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 Throughout history, people have looked for
ways to achieve a younger, more vibrant look by improving their
facial appearance. A procedure utilizing Botox® (Botulinum
Toxin) is used for the treatment of facial lines and wrinkles.
Botox® has been safely used for certain medical conditions for more
than a decade.
This procedure, sometimes referred to as cosmetic
denervation, has been widely used and is considered a safe and
effective way of treating aging skin. It is used to eliminate
or reduce worry and frown lines, "crow's feet", laugh lines and
other wrinkles sometimes called dynamic wrinkles.
The procedure works by physiologically weakening
facial muscles beneath the skin that are related to expression
lines. The contractions of those muscles result in
wrinkles. Botox® works by blocking the impulses from the nerve
to the facial muscles thereby relaxing them. The result is
that the pull of the underlying facial muscles relax causing the
skin to flatten. This results in a smooth, unwrinkled look.
Prior To Treatment
Our physicians may recommend avoidance of alcoholic
beverages, anti-inflammatory medications and aspirin one week prior
to treatment.
The procedure
A sedative or local anesthetic is not used because
the pain associated with the procedure is minimal. A small
amount of discomfort is felt when the needle is inserted and the
liquid injected. This sensation lasts approximately 5 seconds.
Botox® is injected into various locations on the
face. The needle is extremely small and only a tiny amount of
liquid is injected at one time.
Following The Procedure
Because there is no sedative or anesthetic used,
patients can return to normal activities immediately after the
procedure. It is possible to experience a mild headache after
the procedure. Our physician may recommend acetaminophen if
this should occur. Our physician may also recommend that the
patient not lie down for 3 or 4 hours following treatment.
Some facial exercises may be recommended. The treatment takes
three to eight days to take effect. The benefits will last
from three to six months. A touch-up may be necessary 1 to 2
weeks after the initial treatment.
When the toxin begins to wear off, the wrinkles
begin to reappear; however, they frequently are not as deep as the
original ones. It usually takes two or three injections each
year to maintain the smooth, youthful appearance that is
desired. Clinical studies suggest that, after several rounds
of treatment, the patient may require injections less often.
Possible Side Effects
There are no serious side effects associated with
this treatment. There may be a small amount of bruising around
the treated areas; however, this is temporary. On rare
occasions, the needle may puncture a blood vessel which can result
in a black and blue bruise around the treated area. This
disappears in a few days. Another side effect that occurs only
rarely is a slight drooping of the eyebrow or upper eyelid.
Fortunately, when this occurs, it corrects itself in two to three
weeks. There are no other visible signs of the
treatment. Prior to treatment, our physician discusses with
each patient the side effects connected with the procedure.
The Best Candidates For The Procedure
The best candidates for the procedure are those
between the ages of 30 and 65. In many cases, wrinkles in
people over 65 are not caused by muscle pull but rather by sun
damage; however, each person is different and must be evaluated by
our physician. Some wrinkles of the face are not caused by the
muscles pulling on the skin and therefore are not disposed to this
treatment. These include wrinkles caused by the structure of
the skin which are the result of trauma, scarring, or sun
damage. The procedure works best on the wrinkles appearing in
the upper one-third of the face, because its use on the lower
two-thirds might cause distortion of a person's smile or facial
expression.
What Results Can Be Expected?
This procedure will smooth wrinkles that are caused
by frown and worry lines, "crow's feet, and laugh lines; however, it
is not designed to take the place of the standard facelift or other
facial surgical procedures. It is often used in conjunction
with other procedures.
Botox® injections may not be suitable for persons
with pre-existing medical conditions or allergies. Our
physician will take a complete medical history to determine if the
patient is a good candidate for the treatment.
If you are interested in learning more about the
Botox® treatment, please contact our office and we will be happy to
answer your questions.
When should I get my next treatment?
We recommend treatments every three months for the
first year. As the muscles atrophy you will require less frequent
treatments.
Botox Pre/Post Treatment
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen-like medications for 1 week
before or after treatment.
- Avoid lying down or massaging the treated area for 4 hours
after treatment.
- Do not exercise for 24 hours.
- Exercise the treated muscles.
- If you get a headache (as some people do for a few hours after
the treatment), you may take a Tylenol, unless otherwise advised
by your physician.
- You may take Arnica tablets if there is any bruising in the
site of injections, or if you are prone to bruising.
- You will notice the effect of the Botox in 5 to 10 days.
Botox for sweating
Excessive sweating of the palms, soles and armpits
affects about one in 200 people. The cause is unknown, but we do
know that nerves play a major role in sweat production. Botox has
been used with great success in blocking the nerves responsible for
sweating. We have used Botox for many years to virtually stop all
undesirable sweating. A single treatment can last as long as a year
with dramatic results.
For more information, please see the Botox FAQ
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