Botox Ⓡ
Why would I need BOTOX® COSMETIC ?
Facial expressions are how we communicate with the world, how we reflect life’s full range of feelings and emotions, from smiling to frowning, happiness to sadness. As we age, visible lines and wrinkles naturally form from these repeated muscle contractions. Inevitably, signs of stress and aging in the face – expressive lines and scowling wrinkles – begin to appear.
If this applies to you, this may be a good time to consult Dr. Geerlings about Botox® Cosmetic, a facial injectable treatment commonly used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the forehead, between the brows (glabella), and Crow’s feet area.
WHAT IS BOTOX® COSMETIC?
Botox® is the brand name of the neurotoxin protein derived from a bacteria in nature and was developed by Allergan Inc. Originally it was primarily used to treat medical disorders which cause increased contractions (spasms) of muscles, especially in the face around the eyes and neck. However, today Botox® is most commonly used to treat the effects of aging and give users a more youthful appearance. When applied by an experienced clinician such as Dr. Geerlings, Botox® is very effective at removing wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles.
HOW DOES BOTOX® WORK?
Botox® comes from a bacteria, clostridium botulinum, which is naturally found all over the world and for the most part is harmless. However, it can be toxic to nerves that control muscles and disrupts the signaling telling the muscles to contract. Injections of botulinum toxins directly calm the nerves connected to facial muscles. The messages normally sent to muscles by the neurotransmitters are significantly lessened, thus the muscular contractions are diminished. This muscular relaxation allows the over-exercised skin to return to a previous state of youthful smoothness, rejuvenating the surfaces of the injected areas: the brow, the glabella, and the crow’s feet around the eyes.
POPULAR BOTOX® TREATMENT AREAS
- Forehead Lines – Horizontal forehead lines extend from one side to the other across your forehead. They are caused by raising your eyebrows with the muscle called the frontalis muscle. These lines develop gradually over years of repeated eyebrow raising and in many people eventually become etched into the skin surface and are visible at rest. Botox® relaxes the frontalis muscle preventing the forehead lines from getting deeper and often times makes them disappear completely.
- Frown Lines – Frown lines (“Eleven” or glabella lines) are the vertical creases that appear between the eyebrows resulting in a tired or angry look. These lines are caused by repeatedly using the muscles to bring the eyebrows inward and downward when concentrating or angry and eventually cause an angry look even at rest. When treated by an experienced injector, Botox® can smooth these frown lines, resulting in a rejuvenated and more relaxed appearance.
- Crow’s Feet – Crow’s feet are the fine lines that form beside the corners of the eyes. They are caused by squinting, sun exposure, and smoking. Loss of skin elasticity as we age also contributes to the formation of crow’s feet. Treatment of this area results in smoothing of crow’s feet lines and an open and more fresh look to the eyes. Also, when a small injection is paced in the upper area of the crow’s feet near the tip of the eyebrow, a nice Eyebrow Lift is achieved giving the eyes a rested and rejuvenated appearance.
- Bunny Lines – Bunny lines are the straight, slightly diagonal lines which appear on both sides of the nose just beneath the bridge when someone smiles, laughs, or laughs, or scrunches up their nose. Botox® injections in the transverse nasal muscles are very effective at treating these lines.
- Undereye Bags – Also known as “jelly rolls”, these are the small bulges located just below the eyes that are visible when someone laughs, smiles, or squints. They can cause the eyes to look tired or puffy underneath. A tiny amount of Botox® Cosmetic under the lash line will give a more alert and fresh appearance to the undereye area.
- Gummy Smile – this is when a large portion of your upper gums show when you smile or laugh because of contraction of the muscles which lift the upper lip. Individuals who have a gummy smile are typically self-conscious when they talk or smile. Botox® is very effective in relaxing these upper lip muscles and lowering the upper lip position on the gum upon smiling.
- Dimpled Chin – a dimpled chin is the result of an overactive muscle called the mentalis muscle. This muscle provides stability to the lower lip and when contracted causes the pout. The repetitive use of the mentalis over time results in a dimply chin. Two tiny Botox® injections in the mentalis muscle are very effective at smoothing chin dimples.
- Jawline Slimming –in patients who grind or clench their teeth the masseter (jaw) muscles may get large and give an overly square shape to the face which may appear very masculine in females. Botox® injections within the masseter muscles will result in jaw thinning within about one month after treatment and also helps to relieve tension headaches caused by jaw clenching.
- Downturned Mouth Corners (DAO Injections) – These muscles (Depressor Anguli Oris) are located on either side of the mouth and depress the corners of the mouth when contracted. When people frequently make a tense or frown expression with their mouths the mouth corners may become more downturned over time resulting in an unhappy or more aged look. Botox® injections into the DOA muscles allow other muscles to take over which elevate the corners of the mouth.
- Platysma Bands – The platysma muscle is a large muscle extended vertically over the surface of the neck and is especially active on grimacing. “Bands” that hang down vertically (sometimes called “turkey neck”) can be unattractive when overly prominent. Botox® works to relax the platysma muscle and smooth the platysmal bands resulting in a more attractive shape to the neck.
- Horizontal Neck Lines (Text Neck) – These are the horizontal creases that form gradually over time from repetitively bending the neck downward. In this age of technology, people are noticing more prominent neck creases caused by looking down at phones or other devices. These neck creases can be reduced by injecting small amounts of Botox® above and below the wrinkles and sometimes in combination with PDO threads and/or dermal fillers. This is sometimes referred to as a BOTOX ‘necklace’.
SEE THE RESULTS
FAQ'S
When administered by a highly trained professional such as Dr. Geerlings, Botox® is considered a very safe, temporary solution to wrinkles.
A typical appointment for Botox® injections lasts less than 30 minutes.
Botox® isn’t permanent. It usually lasts lasts 3-5 months.
Dr. Geerlings performs all Botox® injections in her office.
No, anesthesia is typically not needed, but Dr. Geerlings can use local anesthetic if desired.
Botox® is placed with a very tiny needle under the skin. Most people experience minimal to no discomfort at all.
Most patients typically resume normal activities right after their treatment except for a few temporary restrictions which Dr. Geerlings go over with you at the time of your procedure.
Typically 24-48hours with full effect in 7-10 days.
It is the most common nonsurgical procedure in the U.S.
If you desire to eliminate or reduce vertical creases between your eyebrows, flatten deep forehead wrinkles, and /or smooth out crow’s feet then you could be an ideal good candidate for Botox® treatments. You must be in overall good health and have realistic goals. Talk to Dr. Geerlings to find out if you are a good Botox® candidate!
Botox® should not be used by pregnant or lactating women or by people who have had a reaction to the drug in the past.
Botox® is FDA approved for cosmetic use to improve the look of lines and wrinkles between the brows, on the forehead, and in the Crow’s feet areas beside the eyes. caused from every day brow furrowing as well as for migraine headaches.
Dosing is all about getting the results you want by temporarily softening your unwanted lines. Muscles are interrelated and balance each other. That is why it is very important to receive your treatment from an expert in facial anatomy who is a qualified clinician and injector.
Also everyone is unique, so Dr. Geerlings will first perform a facial assessment and talk to you about your goals. A few of the typical dose ranges are as follows: Crow’s Feet (5-15 units per side), Forehead lines (10-20 Units), Frown lines (10-25 Units)
Pricing for Botox® injections varies significantly depending on factors such as geographical location. The price for Botox® at our office is extremely reasonable at $10 per unit. Also, we will always keep our patients informed of special discounts by the Allē rewards program and promotions by the manufacturer so you will save money on your treatments!
Insurance covers medically necessary treatments which does not include Botox® Cosmetic treatments.
YES, financing is available for most cosmetic procedures. Ask us about it today!
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