Botox
What is Botox?
Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a popular injectable that temporarily reduces or eliminates facial fine lines and wrinkles. The most commonly treated areas are frown lines, forehead creases, crow’s feet near the eyes. Several other areas have been treated such as thick bands in the neck, thick jaw muscles, lip lines and gummy smiles.
The procedure works by blocking nerve impulses to the injected muscles. This reduces muscle activity that causes moderate to severe lines to form.
Facts About Botox
Botox is a simple, nonsurgical treatment that has been used for more than 20 years to temporarily smooth out wrinkles in your face. It is FDA-approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet (lines around the eyes), and forehead lines. Botox is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, which reduces the activity of the muscles that cause wrinkles.
In general, the results last about three to six months. As muscle action gradually returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and need to be treated again. The effects of botox may vary from person to person.
Procedure
Botox is injected into the muscle with a very fine needle. It takes about two weeks to work, and the results usually last for three to four months. There is no recovery time after botox injections. You may have some redness and swelling at the injection site. These side effects usually go away within a few hours. This is not a permanent solution for wrinkles. You will need to have injections every three to four months to maintain the results.
If you are considering botox injections, talk to one of our board certified plastic surgeons about your expectations and concerns to decide whether this procedure is right for you. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our surgeons today!