Botox®

After years of squinting, laughing, frowning, smoking and worrying, the skin around the eyes and on the forehead will often develop deep lines and wrinkles called "expression lines". A frequent concern is that they often make you look older, tired or stressed. Botox has revolutionized the treatment of these lines.

What is Botox®?
Botox® is a therapeutic muscle-relaxing medical protein derived from the bacterium clostridium botulinum. First used by ophthalmologists to treat involuntary muscle twitching, it has gained popularity as an effective cosmetic treatment to reduce signs of stress and aging. We use it as a non-surgical injection that temporarily reduces or eliminates forehead creases, crow's feet around the eyes and frown lines near the mouth.

Muscles Cause Wrinkles?
Delicate muscles beneath the skin contract and cause the skin to fold when we make facial expressions. As the years go by, these folds form permanent creases called "dynamic wrinkles." Dynamic wrinkles deepen with age and can result in a permanently tired and stressed appearance. Botox® treatments give people with dynamic wrinkles smoother skin and a well-rested appearance. Botox® relaxes select muscles and limits their ability to contract. After treatment, the overlying skin lays flat and unwrinkled. Untreated facial muscles can still contract and work normally to make facial expressions.

How Long Does a Botox® Treatment Last?
At first, the effects usually last 2 to 4 months, then gradually fade. After several treatments, the results can last 6 months or more. Because its benefits last so long, Botox® can be combined with other skin care services such as laser resurfacing, skin rejuvenation and injected soft tissue implants as an affordable alternative to cosmetic surgery.

How does Botox® work?
Botox® is injected into the targeted muscle area. It temporarily weakens the facial muscles that cause some wrinkles, creating a softer, more relaxed appearance. The procedure is temporary, safe and effective. A skilled doctor can perform it in ten to fifteen minutes. Before beginning the treatment, your doctor will have you smile, frown and make faces to determine which muscles should be treated with Botox® and customize the injections for your unique features.

What is Treatment Like?
With a very fine needle, Botox® is injected into the specific muscles that are contracting and causing the lines and wrinkles on the face. The pain is minimal, hardly a pin prick, and most people find it easy to undergo without any anesthetic. We may use ice packs for clients who prefer a simple, time-honored method for numbing their skin. You can immediately resume regular activities following treatment.

Are Botox® Treatments Safe?
Botox® treatments have been used safely and effectively for over 15 years to treat many ophthalmologic and neurological disorders. Each year thousands of patients receive Botox® treatments for a variety of conditions and its cosmetic applications have become very popular. For maximum safety, only board-certified medical doctors are permitted by law to administer Botox®.

Are there Any Possible Side Effects?
Side effects are unusual, but may happen. Mild, temporary bruising that lasts two or three days after the injections can occur in some cases. In rare cases, the procedure can result in a slight drooping of an eyelid, stiffness or asymmetry of expression. If this happens, return to your physician. Some people form antibodies to the proteins in Botox®, which results in a lesser response to the treatment.