Botox® Cosmetic/Botox Injections in Denver, CO
Botox Injections and/or Botox® Cosmetic are perfectly safe medical treatments that can make you look years younger. Botox (Botox® Cosmetic) is an injected liquid used to treat frown lines, squint and smile lines, nasal crunch lines, and horizontal forehead wrinkles. By relaxing the underlying muscles, these lines become less deep.
About Botox/Botox® Cosmetic Injections
Botox is a simple, non-surgical procedure that can smooth deep and persistent lines (which have developed over time) for up to four months. Botox is a natural, purified protein, which is injected in very low doses into overactive muscles that cause lines to form. Botox works by blocking the release of the chemical that causes muscles to contract. There are currently three types of botox products with FDA approval for cosmetic use available in the U. S.: Botox® Cosmetic, Dysport®, and Xeomin®.
Botox and/or Botox® Cosmetic is the brand name for botulinum (pronounced bot-choo-lin-um) toxin type A. Botox/Botox® Cosmetic is administered into overactive facial muscles. Botox/Botox® Cosmetic works differently than wrinkle fillers. Botox/Botox® Cosmetic blocks the body’s chemicals that cause wrinkle-causing facial muscle contractions. By preventing the contractions, the wrinkle that comes with it is prevented.
Botox has been used cosmetically for years. Botox/Botox® Cosmetic is the most common physician administered cosmetic procedure nationwide with more than 13 million Botox/Botox® Cosmetic treatments performed since 2002.
What to Expect
Botox/Botox® Cosmetic is one of the simplest procedures with one of the most dramatic responses. It takes only about 10 or 15 minutes, and there is minimal discomfort. Patients can resume normal activities immediately and visible improvement in 7-10 days after treatment. The appearance of the treated areas may continue to improve over time as the wrinkle relaxes and smoothes. The results of Botox/Botox® Cosmetic typically last 3-4 months.
Botox/Botox® Cosmetic can work on many facial muscle activities including frown lines, crows’ feet, worry lines, unbalanced brows, lines or wrinkles under the eyes, vertical lip lines (in conjunction with fillers), bunny lines on the nose, downturned mouth corners, low or heavy brows, chin crunch, and neck bands.
Is there a difference between Botox and Botox® Cosmetic?
Botox® Cosmetic and Botox both contain botulinum toxin type A. Botox® Cosmetic was approved by the FDA in April 2002 for the treatment of forehead (glabellar) lines. Botox was originally approved in 1989 to treat certain eye muscle disorders. In 2000, Botox was also approved to treat neck and shoulder tightness (cervical dystonia).” Both are used to treat frown lines, squint and smile lines, nasal crunch lines, and horizontal forehead wrinkles.
Recommendations
We sometimes recommend Botox injections/Botox® Cosmetic injections prior to filler injections in certain areas of frequent muscle movement. Combined use often prolongs the effects of both the botox and the chosen filler as they work synergistically to fill the wrinkles and relax the muscles themselves.
Botox/Botox® Cosmetic is administered in units. Units are to botox as milligrams are to blood pressure medications. If you aren’t given the appropriate strength (i.e., milligrams of medication), your blood pressure will not be controlled. The same is true for botox. The amount of units you receive directly relates to how effective botox will be and how long it will last.
Botox injections relax the muscle that creates the wrinkles, smoothing skin and eliminating lines. Your facial expressions will look natural. Although the results are dramatic, botox will not radically change your facial appearance. The muscles are simply relaxed, so you can still smile, frown or look surprised. Many times, to get the best results, we combine botox with other procedures, such as fillers or sculpting agents or ipl’s. A Botox injection doesn’t do everything.
A minimum of 20 – 50 units between the eyebrows is needed (depending on the type of botox used) to relax those muscles for approximately three to four months. Many people may need more botox depending on the strength of their muscles. The same goes for the other areas clinicians commonly inject. Most patients compare the sensation of a botox injection to a bug bite. Overall, the discomfort is minimal and temporary.
Possible Side Effects of Botox
The most common side effects, if they occur at all, are headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop and nausea. Bruising is also possible in the treated areas. We ask that you not take aspirin or blood thinners (only if it is not medically contraindicated) for 48 hours prior to receiving botox injections because that will increase the chance of bruising.
It usually takes seven to ten days to see the full effects of botox injections. Botox lasts up to four months. When it wears off, your lines will gradually revert to their pre-treatment appearance.
After Treatment Care
On the day of the botox injection, you will be asked not to bend over or lie down for four hours after the injections. We will also ask you not to ice, rub or massage the area. We will ask you to move the muscles, every 15 minutes for the next few hours. It is believed that this helps botox bind to the muscle. We will also ask that you avoid strenuous exercise and alcohol for 24 hours after the injections.
