Injections Overview.

Botulinum toxin (Botox) has been used for over 50 years for medical purposes. The original uses included correcting what is commonly know as a lazy eye, or the ability to move the eye in a certain way and is used as a treatment for wry neck.

Ever since it was approved for relaxing the frown lines (the glabella) in 2002. It has successfully treated more than a million patients.

Doctors  who give injections say that a common misconception about Botox is that it completely paralyzes the muscles receiving the injections. Now while this can occur, most professionals who perform the procedure strive for limited muscle activity. Allowing the client to still have a natural look. The goal is to reduce excessive frowning and grimacing by softening the overall look of the face.

When performed with highly trained precision this often results in a much more relaxed, happier and younger looking appearance.

injections and Preparation

When Botox comes from the manufacture it is in a dry crystalline form and must be mixed with the correct amount of saline. Depending on your specialist and their experience with botox injections, they will vary the strength of the final solution.

While there is no right or wrong mixture strength some practitioners will add quite a bit more saline than others. This can lead to patients believing they are getting more injected that they truly are. In fact they are getting the same amount more or less  but it may be in a weaker / stronger  mixture.

The desired effect is the end result of the total medication used and not the volume of the solution.

Procedure

You will be placed in a elevated position on a exam chair and the areas the doctor has selected to treat will be swabbed with a non alcohol cleanser.  Depending on your physician and your sensitivity you may be treated with a topical anesthetic cream. Then using a very fine needle syringe the injections are administered to the desired areas.

Typical injections will be about 8 -10 spots on the forehead and 4-6 if you are treating around the eyes for crows feet.  Highly trained physicians may also offer other injection areas depending on your desired results.

Often the Doctor will hold a cotton ball or swab with pressure to the treated area immediately after the injection to stop a tiny amount of bleeding from the needle injection.

After the Procedure

Once the Botox injections are completed you will stay seated for a few minutes to make sure you feel good after the procedure and allowing the doctor to notice any thing that may need to be touched up.

You will not be able to lay down or bend over at the waist for 3-4 hours after, as Botox can move around the injected area up to 1cm

If you are a easy to bruise you will want to avoid taking anything like aspirin, naproxen or ibuprofen products on this day.

You will have to avoid any form of strain for the rest of the day as this will increase the chance of bruising.

Depending on your physician you may be instructed to make faces several times over a given period of time  (activating the muscle groups of the treated area) to ensure proper absorption in to the muscles.

Next steps for

The results will for will appear often as fast as 2-3 days and significantly with in 7-10. Some physicians will take pictures of your procedure to show you exactly how much of a difference there is before and after. As opposed to you trying to see the difference by memory.

Patients should realize that Botox does not erase lines but rather relaxes them. While some can disappear completely others may need the use of filler to plump up the skin in order to get rid of deep wrinkles altogether.

If this is your first treatment you may require additional Botox on your follow up to “fine tune” the treatment. This is normal as every clients muscles are different and its better to start off with a little and add more then to have to much Botox and risk a frozen appearing face.

Risks

The main risks are flue like symptoms, head ache and mild pain. It important to use a skilled physician as there is a 5% chance of Ptosis ( a severe drooping of the eye lid). However if you are access correctly the risk is much lower and of course it will ware off with time.

Botox  injections are not recommended for pregnant women.

Results

The results typically last from 3-4 months depending on the client and the strength the physician used. It tends to last extremely well up to the final stage with a quick return to normal as opposed to other procedures that have a longer decline after the peak result like collagen injections.

Your results will differ depending on who you chose to work with. Only a work with a skilled physician who 1. preforms the procedure themselves instead of an assistant or intern and 2. does this procedure often. Their skill will have a profound effect on reading your faces muscle structure and correctly administering the right dosage for you. Botox is not a one size fits all procedure.

Many clients experience very satisfying results and continue with Botox treatments.  As the treated muscles atrophy from lack of use your treatments will last longer and longer. Some clients are eventually treated with less Botox every six months or so.

Prices

This can be the most difficult question an office gets in a day. Prices charged can vary from $10 to $20 a unit. The cost of the procedure varies as it depends upon the total number of units injected and the number of sites treated.

We hope this article will help with your decision.