Botox Treatment
BOTOX® Cosmetic is the trade name of Botulinum Toxin Type A. BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments provide a safe,
quick and remarkably effective way to markedly decrease wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections
are best on the upper third of the face. Forehead lines, furrows between the eyebrows,
and lines around the eyes ("crow's feet") respond favorably to BOTOX® Cosmetic. Frown lines
(below the mouth) and chin creases may also be improved with a BOTOX® Cosmetic injection, but
response here varies among individuals. BOTOX® Cosmetic is a substance that totally relaxes the
muscles that are responsible for wrinkles caused by facial expression. For example,
to make a frown we use muscles between and above the eyebrows, over time we are left
with a deep wrinkle or crease between the eyes. This may make us look angry even when
we are not frowning. In some cases BOTOX® Cosmetic can totally eliminate these lines in other cases
it may reduces them. Side effects are uncommon and may include bruising, some mild facial
asymmetry, eyelid sagging or headache.
BOTOX® Cosmetic works by relaxing these tiny facial muscles. A very small amount of BOTOX® Cosmetic is
injected into the facial muscles to lessen the visible signs of aging. After treatment
the skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while facial muscles contract normally, allowing
normal facial expression to be unaffected.
No sedation or local anesthetic is required and you will be able to resume all of your
regular daily activities immediately after your treatment. You may have a slight temporary
bruising of the skin at your injection sites. Bruising is relatively common and usually very mild.
A bit about wrinkles
Wrinkles are the most common sign of aging. We all get them...and we all want to get rid of
them. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution when it comes to wrinkle removal. That's
because there are actually three different types of wrinkles, and each has specific treatments
designed to remove them. The three types of wrinkles are dynamic wrinkles, fine wrinkles,
and skin fold wrinkles.
Dynamic wrinkles
Doctors call them dynamic wrinkles. Everyone else simply calls them smile lines and frown
lines. No matter what you call them, they are the most troublesome of all wrinkles and often
are the most difficult to treat. They are our crow's feet, scowl lines, forehead creases,
and lip wrinkles. They develop because each time we smile, laugh, or frown, our skin creases
or folds in the same way. After making the same expressions time after time, our skin "remembers"
these creases even when they are not there. These wrinkles can be improved through laser
resurfacing, dermabrasion, deep peels, BOTOX® Cosmetic, and fillers. However, even if these treatments
could vanish your dynamic wrinkles, your dynamic wrinkles will return, because you will continue
to make the same facial expressions that caused them in the first place. Interestingly, if you
have ever seen anyone who has had one half of their face paralyzed, you may have noticed that
the paralyzed side appears younger. This is because they do not move that side of the face, so
there are no dynamic wrinkles.
Fine wrinkles
Fine wrinkles are seen on dry crepe paper skin (usually on the cheeks). These wrinkles are
superficial and their removal is relatively easy through skin care, micropeels, and other
simple treatments.
Skin fold wrinkles
Skin fold wrinkles are the wrinkles that go from the corner of our noses, around our mouths,
and down to our chins. They look like big parentheses around our mouths. They develop within
the skin fold (called nasolabial fold by doctors) which is due to sagging cheeks. Because
these wrinkles are due to sagging skin, the only way to treat them is by tightening the
skin...through a facelift. Just look in the mirror while you are pulling your cheek skin back
toward your ears. You will see a dramatic improvement in your nasolabial folds, as well as the
skin fold wrinkles.
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