BOTOX® is one
of the most widely known and tried non-surgical aesthetic
procedure utilized today. Used to relax wrinkles of the
forehead, eyebrow and crows feet, it is a extremely popular
method to
take years off your appearance.
BOTOX® is a formulation
of Botulinum toxin type A, derived from the bacterium
Clostridium Botulinum. This bacteria produces
a protein that blocks the release of acetylcholine and
relaxes muscles. The first use approved by the FDA was in
the treatment
of eye muscle disorders and cervical dystonia.
Depicted
in the drawing below, the BOTOX® toxin actually
blocks the release of acetylcholine from the nerve ending,
which
is required for muscle contraction.
With BOTOX® injected in minute quantities and in the
right places, the wrinkles caused by facial muscle contraction
are relaxed, giving the person a more youthful appearance.
- Forehead
- Frown lines (Glabellar fold)
- Crow’s feet (lateral
corners of eyes)
- First, a medical consultation will be performed
to insure that you meet the appropriate requirements
for this treatment. Those who are pregnant, nursing, or
might be pregnant should
not have BOTOX® Anyone with a neurological
disease should not have this treatment.
- Depending
on which of the areas the patient desires
treatment for, those areas will be marked with a make-up
pencil and then very small injections in those areas with a tiny needle
will be performed. This usually takes less
than
15 minutes. Most describe the procedure to be much like a pinch
at most.
- You will receive an ice pack for a few minutes after
the injections are completed and then will be able
to drive yourself home.
- You will be given a return appointment for about 7 days
to allow follow-up review and any touch-up
injections that might be necessary.
- The Botox® takes 4-7 days to reach full effect
in relaxing the wrinkles.
- You may experience
a slight bruise where the injection was received.
If you do, it is generally easily
covered up with make-up.
- Generally one treatment episode
is all that is required, although we prefer to see you
back at
7 days so that any fine tuning of results can be accomplished at that time.
- You
can expect to enjoy the results for 4-6 months after
the injection. Many people prefer to
schedule their follow-up injection for about 4 months so as to avoid the
positive effect from wearing off, thus maintaining
a more
youthful appearance at all times.
- This is a very simple and quick procedure.
One is able to return to work immediately following
this procedure.
- There will be a slight redness where the injections
occurred for 12 hours, and rarely a small
bruise the next day, but this should be short lived.
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