What is BOTOX Cosmetic?
BOTOX Cosmetic is a treatment used to treat frown lines and crow’s feet on the face. BOTOX Cosmetic works beneath the skin to target underlying muscle activity that results in frown lines. The injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic will temporarily reduce the activity of these facial muscles, thus resulting in the decrease of these wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic works by blocking the signals from the facial nerves to the facial muscles so that the injected muscle has decreased the contraction. This will result in relaxation of the wrinkles and softening of the facial lines.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is most often used in the crow’s feet (lines lateral to the eyes), forehead lines, and glabella (lines between the brows). BOTOX® Cosmetic will work on the muscle to decrease the wrinkles that are formed from activity of the muscles in the face. It will not help with sun damage or changes with gravity on the face. BOTOX® Cosmetic can also be used to improve the brow position, position of the lips, and also to treat the chin area.
Who is a Good Candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic?
A good candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic is a patient who has noted an increase in furrows on the face with contraction of the muscles. For instance, with constant squinting, the muscles around the eyes contract and cause crow’s feet. This area responds very well to the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.
What are Realistic Expectations for BOTOX® Cosmetic?
For patients undergoing treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic, a realistic expectation would be to have improvement of the lines in the face with motions. For instance, the lines in the crow’s feet (lines lateral to the eyes) or in the glabella region (lines between the brows) are excellent areas to be treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic. Another very popular area would be the horizontal lines in the forehead region. The goal is to have very natural results with the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments at the Mack Center.
How is the BOTOX® Cosmetic Procedure Performed?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is an in-offic e procedure that typically takes 5 to 10 minutes to perform, and does not require any anesthesia. A very fine needle is used to inject the BOTOX® Cosmetic to target the specific muscles to decrease the muscle contraction in the lines or wrinkles. Patients typically notice effect between 3-5 days with maximum effect typically noted after 7-10 days. It is recommended that patients avoid any aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for one to two weeks prior to the treatment to reduce the risk of bruising.
What are the Common Reasons Why a Patient Wants BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Patients present to the Mack Center with complaints of lines in the crow’s feet area, horizontal lines on the forehead, or vertical lines in the brow region. Typically, these lines slowly progress through the years. Our goal at the Mack Center is to create a rejuvenated, natural appearance, which is often performed in conjunction with facial fillers.
How Long Does it Take a Patient to Recover?
Following treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic, ice packs are applied in the office at the Mack Center. Patients are also given an ice pack to take home. Patients can return to work that same day with no downtime.
Will I Look Natural with BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Our focus at the Mack Center is to achieve natural rejuvenation results to result in a youthful appearance. This applies to an inter-operative procedure such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and facial fillers, and also with our facial surgeries such as facelift, eyelid surgery, and brow lifts.
How Long Does the BOTOX® Cosmetic Treatment Last?
The effects of the treatment from BOTOX® Cosmetic will typically last approximately four months. The muscles that are treated on the face will gradually start to contract, and the lines and wrinkles will begin to reappear. Oftentimes, the lines and wrinkles may appear less severe with time, as the muscles are trained to relax.
Can BOTOX® Cosmetic Be Used in Combination with Any Other Treatments?
BOTOX® Cosmetic can certainly be used with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as chemical peels, dermal fillers, microdermabrasion, or facial cosmetic surgery. Oftentimes, combining BOTOX® Cosmetic with other facial rejuvenation procedures will result in even better results. The treatment of the BOTOX® Cosmetic is done in the office with no anesthesia required. There is no downtime or recovery time for the injections. You may resume normal activities that day. It is recommended you don’t rub or massage the treated areas after the treatment.
As there are 43 muscles in the face, it is imperative that you seek a healthcare provider who is very experienced with BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, such as the providers at the Mack Center.
For more information, contact us today!
INJECTABLES & FILLERS HOME PAGE
Be sure and visit our Before & After gallery for this procedure.