BOTOX COSMETIC  

Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh, or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. While you may have earned every one of your worry lines, you do not have to show them anymore.

Now, thanks to a new use for an approved drug, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure known as cosmetic denervation uses Botox injections to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet and other dynamic wrinkles.

How does Botox work?

Botox blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. Botox relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled, while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.

Are Botox treatments safe?

Botox injections have been used safely and effectively for over ten years to treat many ophthalmologic and neurological disorders. Each year thousands of patients receive Botox treatments for a variety of conditions and it is quickly becoming a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging.

What is the treatment like?

Cosmetic denervation with Botox is a simple and safe procedure. Using a tiny micro-needle, a very small amount of Botox is injected, very precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume most normal activities immediately. Some patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site. This can be covered with make-up.

Are there any side effects?

Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. In some cases, Botox can migrate and cause a temporary weakness of nearby muscles. In rare cases, there can be a drooping of an eyelid or asymmetry of facial expression. This is why it is very important to select an ophthalmic plastic surgeon, whose training is specialization in the eye area. Because the effects of Botox are completely reversible, any side effects are temporary, lasting only a few weeks.

What results can I expect?

If dynamic wrinkles make you look older than you are, cosmetic denervation can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle contractions.