Botox treatment is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures. With millions of people getting these medical treatments every year, it is at the forefront of cosmetic medicine. At Dr. Renée Moran Medical Aesthetics in Newton Centre, MA, we provide this service to many happy clients. We are pleased to be able to provide our patients with the confidence that comes from looking great and enjoying life. Make an appointment today to talk to us about how this injection can transform your life and have you looking and feeling youthful and incredible.
What is Botox Used for?
Botox is an injectable treatment for wrinkles and skin conditions. It is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is used in small doses to weaken or temporarily paralyze muscles that are responsible for facial wrinkles and irregularities in the skin. The injection slides into the muscle under the skin in the area that requires treatment, and the result is reduced muscle movement and therefore less wrinkling.
This treatment has been proven to be effective and is trusted by millions of men and women all over the world.
History of Facial Treatments
People have been trying to fight the signs of aging for many years. In Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra took baths in donkey’s milk to keep her skin smooth and creamy, and women during Elizabethian times placed raw meat on their faces to discourage wrinkles. In more recent times, a number of creams, powders, and lotions have hit the market promising to make skin look younger and wrinkles disappear. Some of these experiments offered small benefits, and some were pointless.
Today’s approach to signs of aging is based on modern technology and science, backed by testing and research. Thankfully we no longer have to rely on folk remedies or other fads to get the best treatments for skin changes caused by aging.
FAQ: Where did Botox Come From?
This treatment comes from the botulism toxin that is responsible for the botulism disease that causes paralysis, and it can naturally be found in soil. Because it is derived from this toxin, some people assume that the injection is unsafe. This is not the case at all. Medical injections contain a non-harmful amount of the bacteria that is created from only 2 strands of Clostridium botulinum out of the 7 that exist.
Who is a Good Candidate?
When you come in for a consultation to talk about any concerns you have about your skin, we will ask you some questions to determine if this is the right treatment for you. We will ask you for your medical history, including any medications you are taking or health issues you are currently handling. We will also ask if you are a smoker and some general questions about your lifestyle.
We will ask you about any previous skin treatments you have had in the past and how you felt about the results. We will also need to know if you are allergic to anything.
What Causes Wrinkles?
Changes in the skin happen naturally as people age, and several factors work together at once to create the total results. A majority of wrinkles and creases in the face are caused simply by using the same muscles repeatedly over many years. This happens when you move, speak, and make certain facial expressions. The more you use these muscles, the deeper and more intense the wrinkles can get.
Another factor in aging skin is the loss of hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally occurs in the skin and is responsible for attracting moisture that keeps skin elastic and plump. As this substance decreased over time, the skin becomes loose. The result is that lines, creases, and folds will appear.
Which Facial Areas Does it Treat?
Forehead Wrinkles
Forehead wrinkles are the horizontal lines that appear on your forehead when you make certain facial expressions that move the skin on the top area of your face. The muscle injected is called the Fontalis Muscle, and several injections are typically needed to cover the whole area.
Frown Lines
Frown lines are vertical lines that show up in between your eyebrows when you frown. They are also sometimes referred to as 11s because of their shape. To treat frown lines, several injections are given to the Corrugator Supercilli and Procerus muscles.
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet, or lateral orbital lines, are caused by the Orbicularis Oculi and Procerus muscles. They are small wrinkles on the outside corners of the eyes, and they are most visible when you smile.
Bunny Lines
Bunny lines are little wrinkles around your nose that occur when you scrunch up your face like a bunny rabbit. These lines appear over your lifetime, but they are deeper and more pronounced as you age.
Smoker’s Lines
Also called Peri-oral lines, these are the wrinkles that show up around your mouth when you purse your lips together. These wrinkles are common among smokers because of the facial expression necessary for smoking a cigarette. The muscle responsible for this is the Orbicularis Oris muscle. Injections are placed into each line.
Marionette Lines
These are the wrinkles that run vertically down the sides of your mouth toward your chin. They are controlled by 2 different muscles, the Anguli Oris and Trangularis muscles.
Chin Wrinkles
Wrinkles, dimples, or dents can show up in the chin area. These are more common in some people than others, but they can become quite deep. They are also referred to as mentalis dysfunction and treatment is injected into the mentalis muscle. The treatment relaxes the muscle and makes the dent soften or disappear.
Vertical Platysma Bands
These are vertical lines that occur in the neck area. They are sometimes called cords, and they run down the sides of the neck. Relaxing the muscles around these bands can cause them to fade.
Brow Lift
This treatment involves an injection in the outer part of the eyebrow to create the appearance of the eyebrow lifting. This makes the eyes look more awake and open, creating a more youthful appearance.
Are there Any Non-Facial Uses?
Crossed Eyes
Clostridium botulinum can temporarily fix crossed eyes, or strabismus, in the same manner that it is used cosmetically. When it is injected into the eye, the eye muscles relax, and crossed eyes are temporarily gone. This is helpful to people of all ages who suffer from insecurity and ridicule because of crossed eyes.
Excessive Sweating
Hyperhydrosis or Hyperhidrosis is a condition where people sweat excessively and uncontrollably. Acetylcholine is a chemical that engages the sweat glands. When muscles around the sweat glands are injected with Botox, the glands do not release this chemical, and sweating does not occur. Injections for this purpose can be given in the armpits, in the palms of the hands, or on the bottom of the feet.
Migraines
Botulism toxin injections have changed the lives of people living with chronic migraines by providing an effective solution to this painful problem. The treatment involves 31 injections in specific areas around the head and neck. The result is fewer or no migraines
Neuropathic Pain
Injections can also be used to treat people with pain caused by neuropathy. When nerves in extremities die due to injury or disease, intense pain can result in those areas. Botulism injections can block the pain signals to these nerves.
Depression
When researchers saw that people being injected with Clostridium botulinum were reported a decrease in symptoms of depression, they began to do studies. It turns out that injections can cause a dip in depression-related problems.
How is it Administered?
One treatment session typically includes between 1 and 3 injections, although the specific number of injections depends on the size of the area being treated. The injection is targeted to the muscle responsible for movement in that area. A microneedle is used to place a small amount of the treatment under the skin.
The toxin goes into the muscle and stops a neurotransmitter called the acetylcholine from being released. The acetylcholine is what allows the muscles to create movement. Without this, muscle movement stops. Injections are given in a medical office, and the entire appointment takes just a few minutes. Patients walk out of the office that day and are free to resume normal activities.
What are the Benefits?
Safe and Effective
Clostridium botulinum injections are completely safe and pose no risk to your health. They are also extremely effective, delivering results that you can depend on. This makes them a treatment that many patients come back for time after time.
Non-Surgical
It is always excellent to find a cosmetic treatment that does not involve surgery. You do not need to visit a hospital for these injections, and you avoid the risks that come from being in surgery. You also avoid time and energy spent in recovery.
Affordable
Botox is one of the most affordable cosmetic treatments you can find. Considering how powerful and effective these injections are, they are a terrific value.
Quick
Appointments for treatment take very little time, Depending on the number of injections needed for your particular issue, you may spend as little as 15 minutes in the doctor’s office.
No Recovery
Once your appointment is over, you can move right on to the next responsibility or meeting of your day. Many patients get their treatments during their lunch hour or in between work responsibilities.
Confidence
The greatest benefit of Botox is that it gives you the confidence of knowing that you look amazing. When you know you look younger and stronger, you will naturally carry yourself with more confidence and self-assurance. This leads to better work productivity and social success.
When Will I See Results?
It takes a little bit of time for neurotoxins to start blocking the signals in the nerves and muscles. You can expect to start to see changes within 3-5 days, but it will be closer to a week before the full results are obvious. If you don’t have sufficient results after 2 weeks, you can always come in for a touchup treatment.
How Long do Treatments Last?
The timeline of results varies among different people. The area treated, the depth and intensity of your wrinkles, and your own metabolism all play a part in determining how long the treatment will last. In general, you can expect the results to last between 3 and 4 months. For some patients, results last around 2 months and others see results lasting 6 months.
Where Can I Learn More?
Botox is an amazing discovery in the world of cosmetic injectables, and patients are thrilled with the results. Looking younger leads to feeling more energized, and the confidence that our clients get from this treatment can be life-changing. If you’d like to know more about what these treatments can do for you, please contact us at Dr. Renée Moran Medical Aesthetics in Newton Centre, MA. We love helping people like you discover ways to look great and feel fantastic.
