What about Botox treatments?
Botox treatments are non-surgical procedures used to reduce or soften the deep lines around the eyes or forehead. The procedure is performed easily and safely with a few injections of very low doses of Botox that relax the muscles that cause the deep lines to form. Botox, a purified, diluted form of botulinum toxin type A, is a protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium.
How does Botox work?
Normally, the brain sends electrochemical messages to the body’s muscles to make them move. These messages are transmitted from a nerve to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. Botox works by blocking acetylcholine to the facial muscles responsible for the development of dynamic lines. Following a Botox injection, the muscles gradually become relaxed allowing the overlying skin to appear smooth and unwrinkled.
Why should I go to an ophthalmologist for Botox treatments?
No one knows eyelid and eye anatomy better than an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists have a unique understanding of the eyelids, brows and orbit, which most other physicians using Botox do not have. Knowledge of the orbital muscles is key to good results when using Botox around the eyes.
Ophthalmologists and ocuplastic subspecialists have been using Botox for blepharospasm (involuntary spasms of the eyelids), strabismus (crossed eyes), and hemi-facial spasm since 1989. Following treatments, ophthalmologists noted that forehead and eyebrow lines were lessening in appearance in those patients receiving Botox. This led to further research, which confirmed the effectiveness and safety of the Botox vaccine for use in improving wrinkles due to overactive muscles of the face. In Spring 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Botox “to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows.”
What can I expect during a Botox treatment?
Your ophthalmologist will determine exactly where to administer the tiny injections in order to achieve the best results. No sedation or anesthesia is required, and there is no special recovery period necessary. The entire procedure takes approximately ten minutes. Discomfort is minimal and brief, mild bruising may occur at injection sites, but they may be easily covered with makeup. The result of the injection usually becomes apparent within 2 to 4 days. The effect of a Botox injection generally lasts four to six months.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are used for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and noslabial folds (the facial lines that extend from your nose to the corners of your mouth). Fillers are injected into the subsurface skin layer and improves your skin’s appearance by smoothing out and lifting it, adding volume and elasticity. Juvederm® is a gel implant that contains hyaluronic acid that will be naturally absorb by your body within a year. Other fillers are available and may have properties that are better for your specific concern.
Dermal fillers are a quick, comfortable, and easy way to achieve immediate results when desiring a more youthful appearance. Consult Dr. Baylin and find out which dermal filler is best suited for you.