Skin Treatments
Botox® is a procedure using Botulinum Toxin, which was developed to treat the visual signs of aging by reducing or removing wrinkles. The procedure is considered a safe, effective way of treating aging skin. Common areas for Botox® injections include horizontal forehead furrows, vertical lines between the eyebrows and “crow’s feet” around the eyes. Botox® has proven to be the best non-surgical form of facial rejuvenation and is capable of producing phenomenal improvements in your appearance.
How popular is Botox?
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ranked BOTOX® Cosmetic as the most popular physician-administered aesthetic procedure in the United States for the fourth year in a row (surgical and nonsurgical combined).
Reasons for considering a Botox treatment:
- Excessive facial wrinkles.
- Large wrinkles or furrows in your forehead.
- Small wrinkles or “crow’s feet” around your eyes.
- A vertical “frown line” between your eyebrows.
General procedure
The procedure works by altering the facial muscles beneath the skin that are related to wrinkles. A cream with local anesthetic will be placed on your skin prior to treatment, and ice will be immediately applied upon completion of the Botox® treatment. Typically a small amount (1-2 cc’s) of Botox® is injected into the area of the wrinkle. Botox® works by blocking the impulses from the nerve to the facial muscles, thereby relaxing them. The result is the underlying facial muscles relax and the skin begins to smooth out. The effects of a Botox® treatment will last approximately three to six months after which the patient may choose to repeat the procedure.
Is Botox safe? Is it FDA approved?
BOTOX® Cosmetic was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for the temporary treatment of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people ages 18 to 65, and almost 3.3 million procedures were performed in 2005 alone.
The safety of Botox depends to a large extent on the experience of the surgeon. Although extremely rare, allergic reactions can occur. The most common side effect is eyelids droopin, this is most likely due to dosing issue. Localized pain and headaches can occur, but this is temporary. There are certain medical conditions that may increase the risk of side effects from Botox. Dr. V will perform a thorough history prior to any injections.
Recovery process
Patients generally return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure, however following the post-procedure guidelines will dramatically reduce the length and intensity of the recovery period. Patients should avoid engaging in heavy physical exercise, applying cosmetics, or laying down flat for a minimum of 4 hours after the injections. It is also advisable to avoid rubbing or massaging the injected area for at least 24 hours. Dr. V recommends that patients animate their facial muscles that were injected in the immediate post injection period. This will allow a more even distribution of the Botox.
Please call us for your free appointment at 856-784-2639.
Do you grind your teeth at night? Does it affect your daily life? Botox can help!
Night time teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, is one of the most common causes of headaches and jaw pain. Patients who suffer from this have wide ranging issues from worn down tooth enamel to waking up with headaches and jaw pain. This can be quite debilitating. Treatment includes night time teeth guards to cosmetic dentistry to improve the appearance of the teeth.
One treatment that is often overlooked is Botox. Injecting botox into the masseter muscle has been a very effective tool in treating this problem. When done correctly by an experienced surgeon, this treatment can be a life changer in these patients. By choosing the correct dose, this does not adversely affect the normal chewing action of the masseter muscle. If you suffer from this problem, ask you Botox provider about this solution. Make sure they have experience in this injection technique.
