Botox Cosmetic is an effective injectable used to smooth lines and wrinkles in the upper portion of the face caused by contraction of these muscles during frowning or squinting.
Horizontal forehead lines, vertical lines between the eyebrows, and crows’ feet around the eyes can all be significantly reduced by injecting small amounts of this substance into the underlying muscles.
Botox has also been proven to be an effective treatment for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis or severe underarm sweating. For patients who have exhausted their efforts using deodorants and antiperspirants, Botox may be a perfect choice. In a clinical study, patients reported drier underarms for up to 201 days, or 6.7 months after using Botox.
Treatments take ten to twenty minutes and results can be expected in 3 to 5 days. The effect usually lasts 3 to 5 months, at which time further injections may be needed to maintain results. Call 773.763.3990 today and schedule your BOTOX® consultation with Dr. Gregory Wiener!
Who is a Good Candidate for Botox Injections?
Botox works by relaxing the muscles that form wrinkles on the surface of the skin when we make various expressions. These are known as “dynamic” wrinkles, and they only occur on the upper third of the face, the expressive area. Go ahead, make a frown. You can feel the muscles engage around your eyes, on your brows, and forehead. Over time, hundreds of thousands of these movements, coupled with thinning skin and declining collagen, allowing wrinkles to form above these muscles. When Botox is injected into the muscle forming, say, crow’s feet at the outside of your eyes, it keeps the muscle from contracting, so the wrinkles disappear or are dramatically decreased.
So, if you’re looking to address crow’s feet, the 11s between your brows, and forehead lines, Botox is perfect.
If you want to do something about the wrinkles on the lower face, those aren’t due to muscle contractions, but to sun damage, declining collagen production, and other factors. These are “static” wrinkles, and Botox doesn’t do a thing to them. That’s where dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm, are used.
What is the Benefit of Having Botox Injections?
Botox is one of the world’s most famous brand names. You’d be hard-pressed to find a person in most places around the world who has not heard of Botox. Why is this? Because it is remarkably effective for removing wrinkles and lines on the upper third of the face.
Botox removes crow’s feet, frown lines between the eyebrows, and forehead lines. It does so without a minute of downtime, and the injections take just a few minutes. There are no incisions, no anesthesia. What’s not to love?
What’s the Difference Between Botox and Dermal Fillers?
Botox is clinically known as a neuromodulator and is not classified with dermal fillers. Botox works by relaxing muscles that create wrinkles on the surface of the skin when we make various expressions. These wrinkles occur on the upper third of the face: crow’s feet at the outside of the eyes, the 11s between the eyebrows, and forehead lines. As mentioned above, these are known as dynamic wrinkles.
Dermal fillers are true to their name; they are injected beneath a depressed area or area of volume loss and they “fill” in the space, pushing the skin back upward. Wrinkles and creases that form in this fashion are called “static” wrinkles. They show themselves at all times and are caused by sun damage, declining collagen production, thinning skin, and other factors. Juvéderm, Restylane, and other dermal fillers are used to treat static wrinkles. These are smile lines, marionette lines, parentheses lines, barcode lines, and others. These wrinkles and areas of volume loss occur on the mid to lower face.
Botox only works on dynamic wrinkles, and dermal fillers only work on static wrinkles. They can be used to complement each other in a single session. For instance, you can remove your crow’s feet with Botox. Then Dr. Wiener can use Juvéderm to remove your smile lines.
What Can I Expect During a Botox Session? Is It Painful?
You’ve probably heard the term “lunchtime procedure.” That’s what a Botox session with Dr. Wiener is – you can have it done during lunch and return to work immediately after. A Botox session only takes from 15 to 20 minutes, and there isn’t any downtime. Dr. Wiener injects Botox with a very tiny needle, and it is not injected into great depth, so topical numbing cream isn’t necessary. Most patients equate the feeling of Botox injections to that of a pinprick.
Does Botox Have Side Effects?
Millions and millions of people swear by Botox and it has few side effects. The FDA has cleared Botox for various uses, wrinkle elimination is only one of them. The main issue can be slight redness or bruising at the injection sites, but this usually passes within just a few hours. Headaches are also possible, but they are very rare.
It’s important after your session for the patient not to rub the areas where the Botox was injected for 12 hours. This can cause the Botox to migrate to an unwanted muscle, which can lead to temporary drooping of an eyelid or other unintended effects.
The Injector is Important
The skill and facial knowledge of your injector are important to obtain the best results with Botox. Dr. Wiener is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and experience with Botox. This ensures your Botox is injected into the proper location, something that isn’t always the case with inexperienced injectors. That’s why you don’t get Botox at a nail salon or a dentist’s office.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you’re interested in learning more about BOTOX® please contact us for a consultation at 773.763.3990 or fill out our contact us form. We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action.