|
Botox™ Injections (for frown lines and crow's feet)
Are you tired of being asked if you are angry when you are not? Are you tired of being asked why you look so tired after you have had eight hours of sleep? Then, Botox®; is for you. Dynamic wrinkles known as crow's feet or scowl lines are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh, or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. While you may have earned every one of your worry lines, you don't have to show them anymore.
Now, thanks to a new use for an approved drug called Botox®;, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure known as cosmetic denervation uses Botox®; injections to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet, and other dynamic wrinkles. Botox®; can also be utilized to slightly raise the eyebrows.
HOW DOES BOTOX® WORK?
Botox®; blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. Botox®; relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.
ARE BOTOX® TREATMENTS SAFE?
Botox®; injections have been used safely and effectively for over 10 years to treat many ophthalmological and neurological disorders. Each year, thousands of patients across the country receive Botox®; for a variety of conditions. This has rapidly become one of the most popular therapies for reversing the visible signs of aging. The most common combination treatments that patients come in for at the same time include Botox®; injections for dynamic lines around the eyes, collagen injections for dynamic lines around the mouth including lip augmentation, and the Cool Touch�ae; laser therapy for static lines or the fine wrinkles under the eyes.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT LIKE?
Cosmetic denervation with Botox®; is a simple and safe procedure. Using a tiny microneedle, a very small amount of Botox®; is injected into several locations on the face. As the needle is the tiniest made, only a small amount of liquid is used in each injection site. 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 the patients can resume normal activities immediately. Most patients receive injections and either go back to work or home wearing slight make-up over the injection sites. Some patients do experience minimal bruising at the injection sites, and this can be covered immediately with make-up.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. Botox®; injections are very technique dependent. In some cases, the toxin can migrate and cause a temporary weakness of nearby muscles. Rarely, drooping of the eyelid or asymmetry of facial expression is seen. The risk of any side effects depends on the muscles injected and the amount injected. Your doctor will discuss this with you in length before your treatment. Because the effects of Botox®; are completely reversible, any side effects are temporary lasting only a few weeks.
WHAT RESULTS CAN I EXPECT?
If dynamic lines make you look older than you are, cosmetic denervation can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle contraction. Botox®; injections will not improve signs of aging caused by gravity, such as sagging skin. Botox®; will not take the place of a facelift or a brow lift totally. Some patients can be given Botox®; immediately under the eyebrow. This causes the forehead muscles to compensate and yield a temporary elevation of the eyebrow. This is known in the literature as a chemical brow lift.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS OF BOTOX® INJECTIONS?
As Botox®; injections are temporary, they need to be repeated every 3-6 months. Most patients have injections 2-3 per year. The duration of treatment is increased over time such that one requires injections less frequently in the future. The duration also varies from patient to patient and may be less effective for those patients over 65 years of age.
IS BOTOX®USED TO TREAT OTHER SYMPTOMS?
Botox®; can also be utilized to treat a condition known as blepharospasm associated with dystonia.
back to Procedures |
