

Botox Candidates
If you have dynamic wrinkles that you want to minimize, you may be a candidate for Botox. The treatment is approved for people over the age of 18. It works for both men and women.
Some people start to get Botox at the first signs of wrinkles while others wait until the lines are more deep-set. When you begin Botox is up to you and your medical provider. No one is too young or too old.
Botox is appropriate for many people, but it’s not the right choice for everyone. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, wait until you’ve given birth or weaned the baby to consider Botox. People with nerve or muscle conditions such as myasthenia gravis, ALS, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, have an increased risk of side effects from Botox and should talk to their doctor before treatment.
If you have any other medical conditions, let your provider know before Botox. Also, let them know about any medications you take, whether over-the-counter, prescriptions, or supplements/vitamins. Botox can interact with certain medications, leading to serious side effects. Once you’ve had Botox, let your doctor know before they prescribe any new medications.
You should also let your doctor know if you’ve had treatment with another botulinum toxin product in the past four months or have previously had MyoblocⓇ, Dysport®, or Xeomin® injections.
It’s possible to have an allergic reaction to Botox. If you have a history of allergies, talk to your doctor about the ingredients in Botox to confirm that you aren’t allergic to them. Signs of a reaction include asthma, wheezing, dizziness, itchiness, and welts.
Schedule Botox Treatment In Bluffton, South Carolina, Today
LUX~A Medical Spa’s Bluffton location is located in the heart of the Lowcountry, nestled between Hilton Head and Savannah. Our caring staff wants to provide you with an experience that’s as stress-free and relaxed as possible. If you’re interested in learning more about Botox, call us at 843-252-0037 or book your appointment online.