Botox

Botox is a very safe and effective way to decrease or erase wrinkles between the eyebrows (glabella), forehead and around the eyes (crow’s feet).

Used for over 20 years, it is a very popular method of reducing unwanted or unintentional facial expressions such as anger, frustration or general unhappiness.

Botox, botulinum toxin, is used to specifically target and inhibit muscles of facial expression. When specific muscles are repeatedly contracted, the skin overlying the muscle tends to wrinkle. Over time this can become a deep furrow. When the muscle is paralyzed this process is halted.

It is important to understand that results vary from person to person and thus it is not always easy to predict how much is needed to produce the desired effect.

With botox decrease or erase wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet)

If you have deep creases you should not expect that they can be erased by Botox injections. They will be minimized since they cannot be exaggerated and experts have found that repeated injections (every 6 to 9 months) can induce atrophy of the muscle resulting in continued improvement.

Occasionally, the “average dose” does not cause full paralysis of the muscle and the patient may need to return for a touch up. This is why treatment is charged per unit of Botox rather than per area treated.

Download Hampton Roads Magazine Special Article on Botox.

The procedure is very simple. After discussing which areas of the upper face are most bothersome to the patient he/she is placed in a reclining position. A very fine needle is used to inject the solution into four to seven areas over the glabella/mid forehead area. The patient is then able to return to his/her daily activities.

Onset of action is about 3 to 7 days following injection. Botox’s action lasts from four to eight months depending on the area treated.

Risks are few but include:
Bruising
Reversible eyelid droop (rare)
and severe headache (rare)

It is important to understand that results vary from person to person and thus it is not always easy to predict how much is needed to produce the desired effect.

Click on photos below for BEFORE and AFTER photos . . .