BOTOX INJECTIONS

e it, heredity or simply the way some of age we all tend to notice the little frown lines, crows feet, laugh lines that appear when we express ourselves. At one point, we all noticed that those frown lines, laugh lines, crows feet didn't disappear when we stopped laughing, smiling or frowning. Then, science discovered Botox.

Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. While you may have earned every one of your worry lines, you don't have to show them anymore.

Now, thanks to a new use for an approved drug, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure known as cosmetic enervation uses Botox injections to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet and other dynamic wrinkles.

Botox blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. Botox relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.

Botox injections have been used safely and effectively for over ten years to treat many ophthalmological and neurological disorders. Each year thousands of patients receive Botox treatments for a variety of conditions and it is quickly becoming a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging.

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Cosmetic denervation with Botox is a simple and safe procedure. Using a tiny microneedle, a very small amount of Botox is injected, very precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately.

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Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. This can be covered up with make-up. In some cases, the toxin can migrate and cause a temporary weakness of nearby muscles. In rare cases, there can be a drooping of an eyelid or asymmetry of facial expression. The risk of any side effect depends on the muscles injected. Your doctor will discuss this with you in length before your treatment. Because the effects of Botox are completely reversible, any side effects are temporary, lasting only a few weeks.

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If dynamic wrinkles make you look older than you are, cosmetic denervation can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle contractions. Botox injections will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift or brow lift.

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Unfortunately, Botox injections are a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from three to six months. You will need to have injections about two to three times a year. The early clinical studies indicate that the duration of treatment benefits is increased over time so that you should require injections less frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient to patient and may be less effective for those over 65 years of age.

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Yes. Botox has been used for over ten years on thousands of patients to treat blepharospasm associated with dystonia.

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If you would like to learn more about your cosmetic options, or find out if Botox treatments might work well for you, please call our office and schedule a consultation with the doctor.