Botox Q & A

 

What is BOTOX?

 

Botulinum toxin (Type A), also known as BOTOX, is a natural, purified protein used in a variety of cosmetic and medical procedures. It’s most commonly used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines: Small doses of the protein are injected into facial muscles with a tiny needle, where it blocks the nerve signal that makes facial muscles contract.

This causes those muscles to relax, which ultimately reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. In addition to being one of the most effective cosmetic tools for smoother facial skin and long-term wrinkle reduction, BOTOX also has another popular application as a highly effective long-term treatment for hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating that doesn’t respond to antiperspirants.

 

What type of wrinkles can BOTOX treat?

 

There are two types of wrinkles that appear on your face: static wrinkles, or those that are caused mostly by genetics and environmental factors, and dynamic wrinkles, or those that are caused by your everyday facial expressions. BOTOX is primarily used to treat dynamic wrinkles, which are also known as “wrinkles in motion.” This type of wrinkle includes:

• Worry lines, or the deep furrows in your brow

• Crow’s feet, or the small laugh lines at the corners of your eyes

• Angry 11s, or the vertical furrows between your eyebrows

• Marionette lines, or the deep vertical creases that extend down from the corners of your mouth

The static wrinkles, or “wrinkles at rest,” that develop from influences like sun exposure, smoking, air pollution, and genetics, are more responsive to aesthetic laser treatments than BOTOX.

 

What should I expect during the procedure?

 

During your initial consultation and evaluation, you’ll discuss your aesthetic goals with Dr. Rosaasen so she can come up with a treatment plan to achieve the desired results. BOTOX cosmetic injection treatments are easy to prepare and quick to administer, so they can usually be done in the same appointment as your initial consultation.

Dr. Rosaasen begins by cleaning the treatment site and drawing up the correct dosages. The procedure is performed without local anesthetic because the needles are very thin and relatively painless. Most patients need a few injections at several sites to get their desired result. After the treatment, you may experience slight swelling and redness, but both of these minor side effects are generally short-lived. Although results can last anywhere from three to six months, they aren’t permanent — you’ll need routine treatments to maintain your results.

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