What is Botox?
Botox Cosmetic is a neurotoxin, the first and only FDA-approved treatment to temporarily make moderate to severe frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines look better in adults.
- Treatment requires minimal downtime. You can return to your daily routine the same day after treatment.
- You may begin to notice results within 24 to 48 hours for moderate to severe frown lines, but will take up to two to four weeks to notice full results.
- Results typically last approximately 3-4 months.
- Botox delivers predictable, subtle results, so you look like you with less noticeable facial lines.
- And did you know Botox is now used to PREVENT further development of lines or wrinkles?
Is Botox Safe?
When you choose BOTOX® Cosmetic, you can trust in its established track record. Backed by over 16 years of published studies, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most widely researched and studied treatment of its kind, approved for use in 95 countries. The safety and efficacy of BOTOX® Cosmetic have been described in more than 528 peer-reviewed articles in scientific and medical journals.
How Does Botox Work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic targets one of the underlying causes of frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines — the repeated muscle contractions from frowning, squinting, smiling and raising the eyebrows over the years. Your specialist will inject these muscles with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce muscle activity. You will begin to notice your frown lines between your brows, your crow’s feet lines and your forehead lines temporarily look better.
Will my Face Look Overdone or unnatural?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive treatment. You can trust BOTOX® Cosmetic to deliver subtle results when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained, and a medical expert in facial anatomy. So you’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable lines.
How much time does the treatment take, and will it hurt?
Your specialist will discuss your treatment goals and perform a facial analysis to determine the appropriate treatment areas for you. If the HCP deems you to be an appropriate candidate, the injection may take place on that same day. Some patients report that being injected with BOTOX® Cosmetic feels like a pinch. Your specialist may use ice to numb the treatment area. Or, if you are concerned about discomfort, your specialist may apply a topical numbing cream before administering your treatment. Treatment requires minimal downtime. Most people return to their daily routine the same day.
How long is recovery?
Treatment requires minimal downtime.
Is Botox just for women?
When surveyed, the majority of men say they want to look good and they’re bothered by the changes they see in the mirror. Eighty percent (80%) would choose to treat their crow’s feet first, while 74% would prioritize their forehead lines, and 60% would most like to treat their frown lines.
Neurotoxin Pre-Appointment Instructions
Neurotoxins are used for the temporary relief of wrinkles (rhytids), most typically of the forehead, brow, and “crow’s feet” region. There are 4 commonly utilized neurotoxins in the United States: Botox, Dysport, Jeaveau, and Xeomin. Our practice offers Botox currently. All these products are very similar in nature and effect with subtle differences between them. A small percentage of people will be resistant to one or more of these toxins. Therefore, when treated, if the utilized agent is either ineffective or less than fully effective, you may respond better to one of the others. The toxin itself is a medically manufactured drug which has its initial origin from bacteria that produces a toxin and is associated with botulism. While that sounds alarming, these toxins have been utilized in medicine for decades and have many different uses in addition to the above including treatment of migraine headaches and muscle spasticity.
Their safety and efficacy have been proven extensively. The effects of these toxins last for 2 to 4 months. The toxin itself blocks the transmission of information from a local nerve to the associated muscle, and, therefore, with the muscle unable to fully flex, there are fewer lines associated with the commonly treated areas. There are other areas of the facial region that are treated with Botox, such as the upper lip or even the neck. These treatments are what are considered FDA off-label, and your provider will explain in more detail what that means. In general, it is that the drug is safe and effective for that use, but it has not been specifically queried to and approved by the FDA for that use. As to the actual treatment, expressing your concerns and having a very detailed consultation with your provider is very important, especially for your first treatment and/or your first treatment with our practice.
To help minimize any side effects:
For optimal results, and to minimize the chance of bleeding or bruising at the injection site:
- Please avoid all blood-thinning medications and supplements for one week before your appointment. This includes over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen, Motrin, and Aleve.
- Also avoid herbal supplements such as garlic, vitamin E, ginko biloba, St. John’s Wort and omega-3 capsules (fish oil).
- If you have a cardiovascular history, please check with your doctor prior to stopping use of aspirin.
- Do not use neurotoxins if you are allergic to any of their ingredients or have a skin infection at the planned injection site.
- If you are on a prescription blood-thinner, please tell your provider at your consultation immediately.
- Do not wear makeup or other facial products to your appointment, if at all possible.
Neurotoxin After Care Instructions
Immediately following toxin injection, the most commonly reported side effects could include:
- Temporary redness and swelling at the injection site
- Mild headache
- Bruising at or around the injection site
- A sensation of “numbness” or tingling at the injection site
- Feeling of pressure or fullness at or around the injection site(s)
- Droopy eyelid (ptosis) – if this occurs, you need to contact us immediately
To help minimize any side effects:
- Cold gel packs/ice may be used immediately after treatment to reduce swelling. Tylenol is recommended if needed for any pain. You may also use Arnica gel and/or sublingual pellets.
- Avoid significant movement or massage of the treated area unless instructed by provider.
- Avoid tanning, extensive sun, or heat for 24 hours (no sauna, hot tub).
- Avoid strenuous exercise or anything that increases your heart rate for 24 hours.
- Avoid consuming excess amounts of alcohol or salts to avoid excessive swelling the day of your treatment.
- Do not lie down or bend over with your head down within 4 hours following your treatment. Please squat rather than bending over at the waist during this time.
- If there is bruising at the injection site, ice the area(s) for 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, as much as possible for the first 24 hours while awake.
- Avoid facials, massages, exfoliating the area for one day post-procedure.
- Please wait until the day after treatment before wearing hats or headbands.
- Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) for headache or discomfort. No NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin) for 24 hours as they can increase bleeding.
Follow up appointment:
- Muscles injected with neurotoxin will show resistance to movement within 3-7 days, but results can take up to 14 days for the full effect.
- If the desired effect has not occurred by day 14, and you have been treated with the recommended number of toxin units, a touch-up treatment or additional toxin units may be needed. Please call to schedule an appointment.
- Neurotoxins last, on average, 3-4 months. It is recommended at the time of your treatment to schedule your next appointment for optimal anti-aging benefits.
All of the above side effects are temporary and will resolve as Neurotoxin is metabolized. However, please call our office at (414) 315-3122, to notify us if you have any concerns rising from your Neurotoxin treatment.