BOTOX®

BOTOX® works by blocking the nerve messages sent from a muscle to the brain. It blocks the acetylcholine transmitter that sends the message to the brain. The brain never receives the message to contract the muscle, so it stays relaxed. You can see how this would help with involuntary eyelid spasms.

It also helps prevent certain wrinkles from forming because they are caused by muscle contractions under the skin. These are known as dynamic wrinkles, and they form when we make common expressions such as showing surprise and frowning. Go ahead, make a frown and you’ll feel the muscles around your eyes, between your brows, and on your forehead contract. Over time, making these expressions thousands and thousands of times, wrinkles begin to form on the surface skin. These are crow’s feet around the eyes, the 11s between the brows, and forehead lines.

When BOTOX® is injected into the muscle that creates the wrinkle, it keeps the muscle from contracting, so the wrinkle on the surface skin is erased. That’s the magic of BOTOX® and why it has such a cult-like following.

BOTOX® only works on dynamic wrinkles. That’s why the FDA approved it for use on the upper third of the face, the expressive area. BOTOX® erases crow’s feet on the sides of the eyes, the 11s between the eyebrows, and forehead lines and creases.

As mentioned, BOTOX® works on the upper third of the face on dynamic wrinkles. There is another type of wrinkle, the static wrinkle. These form due to sun damage, declining collagen production, personal habits, and simple aging. Unlike dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles have nothing to do with muscle movements; they are visible at all times. Static wrinkles form on the lower third of the face: marionette lines, smile lines, parentheses lines, and others. If you want to remove static wrinkles, BOTOX® is not the answer. Static wrinkles can be addressed with dermal fillers such as Juvéderm.

But if you have crow’s feet, the 11s, and lines on your forehead, then BOTOX® is a great solution.

What To Expect During BOTOX® Injections?

Botox® was deemed the original “lunchtime procedure” because it takes just 10-15 minutes for your injections. Dr. Sripada handles all of her practice’s BOTOX® sessions because her extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and experience with this neuromodulator is important. She injects the BOTOX® with a very short, thin needle, and it is not injected to great depth. For that reason, patients don’t ask for topical numbing prior to their injections. They equate the feeling of each injection to that of a pinprick. Once your injections are complete, you can get right back to work or your other normal activities.

BOTOX®, like all injectables, is priced by the unit. How much you use will be dictated by the areas you are addressing. Plus, there is some variance in how large and strong the patient’s targeted muscles are. Here are a couple of rough guidelines.

• Glabellar lines (the 11s) usually take from 20-35 units of BOTOX®.
• Frontalis muscles that create forehead lines usually need 6-20 units.
• Crow’s feet need 6-15 units.

There isn’t any recovery after having Dr. Sripada inject your BOTOX®. But you must avoid rubbing the injection sites for 24 hours after your session. Doing so can make the BOTOX® migrate to an unwanted muscle, which can create issues such as a drooping eyelid.

The only aftereffects are usually some slight redness and possible light swelling at the injection sites. This usually passes within a day.

After your injections, you can get right back to your normal day.

BOTOX® will effectively erase your crow’s feet, glabellar lines, and forehead lines for a period of four months in most people. At that point, your body will absorb the now-inert BOTOX® and the injected muscles will start to contract again. Another BOTOX® session with Dr. Sripada will maintain your results.

BOTOX® Vs. Dermal Fillers

Botox is classified as a neuromodulator, not a dermal filler. This is because it works on the dynamic wrinkles formed by muscle contractions. BOTOX® has no effect on wrinkles caused by skin damage, i.e. static wrinkles.

Dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm® and Sculptra®, simply return volume to an area with a wrinkle, crease, or that has lost volume (sunken cheeks, for instance). Dermal fillers are true to their name — when injected beneath a crease or area of volume loss, they fill in the space, pushing the skin back upward. Dermal fillers work only on static wrinkles. Static wrinkles have nothing to do with muscle contractions; they are simply due to sun damage, declining collagen production, personal habits such as smoking, and other factors.

Dermal fillers don’t work on dynamic wrinkles, and neuromodulators don’t work on static wrinkles.

If you are interested in BOTOX® injections, call our office to schedule a consultation. 

FAQs

Schedule A Consultation

If you are interested in BOTOX® treatment, contact Greenbush Skin Care Center at 518-391-2889 to schedule a consultation with our office or fill out an online contact form and our office will be in touch with you.