BOTOX

The use of Botox has been the greatest addition to non-surgical cosmetic enhancement in the last ten years. My own use of Botox in cosmetic practice has expanded greatly as I've come to observe it's safety when used conservatively in hundreds of patient visits. When injected precisely in specific facial areas it produces results which cannot be equaled by surgery alone, and may in some instances complement previous facial procedures. It has completely replaced "brow lift" in my practice effecting a gentler, more natural look to the forehead-brow than the harsh overdone look of surgical "browlifts".

Three facial areas of movement are best suited for treatment, and accomplish the most improvement in overall appearance. The inter-brow frown lines, which cast the face into a worried or angry scowl; the lateral eyelid creases, so called "crow's feet", which are among the several hallmarks of ageing, and the mid forehead furrows, which cause a look of heaviness and worry. Patients should be carefully evaluated to assess their individual, and unique character features, as no two faces are the same, nor should be treated with 'package' blankets of injections. Two weeks following treatment some patients may require small adjustment injections or 'booster' injections if a given muscle action is so strong that it persists.

The use of Botox will produce different effects in different ages of faces. Specifically it cannot erase fine line skin creases, which have been etched into facial skin over forty or more years of expressions of frowning. These are imprinted into the upper layers of the skin by the thousands of muscular contractions acting on those lines over many years. However, by relaxing facial muscles which cause the creasing, they are remarkably lessened in appearance, softened, and much less noticeable This is a well documented effect. In the younger patient whose facial lines have not yet imprinted, but are clearly seen when the face is in emotional animation, relaxing those specific muscles will eliminate the appearance of the furrows at lateral eyelids, or frown lines when one is talking and relating to others in everyday life. More importantly, regular scheduled Botox treatments will prevent the years of repetitive muscle actions which cause the permanent creases to become imprinted.

There are many details of Botox treatment which I carefully explain to my patients before injections. Some guidelines for before, and after use, such as Aspirin avoidance, simple exercise limits, possible bruising and such are explained. Most patients tolerate injection with little discomfort, but an occasional sensitive skin type can be prepared with a topical anesthetic cream to ease the pin pricks. I've tried to present the important cosmetic considerations of Botox treatment, and hope I've conveyed my own enthusiasm for it's use. I do emphasize that Botox is a 'Medical treatment', which should be administered by a skilled Doctor familiar with facial anatomy and the patients general health history. If I've added some to your interest, and knowledge, so to the good Botox is the most frequently performed cosmetic treatment in America today. Try it, you may like it, but if not pleased have no fears as its effects will disappear after three months.