Botox®

What Is Botox?

Botox is a protein made from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This protein is called a neurotoxin. When the protein is cultured and purified, it has many medical uses. When given in small doses by qualified injectors, cosmetic Botox treatment can help reverse the signs of aging on the face Botox is actually a brand name. Other companies make neurotoxins as well. Two other neurotoxins are Dysport and Xeomin.

How Does The Treatment Work?

Botox inhibits muscle contraction by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. Muscle contractions bunch the skin causing wrinkles. When the muscle does not contract, over time the skin relaxes and softens. It will not make your wrinkles and lines go away immediately. The skin has memory and thus, even though the muscles which create the wrinkles are no longer moving, the wrinkles persist. Over time the skin’s memory decreases and wrinkles fade.

Botox is commonly used to cosmetically smooth facial lines, including:

• lines around the eyes or crow’s feet
• forehead lines
• frown lines
• skin bands on the neck

Wrinkles caused by gravity and sun damage don’t respond to Botox.

Who Is A Candidate For Botox?

If you have wrinkles caused by muscle contractions, called dynamic wrinkles, Botox is the answer to remove them. These wrinkles are found on the upper third of the face, the area where we form expressions. So, if you have crow’s feet, the 11s between your eyebrows, and forehead lines, Botox is a great choice.

But if your wrinkles show themselves at all times, such as smile lines, marionette lines, parentheses lines, and lip lines, Botox does not have any effect on them. These are called static wrinkles and are addressed with dermal fillers, not Botox.

Who Should Not Get Treatment?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women and people with certain neurological diseases should not get Botox. Newer information on aging finds many changes in the face come from a loss of supportive fat. Utah cosmetic surgeon Dr. Dunkley will suggest other options such as fillers if Botox treatment won’t be beneficial.

How Do I Prepare For My Botox Appointment?

Getting Botox injections require little preparation. To minimize the risk of bruising, stop taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or motrin and aspirin one week before your Botox appointment.

What Results Can I Expect From My Treatment?

A Botox facial rejuvenation session only takes a few minutes and requires no anesthesia. Dr. Dunkley personally performs all treatments. Botox is injected into specific muscles using a fine needle. Patients report minimal discomfort during the injections. The number of injections needed depends on the patient’s facial features and the severity of the wrinkles. The full cosmetic effects can be seen within three to seven days.

Actual Patient Review:

How Long Will The Results From My Botox Injections Last?

The results of your Botox treatment will last between three to six months. However, everybody overcomes the effects at a different rate. In addition, every facility injects varying amounts of Botox which affects how long it lasts as well. Wrinkles and facial lines start to re-appear as muscle movement slowly returns. Consistent cosmetic treatments reverse signs of aging, maintaining a much more youthful look.

How Much Does Botox Cost?

At Envision, your Botox session is priced based on how much Botox you need. Botox is priced by the unit. At your consultation, we can give you a good idea of how much Botox you will need for the wrinkles you choose to address.

What Are The Side Effects?

Temporary bruising is possible after injections. Headaches may also occur but are uncommon and normally resolve in one to two hours. Rarely patients experience eyelid drooping, which typically goes away in three weeks. Some minor asymmetries are possible. Slight differences are easy to resolve with a minor additional injection.

What Is A Botox Unit?

A unit is simply a standardized amount designed to be readily reproducible. Every area treated takes a certain number of units to effectively stop or decrease the muscle movement. Usually, around 6 units are used on each side to treat the eyes and about 20 units are used to treat the forehead.

Is Botox Safe?

Because Botox is made from the botulinum toxin type A, the same bacteria responsible for botulism, it may seem dangerous. It’s not. Scientists discovered way back in the 1950s that when a miniscule amount of the toxin was injected into a muscle it temporarily paralyzed the muscle, without any other side effects. That’s what Botox does on facial muscles that create wrinkles above them. Botox has been used tens of millions of times around the globe and has been shown to be very safe, and incredibly popular, as a wrinkle eraser.

Does The Treatment Hurt?

When in the muscle, the person does not feel the Botox at all. The injections themselves are made with a very tiny needle. Most patients equate the feeling to that of a pinprick and don’t require any topical numbing. However, if you would like to have topical numbing cream before your session, we can apply that.

What Is The Difference Between Botox And Other Dermal Fillers?

Botox is classified as a neuromodulator because it acts to block nerve messages and keeping muscles from contracting. Dynamic wrinkles form on the skin above a contracting muscle when we make common expressions such as frowning, squinting, or showing surprise. Botox stops these muscles from contacting so the wrinkle that forms above them never forms.

Dermal fillers do things in a completely different way. They are injected beneath a wrinkle, crease, or area of volume loss, and they simply fill the area back in, pushing up the skin. Fillers don’t have anything to do with muscles. They work on static wrinkles from sun damage, collagen loss, personal habits, and the like.

If you’d like to get started with Botox® treatments at Envision Plastic Surgery, contact us today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Dunkley. We welcome patients from Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and other areas near Salt Lake City, Utah.