Botox

BOTOX COSMETIC TREATMENT

Overview

Botox Cosmetic injections are becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of certain facial wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic acts very differently than "filler" materials. Instead of filling the problem area with a substance, Botox Cosmetic temporarily weakens the facial muscles in the area and relaxes the skin's surface, thereby "removing" the wrinkle. Botox Cosmetic reacts with the body's nerve messaging system. When injected into the various muscles of facial expression, Botox Cosmetic acts as an interceptor for transmission of nerve signals. Botox Cosmetic short-circuits the message being sent to the muscles to produce wrinkling and spasmodic tendencies. What does this mean? No wrinkling! The type of lines and wrinkles that respond best to this procedure are those that are caused specifically by muscles that are repeatedly over-contracted during facial expressions such as frowning or squinting. It's very effective in reducing the appearance of frown lines, forehead furrows, "crows' feet," the “jelly roll” under the eyes, “bunny lines” around the nose, lip lines and wrinkles of the lower face, especially the melo-mental folds below the corners of the lips, the prominent vertical cords and horizontal lines of the neck. Botox Cosmetic injections can uplift the tip of the nose, do a brow lift, improve the square face of masseter muscle hypertrophy, improve teeth grinding, reduce migraine and chronic tension headaches, reduce the wrinkling of the décolleté and many other things. It is extremely effective for reducing excessive sweating of the forehead, axillae (armpits) and hands for up to six months and feet for four months, when other approaches fail. It is currently used in more than 25 medical conditions, including “urge incontinence” suffered by many people. Botox Cosmetic injections take effect in three to five days, and the effects last between three and four months initially, though there is some current evidence that suggests that repeated injections may ultimately lead to results lasting as long as 6 – 12 months. There is also evidence that treatment with Botox Cosmetic will prevent progression of the wrinkling while you are treated. Botox Cosmetic allows you to be proactive with your dynamic wrinkling. These treatments tend to be administered to men and women between the ages of 30 and 60.

Benefits

You're ready to do something about those wrinkles and lines that are multiplying on your face, but you may not be ready for plastic surgery. If you feel you need something, but don't want a drastic change, or you just aren't ready to have surgery; Botox Cosmetic may be the perfect option for you. The injections have many benefits, such as:

• Reducing or eliminating wrinkles without surgery.
• The treatment involves the minimal pain associated with a small needle stick.
• No sedation or anesthetic is needed.
• Correcting underlying muscles (as opposed to the skin's surface or sub-layer the way peels do).
• Reducing horizontal creases in forehead.
• Reducing frown lines.
• Minimizing the look of crows' feet and laugh lines.
• Can be used to treat horizontal lines on the neck, the cords of the neck, nasal flares, down-turned nasal tips, chin creases, upper and lower lip lines, or they can help do a brow lift, reduce wrinkling of the décolleté, “jelly rolls” under the eyes, “bunny lines”
• Providing dramatic effects.
• Its effects are reversible. There are no permanent side effects.
• Some patients report they no longer get tension headaches and migraines.
• Less expensive than plastic surgery, without the risks.
• Enhances collagen generation from Pearl Resurfacing laser treatment, IPL, Lasergenesis, Nlite and LongPulsed Dye Laser treatments by reducing muscle movement stress on treatment sites.
• Enhances benefits and longevity of Juvederm, Sculptra, Radiesse and Evolence injections and other procedures. Fillers used for scowl lines last twice as long when Botox Cosmetic was administered before or at the same time.
• Reducing excessive sweating of the forehead, axillae (armpits), feet and hands that do not respond to traditional OTC or prescription medicines for up to 6 months.

Some have called Botox Cosmetic the "ideal cosmetic procedure." They may be right. Compared to plastic surgery it is reasonably priced and without the risks associated with surgery. And without the pain. Because the needles used in this treatment are so fine, the smallest areas on your face can be dealt with, without having to involve any other areas. Most widely administered to the upper third of the face - around the eyes and forehead - Botox Cosmetic smooths out wrinkles: crows' feet around the eyes, frown lines between the brows and those horizontal lines that often appear on the forehead. The use of Botox Cosmetic is gaining popularity in other areas of the face, neck and other areas, as people realize the benefits to their appearance and self-confidence.

Botox Cosmetic started life as a treatment for eye spasms, vocal cord problems, abnormal movements of the legs, arms and face, and central nervous system disorders. Its current benefits were discovered by chance in 1987 when an ophthalmologist in Vancouver, Dr. Carruthers, using it to treat a patient's eye spasms, noticed that along with the spasms, it also eliminated the patient's crows' feet. The eye doctor's husband was a dermatologist and it wasn't long before he started using Botox Cosmetic to eliminate signs of aging. Now it is a common form of cosmetic treatment.

Are You A Good Candidate?

You're starting to secretly keep count. You can't help it, because every day you add a new wrinkle, crinkle, or line to the list of existing wrinkles, crinkles and lines on your face. You'd like to get rid of, or minimize them, but you may not be ready yet for a more involved plastic surgery procedure.

You're a good candidate for Botox Cosmetic if you:

• Have horizontal lines on your forehead or neck, cords on the neck that bother you
• Have crows' feet around your eyes, eyes that need to look more alert, “jelly rolls” under the eyes, need a brow lift
• You have frown or "squint" lines, “bunny lines”, upper and lower lip lines, down-turned corners of the mouth, new décolleté lines
• Do not want plastic surgery or want to postpone it
• Don't want the worry of dealing with the risks of other procedures
• Suffer from excessive, socially debilitating sweating of the forehead, axillae or hands
• Squared off face from masseter hypertrophy from clenching, grinding or TMJ

Botox Cosmetic is an effective but temporary treatment. The effect of Botox Cosmetic usually lasts three to four months. Additional treatments seem to produce a "build up" of Botox Cosmetic. Studies show that people who have had at least five treatments had results that lasted up to 6 months. After ten plus years of use, some of our patients are only seeing us once a year for maintenance injections.

Botox Cosmetic is not recommended for:

Pregnant women (even though there have been no reports of birth defects with its use) and women who are breastfeeding. This is because only limited data in this area is available. Persons with neuromuscular disease, such as muscular dystrophy or generalized movement disorders, may not be candidates for Botox Cosmetic and should consult their neurologists before being treated. Persons with known allergies to the components of Botox Cosmetic, such as saline solution and human albumin. Persons such as actors or on-air broadcasters, for example, who use their face for expressiveness, should consider whether Botox Cosmetic is right for them because Botox Cosmetic has a paralyzing effect on the muscles.

Your Consultation

The two most important functions the consultation serves are giving you information and allowing you to ask questions. The more you know and understand about this procedure, the more able you'll be to decide if it's right for you. With Dr. Sabean watching, look in the mirror and point out what you like to improve. Discuss your expectations for the procedure. Are these expectations realistic? If you're hoping for improvement, you'll be happy with the results.

How Will I Look Afterward?

You may show some localized redness, swelling or bruising at the injection site. If these occur, they usually resolve quickly.

How Botox Works

Risks

There are certain risks and side effects associated with Botox Cosmetic injections, although most are minimal and none of the reactions is permanent.

Soreness or bruising can often develop at the injection site. (Ice packs applied to the treated site before and after the injections can alleviate this problem). Sometimes there is temporary numbness or tingling at the injection sites. It passes quickly. Occasionally when the scowl area or forehead are treated, patients get a minor headache that lasts a few hours. Very rarely, patients can develop a migraine that lasts up to a month and is unresponsive to usually effective treatments. Very rarely, flu-like symptoms have been reported.

When Botox Cosmetic is used around the forehead, a temporary condition known as ptosis can develop. This is when the eyelid droops. Ptosis happens to about 1% of patients (appearing 7 to 14 days after the injection, it can last 4 to 6 weeks). To reduce the risk of ptosis, patients should obtain Botox Cosmetic from a physician like Dr. Sabean who is experienced in its use. In the unlikely event that ptosis occurs, it is usually reversible with Iodipine or Naphcon drops until it spontaneously resolves. The drops bring relief within a few hours.

Please note: Botox Cosmetic administration is a safe cosmetic procedure when administered by a well-trained physician to an appropriate candidate. In terms of safety, muscle biopsies taken from patients after repeated injections of Botox Cosmetic have not shown any evidence of muscle weakness or degeneration. Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration states that there have been no reports of systemic toxicity from injections. Botox Cosmetic is recognized by the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the National Institutes of Health as safe and effective.

Botox Cosmetic does affect the ability of the muscles to move but does not alter or impair sensory perception.

Preparing Before The Procedure

There's a lot you can do before the procedure to insure everything during the procedure runs smoothly.

You should not take aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Motrin or Advil for two weeks before treatment. Aspirin increases the risk for bleeding and bruising at the injection site. Also, tell Dr. Sabean what, if any, medications you are taking and if you have any allergies.

Where Your Procedure Will Be Performed

Botox Cosmetic injection treatments are administered in Dr. Sabean's office by Dr. Sabean.

Anesthesia

Anesthesia or sedation is not required for this treatment.

The Procedure

Dr. Sabean will review the procedure and answer any questions prior to administering treatment.

How Botox Cosmetic works:

When Botox Cosmetic is injected into the skin and muscle, it binds itself to the nerve endings, in effect paralyzing the (chemical) transmitters that activate muscles. It partially freezes the small muscles of the face that cause crows' feet, frown lines and other wrinkles. It also lessens the face's ability to make a frown or squint; preventing more lines and wrinkles from appearing. (Please note that although Botox Cosmetic does affect the muscles ability to move, it does not affect or alter your ability to feel sensation.)

After The Procedure

You will quickly recover from this procedure, since there is almost no redness or swelling. However, it is important to remain vertical (head above heart level) for 4 hours after the injection. This allows the Botox Cosmetic to be taken up in the treated area and lessens the chance of it moving to other muscles.

It's also suggested you contract the treated muscles repeatedly (smile or squint depending on the area treated) for about thirty minutes. In a sense, keeping them limber. Do not touch or rub the injected sites for two to three hours.

As long as you follow the above, you can drive yourself home or to work and resume all normal activities.

The Results

Sometimes it's the little things that make us unhappy, such as the little wrinkles on our face. Other times it's the little things that make us happy, like the Botox Cosmetic treatment that smoothes them out so nicely. It didn't hurt. It was done quickly. And the final effects make a big difference when you look in the mirror. No one else may notice that you had something done, but they will notice that you look more alert, or aren't frowning, etc. For a few minutes and a modest investment, you can present a younger, more pleasant face to the world. Friends and significant others will think you look better or more relaxed, but will not know why unless you choose to tell them.

The treatment is only temporary, requiring multiple visits to the doctor. Most people report that a single Botox Cosmetic treatment lasts from 3 - 4 months the first time, but may last up to six months after a few follow-up treatments.

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