Advice from a beauty-conscious friend to smile less may sound ridiculous in our early 20s. We shouldn’t suppress laughter. However, the friend’s advice starts to make sense in our late 20s, with the appearance of smile lines and other aging signs. Especially unpleasant are the droopy corners of the mouth that give a person an angry, frowning look even when they are in a great mood.
Luckily, there is a quick and painless fix for smile lines and droopy mouth corners: the Botox smile lift. Here, we explain how it works and what to expect from the treatment.
What Is a Botox Smile Lift?
Botox smile lift is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that lifts the corners of the mouth and smooths the lines and wrinkles at the sides of the mouth. The procedure involves a quick injection of the neurotoxin popularly called Botox.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Botox smile lift treats the area around the mouth. The treatment lifts the corners of the mouth, reduces the appearance of a persistent frown, and smooths smile lines on both sides of the mouth.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Botox Smile Lift Procedure?
Anyone unhappy with droopy mouth corners due to aging is a good candidate for a Botox smile lift. This treatment is a good choice for people who don’t want to undergo surgery or who are contemplating a surgical smile lift but want to preview the results first.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have an infection at the treatment site, or have bleeding issues, you are not a good candidate for Botox.
What Does the Botox Smile Lift Procedure Look Like?
Botox smile lift starts with a consultation with your chosen Botox injector. Make sure they are a board-certified medical provider with plenty of experience injecting Botox. After discussing your expectations and medical history, the medical provider determines how many Botox units you need and tells you how to prepare for the procedure.
On the day of the procedure, your medical provider injects 3 to 6 units of Botox in each corner of your lower lip. The targeted muscle is called Depressor Anguli Oris, and it’s responsible for pulling the corners of your mouth downward. The Botox temporarily paralyzes the muscle, lifting the corners of the mouth.
How to Prepare for the Procedure
Your medical provider will give you clear instructions on what to do before the procedure. The preparations typically include avoiding certain products for up to two weeks, such as:
- Blood-thinning medication
- Supplements that affect blood clotting
- Alcohol
- Nicotine
- Caffeine
- Certain antioxidant-rich foods
Procedure Aftercare
To prevent bruising and other potential side effects from Botox, avoid:
- Lying down for four hours after the procedure.
- Exercise for 24 hours after the procedure.
- Alcohol and nicotine for 24 hours after the procedure.
- Sugar and salt intake for 24 hours after the procedure.
- Rubbing the treatment area for 24 hours after the procedure.
- Direct exposure to the sun.
If you experience bruising, swelling, or pain at the injection site after the procedure, apply ice packs and use pain killers as recommended by your doctor to speed up recovery.
When Are the First Results Visible and How Long Do They Last?
The first results of a Botox smile lift typically appear within three to five days of the procedure. Full effects are visible after about two weeks.
The Botox smile lift is a temporary treatment that lasts three to six months. For continued results, Botox specialists recommend repeated sessions every three to four months.
Before and After Botox Smile Lift Treatment
After a Botox smile lift, the corners of the mouth stop curving downward, and the facial expression is softened and rejuvenated.
Possible Side Effects
Botox treatments are safe and usually painless. Potential side effects are mild and resolve quickly without medical attention.
The most common side effects include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Pain
- Numbness
- Redness
Rare side effects include:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Blurred or double vision
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Allergic reaction
If you experience severe side effects, contact your medical provider immediately.
Conclusion
The Botox smile lift is a popular, nonsurgical treatment for droopy mouth corners and smile lines. In under half an hour, it transforms your expression from cranky to pleasant. It also smooths smile lines at the corners of the mouth, giving you a more youthful appearance. If you want to align your facial expression with your positive mood, Botox is the best solution.
