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Botox® Cosmetic
BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is a revolutionary approach to reducing facial wrinkles. Crows feet, worry lines and laugh lines can all be dramatically diminished. These wrinkles are referred to as dynamic wrinkle lines and all are treatable with this procedure. There are basically three types of facial wrinkles.
- Those that are caused by movement of the muscles under the skin are called dynamic or mimetic rhytids. (rhytids are lines or wrinkles) The muscles of facial expression allow us to express emotion with our face. We can move our mouth, eyelids, furrow our brow or wrinkle our nose and do countless other expressions. Years of worry can engrave these expressions on our faces and without intending we may appear grumpy, mad or sad.
- Those that are caused by excess fat causing folds.
- Those that are caused by loss of elasticity as with age or sun damage or smoking.
BOTOX® Cosmetic can only treat the 1st type of wrinkles (dynamic or mimetic). BOTOX® Cosmetic deactivates the muscle to which it is injected by chemically inactivating the nerve-muscle connection. When the muscle is relaxed by this denervation it cannot create a wrinkle. It takes approximately 3 days for the process to work and it peaks at 15 days after the injection. Over a 4 month period the nerve-muscle connection is re-established and the muscle action returns slowly. Interestingly, the wrinkles tend to return slower than the muscle action and are softer. Re-application of BOTOX® is then necessary to regain the desired wrinkle reduction. The effects of subsequent BOTOX® applications are often more pronounced.
Post-Operative Information
After the injections, patients may experience slight bruising around the area that quickly fades. Normal activities can be performed immediately. Possible side effects are temporary weakness of nearby muscles or in rare cases an eyelid may droop. BOTOX® Cosmetic is completely reversible so any side effect is only a temporary condition. The doctor will explain all risks associated at the time of your consultation.
To preview Pre-Operative Instructions, Consent and Post-Operative Instructions along with the scheduled visits, see “Doc’s Orders; Cosmetic Plastic Surgery; BOTOX® Cosmetic”.
Before Surgery
To better understand your overall health, we will evaluate your medical history prior to surgery. In addition, a complete examination of your eyes is made in order to decide the most effective injection sites. All issues and concerns will be discussed.
Digital photographs are taken in order to determine the amount of improvement after surgery.
The BOTOX® Cosmetic Procedure
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are performed with only nitrous oxide anesthesia because they are virtually painless. Only a very small sting is felt when the injections are made. The effects are not permanent and may need to be repeated two to three times per year to retain the effects. Research has suggested, however, that long term use of the injections leads to a longer duration of each treatment’s effect. Patients over the age of 65 may not experience such dramatic results. BOTOX® Cosmetic is only useful in treating expression lines and cannot be used to repair sagging skin caused by aging.