Botox

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BOTOX^® is a commercially available form of botulinum toxin used for relaxing frown lines. It is used for the treatment of moderate to severe wrinkles on the brow, around the eyes and in selected locations elsewhere on the face and neck. Several million people are treated with BOTOX every year, with gratifying results.

How BOTOX Works

The lines that form between your brows (glabellar lines) are caused by the flexing of your facial muscles as you knit your brows together in concentration or frustration. The delicate skin on your face gradually develops creases from being repeatedly wrinkled into such expressions.

The active ingredient in BOTOX relaxes your forehead muscles so they do not continue to contract and reinforce frown lines. As a result, the wrinkles in the overlying skin smooth out. This makes your face look more youthful.

The Procedure

After your initial consultation and paperwork is completed and your medical history is reviewed, the procedure itself only takes about 10 minutes. We routinely use a topical local anesthetic prior administering the injections.

BOTOX injections are administered based on your individual needs. The mobility, location, and size of your forehead muscles will be closely examined prior to treatment. This way, the medicine can be applied in precisely the right spots to achieve optimal results. Typically, several injections are administered in one treatment session to target all the muscles involved.

Applications

The original application for BOTOX was for the treatment of the glabellar area, or central brow. This remains the current FDA recommendation. Other locations that have been successfully treated include the forehead, crow's feet wrinkles, muscles around the mouth (that turn the lips down), and the neck muscles that cause platysmal bands (turkey gobbler neck). Of note is that patients treated with BOTOX may notice significant improvement in headaches. BOTOX has become a recognized treatment for patients suffering from migraine headaches. Another very useful application is for patients who suffer from excessive sweating from in the underarm area.

The Ideal Candidate

BOTOX injections may be a good option if you are in overall good health but beginning to show signs of age in your face. The benefit of BOTOX is limited to 3-4 months, and requires repeat injection in order to maintain the effect. BOTOX patients report looking more relaxed, refreshed, and worry-free.

Adults younger than 65 are best suited for treatment with cosmetic BOTOX. Consult with Dr. Bolitho to discuss any current health conditions and medications before pursuing treatment. Be sure to tell our clinic staff if:

• You have ever had an allergic reaction to any product containing botulinum toxin (brand names include BOTOX, Dysport and Myobloc)
• You take muscle relaxants, cold/allergy medications, or sleeping pills.

Recovery

There is usually no down time required after administration of BOTOX. Patients can return to work immediately after the procedure.

Possible Side Effects

The injection site may be swollen or tender for a short while. These side effects are generally not serious. BOTOX injection in the glabellar area (the central brow) may result in ptosis, or asymmetric lowering of the eyelid. Injection in the forehead may result in descent of the brow. The latter is generally avoided by judicious placement of the injections.

Results

You may begin to notice improvement in your frown lines within the first few days after treatment. Some patients may take as long as a week to see the result.

Visits to our office can be scheduled at your convenience to make it easy for you to maintain the improvement seen with BOTOX.

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