What is the BOTOX® procedure?
BOTOX Cosmetic® has become a very popular cosmetic treatment to improve your expression lines and wrinkles in both the upper face and the mouth and lip area. With more than a million BOTOX Cosmetic® procedures performed safely on patients worldwide each year, the popularity of this treatment is unmistakable. At the Dermatology Depot Medical Spa in West Palm Beach, BOTOX Cosmetic® injections take just a few minutes out of your busy schedule. Repetitive tightening of the various muscles of facial expression contributes to facial wrinkles. When these are relaxed by the action of BOTOX Cosmetic® injections, wrinkles are smoothed and the area takes on a younger appearance. For wrinkles that are present all the time – even at rest – a combination treatment with Botox and a dermal filler injection may be recommended for optimum results. Often, BOTOX Cosmetic® is a great option for people who are just starting to notice a few lines and wrinkles that weren’t there just a few years ago. Call us today to make your appointment or to learn more.
What is BOTOX®?
BOTOX Cosmetic® is the brand name of the protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When injected directly into specific muscles in microscopic doses, BOTOX Cosmetic® causes controlled weakening of the muscles and subsequent reduction of the associated facial wrinkles. BOTOX Cosmetic® is an approved nonsurgical treatment that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines in people between the ages of 18 to 65 years of age.
Is BOTOX® approved by the FDA?
The FDA initially approved BOTOX® usage in the late 1980s upon the discovery that it could treatment eye ailments like blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking) and strabismus (lazy eye). In 2002, BOTOX Cosmetic® gained FDA approval for the treatment of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows known as glabellar lines. Today, BOTOX Cosmetic® is widely used for other areas of the face as well.
How does BOTOX Cosmetic® work?
BOTOX Cosmetic® works by decreasing the activity of muscles which contract the skin, producing wrinkles. The botulinum protein, following injection into your skin and muscle, is absorbed by nerve endings, where it blocks the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by those nerve endings. This prevents the nerve impulse from activating the muscle. The injected muscles can no longer contract as forcefully, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. After several months, the nerve terminals recover, begin releasing acetylcholine again and muscle function completely recovers. Think of it like unplugging your home telephone temporarily – the phone no longer rings because it doesn’t receive a signal
What is the BOTOX Cosmetic® procedure like?
On the day of your BOTOX Cosmetic® procedure, you will be seated comfortably in our examination room. No anesthesia is required, although we can numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream if deemed necessary. We will then determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow, forehead and eye area. Since the location, size, and the degree of use of the muscles vary markedly among individuals, the dosing and placement of BOTOX Cosmetic® is also individualized. We will place several tiny injections of BOTOX Cosmetic® directly into the muscles that cause your moderate to severe frown lines between your brows, forehead, crow’s feet and peri-oral area. The BOTOX Cosmetic® injection procedure will take approximately 10 minutes and you can expect to be in and out of our Medical Spa without downtime afterwards. Sometime bruising may occur – as this is still an injection – and can last for a few days to a couple of weeks. Please refrain from using aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve, and other blood thinners for a week before your treatment, in order to keep bruising to a minimum. Discomfort with the BOTOX Cosmetic® treatment is usually minimal and brief.
What results will I see after the procedure?
Results vary, but in some cases you may see a marked improvement within three to ten days. Lines continue to improve for up to a month after treatment, and results can last for up to six months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their appearance as being significantly better one month after treatment. The beauty of a BOTOX Cosmetic® treatment is that it is a simple, 10-minute, non-surgical process and there is little to no recovery time and minimal risks. Although the results are visible, a treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic® will not radically change your facial appearance. The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced, so you can still frown, squint, purse or look surprised, but without the wrinkles and creases. If you do not continue treatments, the lines will gradually look like they did before treatment.
What are the side effects from BOTOX®?
The most common side effects following your BOTOX Cosmetic® injections include temporary eyelid droop, nausea, localized pain, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, and redness. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk for serious side effects and if you have these disorders, you should discuss this with us during your consultation.