Botox®

Wrinkles are a common problem for men and women as they age. In some cases, wrinkles make you appear tired and even angry. At Juniper Dermatology, one way we treat these problem areas is with Botox, which is a quick and virtually painless treatment that can help you to look rested and rejuvenated.

What is Botox?

Botox is a form of Botulinum toxin that has been purified and diluted to be safe for cosmetic use. Botulinum toxin relaxes the treated muscles, reducing the appearance of some wrinkles. Although Botox is a toxin, it is FDA-approved for frown line treatment, it is not believed to have caused serious side effects.

How Botox Works?

When injected into facial muscles, the toxin temporarily blocks neuron activity, which prevents full muscle contraction. Because the muscles can no longer contract, the appearance of wrinkles caused by facial movements like frowning, raising eyebrows, or squinting is significantly reduced.

Botox injections are an ideal solution for smoothing the skin between eyebrows, eliminating lines on the forehead, and reducing the appearance of crow’s feet around the eyes.

What are the Advantages of Botox?

• Fast and effective. A typical treatment will show improvement approximately after 4-7 days, and takes only 10-15 minutes to complete.
• Little discomfort
• There is no “downtime.” After the injections, you may resume normal activity or go back to work.
• Creates natural-looking outcomes without evidence that you’ve had work done.
• There is no decrease in sensation or numbness of treated areas.
• The effects of injections are reversible; lasting 3 to 4 months, on average.
• Repeated injections of upkeep treatments may cause a muscle memory response to develop, thus enhancing the effects.
• A non-surgical approach to treat wrinkles, which eliminates the need for anesthesia and long recovery times.

Who is the Best Candidate for Botox?

A wide range of patients benefit from Botox therapy. Typically, we treat patients from their 20′s to 80′s. Younger patients and those with fewer wrinkles are good candidates for this procedure because though their wrinkles may not be yet pronounced, Juniper Dermatology providers can administer Botox as a preventative measure to minimize the creasing of the skin.

Patients who’ve had laser resurfacing or a facelift also benefit from these injections because their fresh, newly resurfaced skin is prevented from repeated wrinkling.

Do Injections Hurt?

At Juniper Dermatology, we take great care to make Botox injections painless for our patients. When the injection begins, you may feel a slight stinging sensation, but it will quickly subside. Once the injection is complete, the assistant will apply an ice compress to address any discomfort.

Are Injections Safe?

Botox has an excellent safety profile. It has been used by neurologists and ophthalmologists for nearly two decades to correct facial tics and to relax the eye muscles responsible for the condition known as lazy eye. These types of procedures require several times more Botox than what Juniper Dermatology uses to treat facial wrinkles, and have not produced any toxic effects to patients.

However, if you are pregnant or have a neurological disease should not be treated with Botox Cosmetic injections.

To learn more about this treatment, contact Juniper Dermatology and request a consultation.