BOTOX® Cosmetic
Botox treatment is a revolutionary approach to reversing the affects facial wrinkles. Crow’s feet, worry lines and laugh lines can all be a thing of the past. These are referred to as dynamic wrinkle lines and all are treatable with this procedure. Cosmetic denervation is the process of injecting Botox into the tiny facial muscles that create the wrinkles.
Before Surgery
To better understand your overall health, we will evaluate your medical history prior to surgery. In addition, a complete examination of your eyes is made in order to decide the most effective injection sites. All issues and concerns will be discussed.
The areas that will be treated are marked and digital photographs are taken in order to determine the amount of improvement after surgery.
The Botox Procedure
Botox injections are performed without anesthesia because it is virtually painless. Only a very small sting is felt when the injections are made. The effects are not permanent and may need to be repeated two to three times per year to retain the effects. Research has suggested, however, that long term use of the injections leads to a longer duration of each treatment’s effect. Patients over the age of 65 may not experience as dramatic of results. Botox is only useful in treating expression lines and cannot be used to repair sagging skin caused by aging.
Post-Operative Information
After the operation patients may experience slight bruising around the area that quickly fades. Normal activities can be performed immediately. Possible side effects are temporary weakness of nearby muscles or in rare cases an eyelid may droop. Botox is completely reversible so any side effect is only a temporary condition. The doctor will explain all risks associated at the time of your consultation.
Additional Botox Treatments
Botox for TMJ
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and refers to the most persistently used joint in the body—the part of your mouth that acts as a hinge, attaching your jawbone to your skull. This joint is responsible for the movement of the lower jaw, and when its muscles and joints are not working in tandem as they were designed to do, problems leading to pain and functional impairment result.
The first step in treating a TMJ problem is determining the possible source of the pain and what factors may be contributing to the affected area. This may sound complex, but we have a variety of cutting-edge tools at hand, including advanced imaging techniques, to accurately diagnose and treat your TMJ pain. Promising new research is suggesting that Botulinum Toxin A (Botox) may be a helpful aid in the management of TMJ issues.
Botox is a biologic toxin which temporarily prevents muscle contraction, easing pain caused by overactive muscles in and around the jaw. For management of a TMJ disorder, Botox is injected into several muscle groups that are involved in moving the jaw. To date, over 24 studies have evaluated the use of Botox for patients suffering from TMJ pain. Regardless of the dose of the medication or the number of injections, all of the studies have shown a decrease in pain, muscle hyperactivity, and muscle dysfunction. We believe that Botox can be a helpful aid in the management of TMJ problems.
Botox for Migraines
For adults with a history of migraines and who experience headaches 15 or more days of the month that last at least 4 hours, Botox has been found to significantly reduce discomfort and leave patients pain-free, often cutting the number of headaches in half. Botox blocks chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry pain signals from the brain. In other words, Botox is a roadblock in the migraine pathway, stopping chemicals before they get to the nerve endings around your head and neck.
We typically give our patients who are suffering from migraines shots of Botox around the head and neck once every 12 weeks. This serves in reducing, and sometimes eliminating completely, their migraine headaches. For some patients, it can take up to 40 shots (20 in each side of your head) for best results.
Our patients see the results of treatment within 2-3 weeks. And if possible, we recommend treating your migraines before they start, as a preventative medication. We inject Botox around the head and neck, where migraines normally affect you.
Botox for Myofascial Pain
If you’ve been told that the pain you are experiencing is a result of a musculoskeletal condition, consisting of myofascial trigger points, you may be an excellent candidate for Botox treatments. Do you have easily identifiable trigger points? Do you have muscles that are permanently contracted? Do you suffer from headaches associate with muscle spasms? If so, schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, so we can complete a full evaluation and get started right away on relieving you of the pain.
When Botox is injected into a muscle, it blocks signals from the brain that tell the muscles to contract, and it keeps those muscles relaxed. And this muscle relaxing effect can last up to 6 months. Once the Botox wears off, the muscle will have been retrained to contract normally without pain.
Once again, we preform Botox injections as outpatient procedures. We identify your trigger points, mark the areas, sterilize each spot, and inject a local anesthetic before administering the Botox treatment. You will then walk out the door of our office and return to your normal activities immediately. Botox is a quick, effective, and safe procedure.