The Best Results from Botox

Botox injections have been used for decades to treat a wide variety of medical and cosmetic conditions.

The first FDA approved uses of Botox were for treatment of Lazy Eye and for muscle spasms.  In addition to these uses, Botox has been found to effectively treat everything from excessive bladder spasms and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), to migraine headaches and nerve-related foot pain.

However, Botox is best known for its cosmetic uses:

Crows Feet

Crows feet is the term used to describe the little lines around the eyes, the ones that become more apparent when you laugh, squint or smile.  Botox relaxes the muscles that make those lines, so they can't contract. It works by blocking the chemical signal that travels from your nerves to your muscles, telling them to function.

Wrinkles and Facial Creases

Any unwanted lines and creases in the face, if not too large, can be helped by expert injection of Botox.

Brow Lift

There are muscles that pull upward on the brow (forehead) and those that pull downward. The key to a successful brow lift is to relax the facial muscles that pull downward on the brow. In doing so, the muscles that pull upward take control and make the eyes appear more open and alive.  When done well, a brow lift can have a profound effect on helping a patient look refreshed.

Most patients can expect to see a lift of 2 millimeters, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but in the face it will show a noticeable improvement.

Line and Wrinkle Preventing

Botox can also be used to help stop the development of lines and wrinkles by preventing the contraction of the muscles that create those fine lines and creases.

Jaw Reduction

The use of Botox injections for jaw reduction is extremely effective.  The Botox  relaxes the muscles decreasing them in size, while not interfering with other movement of the jaw.  If the majority of the bulk along the jaw line is the muscle, the response to a reduction will be quite noticeable.  Effects are temporary, lasting four to six months, on the average.

What is Botox?

Botox is a drug made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinumcalled botulinum toxin.

In large amounts, this toxin is highly dangerous, even deadly.  In smaller doses, the same drug is both medically and cosmetically beneficial.

Botulinum toxin is sold commercially under the names:

Botox, Vistabel, Botox cosmetic (OnabotulinumtoxinA or botulinum toxin type A)

Dysport (AbobotulinumtoxinA or botulinum toxin type A)

Bocouture, Xeomin (IncobotulinumtoxinA or botulinum toxin type A)

Myobloc (RimabotulinumtoxinB or botulinum toxin type B).

How Botox Works

In order for muscles to contract, nerves send out chemical “messengers” called neurotransmitters at the point where the nerve endings and muscle cells meet. When a very small amount of Botox is injected into the area, it prevents signals from the nerve cells from reaching the muscles.  This effectively stops the muscles from contracting.  It’s this contracting of the muscles in the face that contribute to the formation of lines and wrinkles.

Strategically placed injections of Botox result in a dramatic improvement in frown lines, crows feet and forehead wrinkles. Your skin develops a sleek appearance with no frown lines.
 

Who Can Inject Botox

Here is an important point.  Any licensed physician can inject a patient with Botox.  In some states, other health professionals, such as nurses and Nurse Practitioners, may inject as well.  However, to get the best possible results from Botox treatments you should always turn to a Board Certified plastic surgeon.

A Board Certified plastic surgeon has spent many, many years studying the specific theory and techniques that are vital to cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures.  Most have injected hundreds of patients.  You will always get the best results from your Botox injections by going to a fully trained, accredited, and experienced plastic surgeon only.

Dr. Bivik Shah is one such surgeon.  To find out what Botox can do for you, give us a call and we will be happy to schedule a consultation.