Botox

What does Botox do?

Botox was developed for treatment of overactive muscles surrounding the eye.  It was originally used to calm muscle activity in the eyelid (causing eyelid twitching) or in the deeper muscles (causing eyes to gaze in two different directions).  Because Botox can block nerve impulses to the muscles of facial expression as well, lines and wrinkles are now treated with Botox. Botox relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin becomes smooth and wrinkle-free.  Although it would seem as though it would take as many years for the wrinkles to go away as it took for them to form, the wrinkles disappear extremely quickly after Botox treatment. Untreated facial muscles contract normally.

Is Botox Safe?

Botox injections have been used safely and effectively for over ten years to treat many ophthalmological and neurological disorders. Each year thousands of patients receive Botox treatments for a variety of conditions.  Botox is now quickly becoming a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging in the skin.

How is it performed?

Inactivation of the frown lines is a simple and safe procedure. A very small amount of Botox is injected with a very fine needle into several locations in the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the procedure is minimal. Many people say the sensation is similar to a fly or ant bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required and you will be able to drive and engage in your daily activities immediately after your injections. You may have slight and temporary bruising of the skin at the injection sites, but otherwise there will be no visible signs of treatment.

Are there any side effects?

Bruising is relatively common, but usually very mild. Because the medication can sometimes cause excessive weakness of the injected or nearby muscles, rarely there can be transient weakness of the eye closure, drooping of the eyelids, or asymmetry of facial expression. The risk of any side effects depends on the muscles injected at your visit. Because Botox is reversible, any side effects related to excessive weakness are temporary, only lasting days or weeks.

Are there limits to inactivation of frown lines?

Unfortunately, inactivation of frown lines is not a permanent solution to the problem of dynamic wrinkles. Because the injections only last about four to six months, you will need to have injections once or twice a year. Though early results from clinical trials suggest the duration of benefit increases with time, so that you may only require injections infrequently in the future, this will vary from person to person.

What kind of results can I expect?

If dynamic wrinkles are making you look older than you should, inactivation of the frown lines can smooth these out and give you a more youthful appearance. However, this procedure will not improve the more common "static" wrinkles that are unrelated to facial muscle contraction. If you have both static and dynamic lines, your optimal treatment might include both botox and photorejuvenation.  Dr. Baker will discuss the possibilities with you and recommend the best alternatives for your  particular situation.

 Key Benefits:

• No down time
• Safe product with FDA approval
• Dramatic results

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