Botox Cosmetic

Aging skin and wrinkles result from a combination of many factors, including cellular changes, collagen depletion, hormone loss and damage caused by free radicals — and more. Those vertical lines that appear between your brows, the “elevens,” result from muscle contractions.

When you concentrate, squint and frown, the muscles between your eyebrows contract, causing your skin to furrow and fold. After years of frequent contraction, those wrinkles can linger even after the muscles are at rest.

Years of facial expressions and contraction of the facial muscles cause the lines in our faces to deepen and become more permanent. The dilute injections of highly purified botulinumtoxin (Botox Cosmetic) reduce the contraction of these muscles and soften the lines. A skilled plastic surgeons can soften the lines of facial expression while leaving enough movement so patients still have some facial expression and avoid the “frozen look.”

Botox injections can be an excellent option if you are wishing to non-surgically:

• Eliminate Crow’s Feet: The fine lines around your eyes are often referred to as “crow’s feet.” Botox injections can help loosen the muscles associated with these fine line wrinkles and give you younger, fresher-looking eyes.
• Remove Frown Lines: Everyone has them, but as we grow older the creases around your mouth become more prominent. Botox can soften these lines and take years off of your face.
• Remove Forehead Wrinkles: The forehead is one of the first places Mother Nature begins to show her influence. If you are looking to smooth the signs of aging from your forehead, Botox Cosmetic may be for you!

Patients in their 20s with the initial signs of facial aging, as well as patients with well established signs of facial aging, are good candidates for treatment. Not only does it help soften the signs of aging, but it can also help slow down the visible signs of facial aging. Paralyzing the muscles helps to prohibit repetitive contractions that result in the formation of lines on the face. Many patients are surprised to learn that Botox has this preventative effect in addition to its therapeutic effect.

Botox injections are also frequently used in conjunction with other aesthetic procedures. They may be used at the same time a patient receives dermal fillers or in combination with a surgical procedure such as an eyelid lift, to achieve complete eye rejuvenation. Botox is often an integral part, not a substitute for, a host of complementary treatments to resist or minimize the effect of facial aging. Every patient concerned with real or potential lines of their face should be on a well-supervised skin care regime that is specifically tailored to each patient’s needs according to their age and skin type. Think of how strange an orchestra would sound without the violins or horn section.

At the time of your Botox consultation, our providers will discuss your expectations with you and recommend a treatment plan that may include Botox injections, dermal fillers, surgery, and/or a medically supervised skin care regime. All patients concerned with real or potential lines of aging on their face can benefit from a skin care program specifically tailored to their needs, age, and skin type.

The FDA has approved Botox injections for individuals aged 18 years and older. While 18 is considered an early age for wrinkle reduction, it is becoming increasingly popular to use Botox in patients between the ages of 18 and 30 years old to prevent wrinkles from forming. Young patients who want to relax facial muscle spasticity (commonly referred to as muscle spasms or twitches) may also be good candidates.

When administered by a qualified and experienced provider, Botox Cosmetic is considered very safe, and there are no systemic effects from injections.

The cost of Botox varies. Some of the most common factors that can impact pricing include the number of injection sites and/or units used, the experience and credentials of the provider, the location of the practice, and whether or not treatment is combined with other procedures.

For specific pricing information, please schedule a consultation at Water’s Edge Dermatology. During your appointment, our providers can evaluate your needs and goals, determine if Botox is the most effective solution, and provide a customized cost quote based on your particular treatment plan.

You can easily find medical providers who provide botulinum toxin-based injectables. The challenge lies in finding a provider with a wealth of experience, knowledge, and true artistry to create beautiful and natural-looking results without the “frozen” look.

Our providers are highly skilled and experienced in Botox Cosmetic and will be happy to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

The Botox Cosmetic procedure is relatively simple and easily performed in the office. A treatment typically takes about 15 minutes. Topical anesthetic is applied to the areas that are to be injected so they are almost numb or completely numb prior to the injection. You will be asked to contract the muscles in the area being treated so the proper location of the muscles for the injection can be determined. A tiny needle is used to perform the series of injections directly into the muscle. Our providers possess expert knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the areas being treated and is considered an experienced injector.

Either an ice compress or topical anesthetic can be applied to the skin prior to injection of Botox to minimize or eliminate any potential discomfort during treatment.

You may feel a quick pinch when the thin needle is inserted, but most patients report limited sensitivity. Once the injections are complete, there are typically no lingering sensations. The vast majority of patients agree that Botox Cosmetic treatment is very tolerable and would not describe the experience as painful.

Some patients may experience a small bruise or tenderness in the injection site. That said, there is generally no downtime associated with treatment, so you can expect to resume most of your normal routine right away. Our doctors recommend keeping your head elevated for four hours after the treatment and avoiding strenuous activities the rest of the day in order to help limit side effects and ensure optimal results.

In addition to offering Botox injections, we offer other wrinkle-relaxing products such as Dysport, which works like Botox; however, they each have some unique traits that may make them more or less ideal for any given patient. Alternatives are also an appealing option for patients who develop resistance to Botox injections and need an effective new solution. Our providers can recommend a product that will be best for accomplishing your wrinkle reduction goals.

Beyond injectable wrinkle relaxers, we also perform a wide range of other non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments that can reduce the prominence of wrinkles and create smoother, younger looking skin, including:

• Dermal filler injections
• Microneedling
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Chemical peels

Many patients enjoy combining these treatments with Botox to achieve optimal skin rejuvenation.

Although the results are visible, treatment with Botox does not radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you’ve “had work done.” The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is reduced temporarily. So you can still frown or look surprised just without the wrinkles and creases between your brows!

The number Botox Cosmetic units you require to reduce your wrinkles depends on the location of the wrinkles, the strength of your muscles, and how many areas you want to treat. Different muscle groups may require more or less Botox to achieve the desired result. During your consultation, your injector can analyze your wrinkles and provide you with an estimate of how many units you should start with.

It is better to under-treat the muscles your first time, than to over-treat. Two weeks after your initial injections, when the botox has reached its peak efficacy, you and your injector can reassess whether or not additional units are needed to induce further relaxation.

The results from Botox injections are not immediate, and it might take five to seven days for the desired effect to be achieved. Every individual is different, however, so this timeframe may be shorter or longer based on one’s unique anatomy and goals.

On average, the results seen after Botox Cosmetic treatment last up to three or four months. If you do not continue to have Botox injections, you will notice the lines that were present prior to the injection will gradually return. Most patients schedule subsequent treatments before there is complete return of their lines of facial aging. About 97% of patients are satisfied with their treatment. This high rate of satisfaction explains why Botox Cosmetic has been the most popular non-surgical treatment for years, and continues to grow at a staggering pace.

Regular Botox maintenance treatments are believed to be the best way to make results last longer. By preventing the facial muscles from moving, Botox can make muscles weaker over time, which in turn may extend the life of your treatments. Treatment sessions should be spaced at least three months apart to prevent an increased tolerance to the active ingredient in Botox injections.

The effects of Botox typically last between three to four months, but for some individuals, results may last longer. In order to retain the benefits on a continuous basis, injections can be repeated as results are fading after 12 weeks or beyond. Depending on your goals, response to injections, and budget, your injector can develop a regular Botox treatment schedule customized to suit your needs.