Most people do not realize that their repeated facial expressions may lead to the early development of wrinkles and fine lines. Commonly seen around the eyes (in the form of crow’s feet, frown lines, and brow furrows), expression-causing lines can dampen your youthful appearance and leave you searching for a way to restore your smooth contours.
What Is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is that way. BOTOX® Cosmetic is an injectable treatment that temporarily reduces expression-causing wrinkles across the face by blocking the nerve transmissions that tell facial muscles to contract and crease the skin. BOTOX® Cosmetic not only relaxes the muscles to reduce current wrinkles but also prevents additional wrinkles from developing.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a cosmetic neurotoxin that is used to reduce facial wrinkles and fine lines. It is obtained from a bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum. The bacterium mostly exists in an inactive and non-toxic state in the environment; however, at some point, it starts to produce botulinum toxin—commonly known as BOTOX® Cosmetic.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is at the forefront of the ever-evolving field of non-surgical aesthetic enhancements and is available at Dr. Hochstein’s Miami, Florida, practice.
What Does BOTOX® Cosmetic Treat?
BOTOX® Cosmetic can be used to:
- Soften frown lines and glabellar wrinkles between the eyebrows (the “11” lines)
- Minimize crow’s feet
- Smooth horizontal forehead lines
- Lift the brow to reduce heaviness on the eyelids
- Smooth bags beneath the eyes
- Relax drooping neck tissues (turkey neck)
- Smooth smoker’s lines around the mouth
- Minimize chin dimpling
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic Right for Me?
Ideally, a good candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic injection should be at least 18 years of age and physically healthy without a history of a neuromuscular disease, such as myasthenia gravis or multiple sclerosis. The wrinkles you intend to treat should be in an area that can be treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic injection, such as the area around the eyes, the forehead, and the neck. Furthermore, as with any other cosmetic treatment, you should only try BOTOX® Cosmetic injections if you have realistic expectations. You should never consider having BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment if you are pregnant or nursing.
How Does BOTOX® Cosmetic Differ From Other Neuromodulators?
While BOTOX® Cosmetic (from Allergan™) is the most well-known and used neurotoxin on the market, it is not the only one. Similar formulas do exist from other manufacturers that work in similar ways. Some of these alternative treatments include Dysport®, XEOMIN®, and Jeuveau™.
While all of these neurotoxins consist of the same ingredients, they contain different consistencies, meaning they provide a slightly different result length. The team at Hochstein Medspa will guide you through these different treatments to find the right injectable for you.
How Is BOTOX® Cosmetic Differ From Dermal Fillers?
Although BOTOX® Cosmetic (and other neuromodulators) and dermal fillers (like JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, and RADIESSE®) are both injectable treatments that restore youthful features by minimizing lines, they work in very different ways and consist of very different ingredients. BOTOX® Cosmetic works on dynamic lines (expression-causing lines) by interfering with chemical signals. Dermal fillers minimize lines by restoring facial volume and “filling” a depressed or wrinkled area. Dermal fillers work on static lines (the permanent wrinkles that develop due to age, sun damage, or genetics).
How Is My BOTOX® Cosmetic Injected?
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are administered in the office at the Hochstein Medspa. This injectable treatment usually only takes 15 minutes or less.
Anesthetic cream or a cold pack may be used to numb the area to be treated. Your doctor will use a tiny needle to inject BOTOX® Cosmetic into the muscles that cause the wrinkles or fine lines to form.
The number of injections will depend on the location of the wrinkles and their severity.
What Results Can I Expect From BOTOX® Cosmetic?
After your appointment, you might be worried about why you can’t see any noticeable difference. However, don’t panic; the treatment can take up to a week to take full effect.
This treatment will not eliminate wrinkles, but you can expect significant improvement. Some of the side effects that you can expect may include mild headache and redness at the injection site.
BOTOX® Cosmetic does not require downtime, and you can go back to work immediately after your appointment. You should avoid vigorous exercise for 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions About BOTOX® Cosmetic
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic safe?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is an FDA-approved cosmetic treatment for the reduction of fine lines. Although this injectable consists of a “toxin,” it is not toxic, and complications are very rare. Make sure to inform the Hochstein Medspa of any allergies you may have to ensure you are a candidate for this treatment.
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic painful?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a non-surgical treatment that is generally considered painless. The discomfort experienced during injection goes away almost immediately.
Are BOTOX® Cosmetic injections addictive?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is not addictive, but once patients begin treatments, they often become accustomed to their youthful appearance and wish to maintain their look with repeat injections. Because BOTOX® Cosmetic does not provide permanent results, if touch-up treatments are not carried out, wrinkles may reappear, and the face will revert to its normal state. Maintaining a consistent schedule of treatments is always recommended for the best results. Dr. Hochstein finds that most patients love their faces and their wrinkle-free skin after receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic injections.
How long will my BOTOX® Cosmetic recovery take?
The procedure is minimally invasive, and therefore, it doesn’t require any downtime. In other words, you can go back to your daily routine immediately after your appointment.
How long do my BOTOX® Cosmetic results last?
The results can last for three to five months after the injection. Repeated injection treatments are required to maintain lasting results. You may find that the length of your results is prolonged with the more injections you undergo.
What are alternate uses for BOTOX®?
While the reduction of wrinkles is the primary reason for BOTOX® Cosmetic right now, it is also used to treat excessive sweating. Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes men and women to sweat four to five times more than normal, even when it is not hot, or they are not exercising. Hyperhidrosis can result in significant damage to one’s self-esteem and confidence levels. BOTOX® can be injected into the areas of excessive sweating (primarily the armpits) to help mitigate the excess sweat.