Botox

As we get older, our skin elasticity and support start to decrease, causing the muscles that allow for natural movements used while smiling or frowning to result in moderate to severe lines on the face, also known as wrinkles.

Botox is an FDA approved product that is injected into the skin to correct fine lines and wrinkles.

What You Need To Know Prior To Treatment

 

What is Botox, and how does it work?

Botox FaceThe way your skin appears is directly related to the way your skin is supported. As we age, the natural elasticity and support of the skin decreases.  As a result, the muscles which allow for natural movements used while smiling or frowning can result in wrinkles. The muscles known to cause the most noticeable lines and wrinkles are located between your brows, around the eyes, and on the forehead. Botox, a purified protein, works by blocking nerve impulses, which reduces the movement of those muscles. With less movement, the skin surface gradually smoothes out, and the lines and wrinkles begin to fade.

Will the injections hurt?

Botox is a quick and minimally invasive treatment. Your provider makes a few tiny injections into the muscles that cause the unwanted lines. The discomfort of the procedure varies from person to person, but usually is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite.

How safe is Botox?

The injection process and injected materials are generally safe in qualified hands. Botox has undergone extensive testing including scientific clinical trials to establish safety and effectiveness. The treatment is minimally invasive and non surgical, thus requires little recovery time.

Botox Facial LinesWhat are the potential risks of treatment?

While the safety rating is sound, there are potential risks of the procedure.  These risks include redness, bruising, swelling, tenderness, pain, muscle weakness, infection, bleeding and headache.  Patients who are using substances that prolong bleeding, such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and Coumadin (warfarin) may, as with any injection, have increased bruising or bleeding at injection sites. Patients who are pregnant or have neurologic disease should not receive treatment. We will discuss all of the risks with you prior to treatment.

What should I expect immediately after treatment, and how should I care for the treated area?

Immediately after the treatment most people feel comfortable in resuming their normal activities. Temporary puffiness, redness, and possible slight bruising of the treated areas, however, should be expected.

You will notice weakness or decreased ability to move the muscles in the areas that have been treated within 2-3 days of injection. This is the desired effect. You can expect to see results of fine line and wrinkle correction within several days after your treatment, with improving benefit in some areas up to a week or more. We will provide detailed care instructions at your visit.

Does the correction last forever, and if not, how often will I require treatment?

Correction is temporary, therefore touch-up or repeat injections are usually needed to maintain optimal benefit. The need for touch ups will be influenced by ongoing mechanical forces (smiling/frowning) and biological changes that caused the original skin wrinkles. The correction is different for everyone, but on average, wrinkles will return about 12-16 weeks after injection. After a series of treatments, some individuals receive longer benefit from each single treatment.