What is Botox?
To help in aging gracefully and to avoid facial wrinkles and lines from occurring on the top portion of the face, Gray Dermatology is pleased to offer BOTOX to area individuals. This injectable treatment offers outstanding results and is very common among both women and men. This injectable can make a significant improvement to dynamic lines, which are made from expressive movement with the contracting muscles on the forehead and around the eyes. These facial lines go away when the face is relaxed, but dynamic folds can still remain. This muscle relaxer is a clean and purified strain of type A botulinum toxin that temporarily freezes the movements of the facial muscle. To soften these static wrinkles, BOTOX is carefully injected to smooth the skin. BOTOX injections are most commonly administered between the eyebrows, around the eyes (Crow’s feet), and across the forehead.
Is a Botox procedure right for me?
BOTOX injections are great for patients who wish to soften the visible look of dynamic lines and wrinkles on their upper face without surgery. BOTOX can also be used as a preventive anti-aging treatment even if you do not show signs of aging — keep in mind how often you find yourself making facial expressions. It’s a terrific, noninvasive treatment if you are frustrated by forehead wrinkles or parallel lines between the brows. It is also a solution for lines around the eyes. If you experience more severe and deeper lines, a filler product may be more suitable. In addition, if you are over the age of 50 with sagging skin and widespread wrinkles, you may be considered for facelift surgery. This delivers a more impactful result and it is longer-lasting. Gray Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Center offers eyelid surgeries, facelifts, InstaLift and brow thread lifts as effective options. Ideal candidates may be interested in receiving BOTOX injections to improve the appearance of their:
- Under-eye area
- Forehead wrinkles
- Crow’s Feet
- Smile Lines
The Botox Procedure:
BOTOX treatments are available as an outpatient procedure conveniently at Gray Dermatology. If it is your first time to visit our office to get BOTOX, we typically perform the treatment on the same day as your initial consultation. You will be asked to make several expressions using your upper face, like frowning, squinting, smiling, etc., to help us to visualize where the injections should be placed. The face will be prepared and BOTOX will be applied with a fine needle, followed with a cool compress to help minimize discomfort and bruising. You can ask for a numbing cream to help make the procedure more comfortable, but it is usually unnecessary. BOTOX treatments typically take around 10 – 15 minutes, then you may resume to your usual routine as soon as you feel able.
What should I expect after my Botox treatment?
Following the procedure, you may get back to your regular routine, although strenuous activity should be skipped for a minimum of one day. You will be advised to sleep with your head elevated for at least one night and to avoid touching your face, which can accidentally spread the BOTOX to other areas. The injected sections of your face can appear swollen, bruised, or red for 2 – 3 days, but you should not develop any lasting or serious side effects. In many cases, it typically takes around one week before the final results of BOTOX can be seen. The results usually last 3 – 4 months. You can talk to your BOTOX injector about when to make your next appointment at Gray Dermatology to extend your results.
F.A.Q.
How much does BOTOX cost? - The cost of your BOTOX treatment will be based on the amount of product that is needed. This varies to fit your unique goals. During your consultation, Dr. Gray will develop your custom treatment plan and then he can discuss cost estimates. BOTOX produces beautiful results when injected by an experienced medical professional. However, it can be dangerous if performed by someone who doesn’t have experience, which is why you should avoid any place that is advertising discounted or off-brand injections.
How long will my results last? - Your BOTOX results may be visible for as long as four months. Usually, patients make an appointment every quarter to maintain their results; however, you can come back earlier. If you’re using BOTOX before wrinkles are visible for a proactive measure, you can schedule treatments further apart. After hearing your concerns and developing your BOTOX plan, Dr. Gray will be able to tell you when you should make your next visit.
What’s the difference between wrinkle relaxers and fillers? - Injectable wrinkle relaxers (including BOTOX) and injectable wrinkle fillers (including Restylane and Juvéderm) are both procedures that reduce wrinkles and correct fine lines. BOTOX works by relaxing overused muscles in your face that create dynamic wrinkles, including frown lines (which appear between your eyebrows), Crow’s feet (which appear in the outer edges of your eyes), smile lines, and forehead wrinkles. Injectable fillers increase volume below the skin to correct depressions and improve static wrinkles. After hearing your goals, Dr. Gray may suggest BOTOX, fillers, or a “liquid facelift,” which combines both.
Is BOTOX safe? - As long as it is used correctly, BOTOX should not cause serious complications. However, it’s important to select someone with BOTOX training, like the team at Gray Dermatology. Overusing BOTOX may create bad results. An experienced injector will apply the right dose to safely relax the muscles causing the unwanted wrinkles without affecting nearby muscles. Quickly becoming one of the most requested cosmetic treatments, it’s considered safe and has earned approval from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Along with its cosmetic uses, BOTOX can also be used as a treatment for medical problems, like excessive sweating, facial spasms, migraines, and uncontrollable blinking.