Botox

Wrinkles... who wants them?
Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh or frown. These lines ,caused by facial muscles can give a person an angry, tired or sad appearance -- even when they are not experiencing that emotion. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. Now you can prevent their formation with a form of botulinum toxin called Botox.

What is Botox?
Botox is the latest advancement in botulinum toxin therapy. It is used to safely, simply and effectively improve the appearance of frown lines, forehead creases and "crow's fee". By relaxing the underlying muscles, Botox reduces wrinkles. Botox is a remarkable treatment for dynamic wrinkles resulting from repeated use of facial muscles.

Do Botox injections cause botulism?
No. The words "botulinum toxin" often bring to mind images of botulism and food poisoning. Botox injections are approved by the FDA as a safe and effective treatment for wrinkles and frown lines. They have been used to treat neurological disorders for over 30 years. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement over a decade ago about the safe use of botulinum toxin for therapeutic use.

How does Botox work?
Botox actually prevents wrinkles from appearing by relaxing the underlying muscles so they don't contract. Botox blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing your normal facial expression to be unaffected.

What is the treatment like?
Treating wrinkles with Botox is a simple and safe procedure and the entire treatment takes about 10 minutes. Using a tiny micro-needle, a very small amount of Botox is injected, very precisely, into several locations on your face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately. you can even drive yourself home or back to the office. You may experience some slight temporary bruising at the injection site. This can be covered with make-up.

What are the limitations of Botox injections?
Unfortunately, Botox injections are a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from four to six months. You will need to have injections about two to three times a year. Early clinical studies indicate that after receiving injections over time, there appears to be a longer lasting effect. This could be due to the relaxing of the skin in that area and breaking the habit of certain facial expressions.

Can I have Botox injections if I take other drugs?
Most patients can usually be treated with Botox regardless of other drugs used. However, some drugs that interfere with nerve impulses to muscles could alter the effect of Botox. It is important to let your doctor know what drugs you are taking during you consultation before undergoing any medical procedure.

Your consultation
During your consultation with your doctor you will discuss your concerns and the changes that you'd like to make in your appearance. The doctor will explain Botox treatments to you, review the procedure, and point out the risks and limitations involved. Together you will decide if Botox is for you.

Questions? Contact Us