Botox Cosmetic
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,
after extensive testing, Botox Cosmetic is approved by the FDA as a safe and
effective treatment for wrinkles and frown lines. The procedure known as cosmetic
denervation uses Botox Cosmetic to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown
lines, laugh lines, crow’s feet and other dynamic wrinkles.
Botox Cosmetic
Botox Cosmetic blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial
muscles that are related to expression lines. Botox Cosmetic 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.
Are Botox COSMETIC treatments
safe?
Botox Cosmetic has been used safely and effectively for over ten years
to treat many ophthalmological and neurological disorders. Each year thousands
of patients receive Botox Cosmetic treatments for a variety of conditions and
it is quickly becoming a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs
of aging.
What is the treatment like?
Cosmetic denervation with Botox Cosmetic is a simple
and safe procedure. Using a tiny micro-needle, a very small amount of Botox
Cosmetic 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 treatment 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. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office.
Some patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the treatment site.
This can be covered with make-up.
Are there any side effects?
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect.
In some cases, Botox Cosmetic 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 treated.
Your doctor will discuss this with you in length before your treatment. Because
the effects of Botox Cosmetic are completely reversible, any side effects are
temporary, lasting only a few weeks.
What results can I expect?
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 Cosmetic will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift
or brow lift.
What are the limitations of Botox Cosmetic?
Unfortunately, Botox Cosmetic is
a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects last
from three to six months. You will need to have treatments 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 Botox Cosmetic less
frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient
to patient.
Does Botox Cosmetic treat other symptoms?
Yes. Botox Cosmetic has been used
for over ten years on thousands of patients to treat blepharospasm associated
with dystonia.
Am I a candidate for Botox Cosmetic?
If you would like to learn more about
your cosmetic options, or find out if Botox Cosmetic treatments might work
well for you, please call our office and schedule a consultation with the doctor.
This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To
find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures
or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you
to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.
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