Botox

Forehead frown lines and "crows feet" wrinkles around the eyes are due, in large part, to overactivity of facial muscles. Many patients smile, frown, squint, or raise their eyebrows while they are talking or concentrating, often without realizing they are over-activating their facial muscles. Over time, muscle memory can develop. The constant activity and use of the muscles of facial expression of the forhead, brow, and around the eyes can result in deep creases and wrinkles. By putting these over-used muscles at rest, BOTOX treatments can significantly reduce or eliminate many of these creases and wrinkles.

What is BOTOX and how is it used?

Botox - Non-surgical Treatment for Facial Wrinkles and Frown lines

The purpose of BOTOX treatment is to relax the facial muscles causing wrinkling between the eyebrows, upper nose, and around the eyes. BOTOX is a highly purified solution of nerve blocking agent. It is approved by the FDA and has been used for nearly 20 years for treatment of patients who suffer from spasm of the upper eyelid muscles. By carefully injecting minute amounts of BOTOX directly into the overactive facial muscle, a temporary relaxation of the muscle is achieved. The long history of safety and effectiveness of BOTOX makes it a very useful adjunct for treatment of facial wrinkles.

Botox treatment does not require anesthesia, however, an anestetic cream or cold compress may be used to numb the area before injection. There is very little discomfort from the fine needle stick and occasionally a temporary redness or slight discoloration may develop around the injection site (easily covered with makeup).

Smoothing muscles to smooth skinCrows Feet

Muscle movement occusrs when a signal is transmitted by the brain through nerve cells. As the impulse reaches the nerve endings, a chemical transmitter, acetylcholine, is released near the adjacent muscle fibre. The release of this transmitter causes the muscle to contract. Botox is a therapeutic muscle-relaxing agent that blocks the release of acetylcholine from the nerve endings. When targeted for specific facial muscles, Botox blocks the release of acetylcholine, allowing the over active facial muscle to relax and forehead frown lines, laugh lines or wrinkles around the eyes to disappear.

Is BOTOX the best treatment for you?

A complete facial analysis will determine which patients and what areas may benefit from BOTOX treatment. Since BOTOX can only treat wrinkles caused by muscle contraction, lines and wrinkles caused by loose or excess skin may require resurfacing by laser or chemical peel for maximum improvement. Excess skin around the eyes may require blepharoplasty (eyelid tuck) to correct signs of aging.

What results can be expected?Frown Lines

BOTOX treatments take only a few minutes, and make-up may be applied right after the procedure. Normal activity may be resumed immediately. Results begin to show 2 to 7 days after treatment and usually last for 3 to 6 months. During this time, muscle activity will gradually return and additional treatments are usually needed to maintain the effect. Some patients, after two or three treatments, will show prolonged relaxation of these muscles (up to one year).

Patients' instructions after BOTOX treatment

Although BOTOX has a long history of clinical use in children and an excellent safety record, there are certain precautions that should be taken after treatment. They are simple but should be followed carefully.

  • First, do not massage or manipulate the treatment area for 3 to 4 hours. This will keep BOTOX in the desired location.
  • Second, the patient should remain in the upright and sitting position for 3 to 4 hours, as this will prevent the BOTOX from moving into other facial muscles.
  • Third, the patient should move the affected muscles by frowning or squinting as much as possible in the first 3 to 4 hours after treatment. This will help move the BOTOX toward the nerve connections and speed up its effect.

Occasionally, there might be a slight redness or bruising in the treated areas. This is easily covered with make-up. However, if you note swelling or soreness, please call the office. Ice packs or Tylenol are usually the only post operative medication needed.

If you are an image-consious individual and are concerned about facial wrinkles, laugh lines and frown lines, a complete consultation with your doctor will help you decide if Botox treatments and / or other procedures are right for you.