BOTOX® Cosmetic for Frown Lines and Crow’s Feet
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.
We’re here to help dramatically soften those harsh, dynamic lines you wish would just disappear. The procedure known as cosmetic denervation uses BOTOX® injections to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow’s feet and other dynamic wrinkles.
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How Does BOTOX® Cosmetic Work?
BOTOX® blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. BOTOX® 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® injections have been used safely and effectively for many years to treat a vast array of ophthalmological and neurological disorders. Each year thousands of patients receive BOTOX® treatments for a variety of conditions and it has become a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging.
What is the Treatment Like?
Cosmetic denervation with BOTOX® is a simple and safe procedure. Using a very fine needle, a small amount of BOTOX® 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 injections 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. A small percentage of patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site, however this usually can be covered with make-up.
Are There any Side Effects?
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. In some cases, BOTOX® 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 injected. Your doctor will discuss this with you in length before your treatment. Because the effects of BOTOX® 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 refreshed appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle contractions. BOTOX® injections will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift or brow lift.
What are the Limitations of BOTOX® Cosmetic Injections?
Unfortunately, BOTOX® injections are a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from three to six months. You will need to have maintenance injections 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 injections less frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient to patient and may be less effective for those over 65 years of age.
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic Used to Treat Other Symptoms?
Yes. Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections for the treatment of blepharospasm was approved by the FDA in 1989, and since then, thousands of patients have used these injections for both medical and cosmetic treatments.
What is Blepharospasm?
Blepharospasm is a localized movement disorder (focal dystonia) that affects the muscles that control eyelid movement. This disorder is characterized by increased blinking caused by involuntary spasms of the muscles controlling the eyelid. Bleparospasm usually affects both eyelids and can progress to functional blindness (i.e., an inability to open the eyelids for any significant period of time).
Approximately 75% of patients with blepharospasm are female and the average age at onset is 56 years old.
How is Blepharospasm Treated with BOTOX®?
BOTOX® injected directly in the affected eye muscles relieves the muscle spasm. The duration of effect lasts approximately three months at which time the neurotoxin can be re-injected as long as the patient continues to respond and does not have a serious allergic reaction. Most insurance carriers will cover injections for this condition or facial spasms.