Happy Anniversary BOTOX. Botox is just celebrating its ten year anniversary! The FDA approved treatment was discovered ten years ago by an ophthalmologist who wanted to find a treatment for crossed eyes which prior could only be treated with invasive surgery. After using this medication on his patients he soon noticed the side effect of this purified protein product from the Botulinum Toxin was a significant reduction in wrinkles, frown lines and crows feet around the eyes. Now ten years has gone by and this simple, nonsurgical, physician administered treatment that can temporarily smooth moderate to severe frown lines and wrinkles between the brows has become the most common cosmetic procedure with 11 million women and men experiencing the proven results of this very safe product.
The wrinkles we all develop over time are caused by contractions of our underlying facial muscles when we smile, laugh or frown. The more emotion we show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. Yes, we have all earned these lines, whether from smiling a lot, worrying, or simply squinting too much. Botox can dramatically soften these irritating wrinkles for a more relaxed refreshed youthful appearance. Botox works by temporarily blocking the neurotransmitter that causes the muscles to contract. This is called Cosmetic Denervation and lasts on average four months.
Many people feel that the frown lines between their brows make them look tired, or unapproachable. The unsightly look of permanent scowling can result from a variety of reasons. With so many of us always on the computer we can be squinting for hours while concentrating and trying to read the small screens. Now with smart phones the squinting is even worse. This can result in a permanent deep lines or wrinkles forming between the eyes. Some people describe them as the "elevens" between their eyes.
The BOTOX treatment itself takes only 10 minutes to perform. The actual procedure for treatment of these frown lines between the brows consists of a few tiny injections with a very small caliper needle/syringe. I personally always use the ultrafine insulin needles for the injections which lessen the possibility of discomfort and bruising from the tiny injections.
There is no aftercare for this procedure. Within a few days of the tiny injections being placed, there is a noticeable improvement in these moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. This improvement will last for an average of three to four months depending upon the patient. I had one patient, a mother of three children, tell me her children did not like that they could no longer tell when mommy was mad at them because her scowl no longer showed on her face!
Besides the most commonly treated area between the brows, the same wrinkle improvement can be achieved around the eyes for the "crow's feet" that we all get as we age. They too can be treated easily and without any down time.
A small amount of brow lifting can be achieved with another small injection at the arch of the brow and tail of the brow by relaxing the muscles that pull the brow downward. This is not a replacement for surgery of the upper lids that can sag significantly with age and heredity but can help forestall the need for upper lid surgery when early changes are noticed.
Many people shy away from Botox because of the misleading impressions that have been projected by the media that Botox will make them look "Fake" and "plastic" and "frozen", leaving them without the ability to have facial expression. This can be true as we see in many celebrities who have too much of the product placed. However, done by a skilled Physician this should not occur. As a Physician, I strive to achieve a natural appearance with a softening of the dynamic lines of facial movement for my patients. My motto is "Less is more." I myself have been using Botox for the last nine years. I am now in my fifties and have less lines on my forehead and around my eyes than I did in my forties and am proud to say that I am a "Botox Girl". I tell all my patients that Botox is meant for "Wrinkle Management." I do not want to allow the lines to get so deep that they are permanently etched in our faces and then require more aggressive procedures such as Laser Resurfacing and Chemical Peels to eradicate them.
Botox Cosmetic treatments have been approved by the FDA for patients 18 - 65 years of age. The patients I have treated over the years are usually from their mid twenties all the way into their seventies for line reduction and wrinkle prevention.
I believe another reason many patients are reluctant to try this proven treatment is a perceived cost factor. Early on when Botox was first FDA approved, one treatment area such as between the brows was on average a $400 to $500 cost factor. Nowadays that same treatment is around an affordable range of $200 per treatment area. Botox is much more affordable than most people think for the worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet and similar wrinkles that we have earned on our faces but would like to control and prevent from worsening. So Happy Birthday BOTOX Cosmetic and thank you for helping keep us youthful and relaxed appearing!!
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