What is Botox, or botulinum toxin?
Botulinum toxin is substance derived from an organism called Clostridium botulinum, that temporarily blocks the nerve signals that cause muscles to activate or move. Relaxing contracted muscles allows the overlying skin tissues to smooth out and remove the wrinkles that result from this tension.
What is the procedure and what is the goal?
The most important thing is to determine what areas bother the patient. Evaluation of these areas when the muscles of facial expression are at rest and activated is needed to determine areas to treat and how much botox to inject. After the face is cleaned, botox is injected, which is both quick, with minimal discomfort. The goal is to achieve a natural and rejuvenated result. Treatment must be individualized to address severity of wrinkles, muscle bulk, choice of neurotoxin, and response to any previous treatments.
Is BOTOX permanent?
If only it was! Typically, treatments last between 3-6 months, however, we find that the results are longer for those who get injected at regular intervals over time, since the muscles start to atrophy over time when they are immobilized.
Which areas can be treated?
Common areas are: horizontal lines on the forehead (frontalis), vertical lines in the glabellar complex (procerus, corrugator), wrinkles around the lateral portion of the eye known as Crow’s feet (orbicularis oculi). Other treatment areas, considered off-label, include bunny lines on the nose (nasalis), wrinkles around the mouth (orbicularis oris), the dimpled chin (mentalis), and the marionette groove (depressor anguli oris). Large masseter and platysmal bands in the neck can also be injected.
In summary, BOTOX is a safe and individualized treatment for all age groups, that can rejuvenate and soften the face in a lovely and natural way.
