Scowl lines, crow’s feet, and forehead furrows tend to make us look older. Many women and men today are having BOTOX injections to fight the signs of aging. According to statistics provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), botulinum toxin Type A injections are the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure in the nation, with more than seven million treatments performed in a recent year.
At Skin Deep, Dr. Denham oversees every procedure to ensure the results are smooth, fresh, and natural – not frozen.
What Exactly Is BOTOX and How Does It Work?
BOTOX is botulinum toxin Type A, a medication derived from a specific type of bacteria. It works by blocking nerve impulses to the muscle. BOTOX relaxes the muscles that cause vertical scowl lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, and horizontal creases or wrinkles on the forehead.
How Much of a Difference Can BOTOX Make in a Person’s Appearance?
BOTOX can help rejuvenate facial appearance. By relaxing specific muscles, it minimizes the appearance of lines and wrinkles, giving the face a fresher, more youthful look. Most of our patients are extremely satisfied and experience a boost in self-confidence that comes with having a more attractive, younger-looking appearance.
How Is BOTOX Different than Facial Fillers?
Both dermal filler and BOTOX treatments are performed with injections. While fillers are injected under the skin, BOTOX is injected into the muscle. Fillers are used to replace lost volume and fill in wrinkles, while BOTOX relaxes the muscle to reduce the appearance of existing lines and wrinkles and helps prevent future wrinkles from forming.
Do BOTOX Injections Hurt?
A topical numbing cream may be applied to the treatment area before BOTOX injections to make treatment more comfortable. Botox is injected into the muscle to relax the movements causing lines, wrinkles, and other cosmetic issues. The injections feel much like a quick pinch.
How Long Do BOTOX Treatments Last?
Benefits of BOTOX can last up to four to six months. You may require three or four treatment sessions in the first year and may need fewer sessions the following year and onwards.
In many cases, lesser injections are needed as the muscles become adapted to relaxation with repeated treatment.
Is BOTOX Used to Treat More than Scowl Lines, Crow’s Feet, and Forehead Wrinkles?
BOTOX has been specifically approved by the FDA for cosmetic treatment of frown lines between the eyebrows, lines around the eyes, and wrinkles on the forehead. It also has FDA approval for several medical uses, including treatment of migraines, eyelid spasms, excessive sweating, and chronic neck pain. In addition, many physicians have developed a number of safe, off-label cosmetic uses of BOTOX, including:
- Eyebrow lift: A small amount of BOTOX injected into the muscle that pulls the eyebrow down can provide a non-surgical, less dramatic, brow lift. By relaxing this muscle, it elevates the eyebrow.
- Jaw reduction: Grinding or clenching the teeth can cause the muscles used in chewing to become enlarged. BOTOX injections can relax and reduce these muscles, softening the jawline and creating a more feminine facial shape.
- Gummy smile treatment: When the upper lip is elevated excessively, it can show too much of the gums when you smile. BOTOX injected into the upper lip relaxes the retractor muscles and lowers the lip line to create a more aesthetically pleasing smile.
- Nasal tip lift: Many people have rhinoplasty (nose surgery) to correct a droopy nasal tip. A touch of BOTOX injected at the base of the nose can raise the nasal tip, for similar results.
- Lip lift: BOTOX injections can give the lips a slightly outward projection. Used alone or in combination with lip fillers, this treatment gently rolls the lip outward for subtle pout enhancement.
- Facial slimming: BOTOX can also be used to create a facial profile that appears slimmer. To achieve this effect, BOTOX is injected into the lower cheeks on both sides of the face.
