Overview
Botox represents a natural non-surgical way to rejuvenate an aging face. Dynamic wrinkles are the lines that form from years of smiling, squinting and frowning. Botox can dramatically reduce dynamic wrinkles and create a more rested and youthful look by relaxing the muscles which create wrinkles and lines. For more than 15 years, physicians have safely and successfully used Botox to control involuntary blinking and facial tics. While Botox has few negative side effects, doctors noticed that patients receiving Botox injections experienced a dramatic reduction in frown lines and wrinkles around the eyes. In 1993, physicians began using Botoxas a means of reducing lines and wrinkles. Depending on where it is injected, Botox works by blocking the action of the muscles responsible for frown lines or crow's feet, resulting in smoother skin around the eyes and/or forehead. A minute amount of the substance is injected directly into the muscle, and within 24-72 hours, the muscles relax, reducing the appearance of frown lines or crows' feet.
FAQ's
- What is botox?
BOTOX is a formulation of botulinum toxin type A. It is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium produces a protein that blocks the release of acetylcholine and relaxes muscles. Type A is just one of seven different types of botulinum toxin (A, B, C1, D, E, F, and G), and each has different properties and actions. No two of these botulinum toxins are alike.
Today, BOTOX is produced in controlled laboratory conditions and given in extremely small therapeutic doses. It has helped over 1 million patients worldwide with conditions caused by overactive muscles. - How does botox eliminate wrinkles? BOTOX works very effectively in eliminating the appearance of facial wrinkles that occur with aging or overuse. A few drops of Botox are injected with a tiny needle into the muscle that creates the wrinkle. Botox can inactivate the muscles that produce the wrinkles, thereby causing the lines to disappear or dramatically diminish. Botox is ideal for improving and smoothing the skin between the eyebrows, the lines of the forehead, and the crow's feet area around the eyes.
- Where is botox used? BOTOX is used on the face, only around the eyes and forehead so as not to affect a patient's smile. It is important to understand that Botox only relaxes the overactive facial muscles that cause wrinkles. Your skin will feel the same and you will have normal sensation in all treated areas. Muscles that are not treated and related to other expressions are not affected.
- Is botox safe? BOTOX has been used safely and successfully by cosmetic surgeons for over 10 years and for wrinkle therapy since the early 1990's. Although it is a toxin, it is safe and there have been no serious side effects reported. The most common minor complication is a slight and very temporary drooping of the eyelid. Botox is used in extremely small amounts and does not spread throughout the body. It is administered right in our office and you can immediately resume full activity.
- What are the advantages of botox?
- BOTOX is a quick and effective way to remove wrinkles. A typical treatment takes 10 minutes. Results are seen within 4 to 7 days.
- Little discomfort.
- Person can immediately resume full activity. There is no physical evidence that you had a cosmetic procedure done.
- The effect of Botox?is reversible-lasting between 3 to 9 months depending on the number of previous treatments.
- A memory response may develop with repeated Botox?injections if they are done every 3 months for approximately one-year. So, although the effects are not long-lived, there may be a gradual lengthening of the time interval between treatments. This will mean fewer treatments to obtain the same effect! Botox is a safe, non-surgical approach to facial rejuvenation.
- Who is the best candidate for botox? BOTOX is for almost anyone who desires a more rested and youthful look. Patients have the added benefit of preventing further etching of the skin caused by repeated squinting, frowning, and creasing of the forehead. Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a neurological disease should not be treated.
- Botox® Injections Botox® Cosmetic is purified botulinum toxin and is used to soften facial lines and wrinkles. Botox® Cosmetic works well for forehead lines, crow's feet, and frown lines. Botox® Cosmetic is injected into the muscle in these areas and works by weakening the muscle, which in turn lessens the lines of facial expression. The results last 4-6 months. By combining Botox® Cosmetic with peels, daily alpha hydroxyacid , and tretinoin cream , a patient can look years younger without surgery.
- Side Effects
- Sometimes an injection does not take and a touch-up is necessary, touch-up treatments cost ¼ to ½ the cost of the initial treatment fee.
- One in ten patients will develop a small bruise or hematoma, which will take several weeks to resolve.
- Rare drooping of eyebrow or eyelid can occur; this can last 3-6 months but is always reversible.
- Extremely rare double vision has been reported, this can last 3-6 months but is always reversible.
- Precautions
If any of the following apply, you should not receive Botox® injections:
- Have myasthenia gravis
- Have neuromuscular disease
- Have an allergy to human albumin
- Have an allergy to botulinum toxin
- If you are now pregnant or breast feeding
- If you have had beer, wine or alcohol in the last one week
- If you have taken aspirin or antiinflammatory medication in the last two weeks
- What to Do before Your Botox® Injections?
- No alcohol one week prior to treatment
- No antiinflammatory medication or aspirin two weeks before treatment
- What to Do after Your Botox® Injections?
- Do not lie down for 4 hours after the treatment
- Do not massage the treated muscles, this can cause the Botox® to spread to the muscles around the eyes
- Exercise the muscles every 15 minutes for 1 hour after the treatment, the Botox® attaches better to active muscles
- What to Expect after Your Botox® Injections?
- The treated areas will take 5 – 10 days to soften; treatment will last 4 – 6 months.
- Can You Have Repeat Botox® Injections?
- Yes, Injections can be repeated every 4 – 6 months. There are no known long term side effects. With time some patients will require less frequent treatments as they break the habit of contracting frown lines and other muscles of facial expression.