Facial lines and wrinkles form as a result of exposure to the sun, sleeping positions, and from the movement of the muscles below the skin. Depending on your skin type and degree of sun exposure, wrinkles may begin to appear as early as 20 to 30 years of age.
BOTOX® is a protien that works by partially blocking the nerve that controls the targeted muscle. Decreased muscle movement and muscle tension results in a more relaxed, smoother facial expression.
While BOTOX® is currenlty FDA approved to treat the crease between the eyebrows, all other cosmetic uses are considered "off label." Off label uses of FDA approved medications can be used at the physicians discretion if a reasonable benefit is expected. Botox can abe injected into various other spots, including horizontal lines on the forehead, crow's feet, lower-eye lids, lines on the side of the nose, the upper lip, and occasionally the muscle bands on the neck.
As in the case above, once the wrinkle begins to form at rest, even when the muscles are not contracted, it may be necessary to use a filler to completely eradicate the wrinkle. It is better to begin treatment before the wrinkles are permanent.
Although anesthesia is not required for Botox treatments, Dr. Marquina may choose to numb the area being treated with a cold pack or an anesthetic cream. The procedure itself consists of several quick injections of the toxin into the targeted muscles using fine needles. It's quick and essentially painless, with the entire session taking about 5 to 10 minutes.
There is no recovery time needed after receiving Botox. You will be able to resume regular activities immediately. You should avoid massaging or rub the treated area, and remain upright for several hours. This prevents the Botox from moving into adjacent muscle groups around the injection site, where it could affect other muscles as well. You will also be told not to exercise for 24 hours.
For most people, it takes between four and seven days for the drug to have full effect, and for the results to be seen. Decreased movement lasts between three and six months. And, if the next set of injections is repeated before the first treatment wears off, the muscles (and wrinkles) won't return to their previous state.
The good news is that the body seems to have a learned memory when it comes to Botox, and those who receive treatments on a regular basis are often able to go longer between sessions. Conversely, some clients develop antibodies resistant to Botox, so that the treatment is no longer effective for them. For reasons unknown, a few people simply do not respond to Botox at all.
