Advanced Associates in Dermatology

Neurotoxins

Dr. Soares performs all BOTOX® services at our main location in Spring.  BOTOX® is a very popular non-surgical treatment that visibly softens or removes wrinkles on the forehead, Crow’s feet and furrow lines between your brows.  BOTOX® is performed with minimal risk when used at the recommended dosage and typically lasts 3 – 4 months and takes up to 14 days to achieve its full effects. During treatment, a few drops of BOTOX® Cosmetic are injected into the muscle that creates a nerve block to interrupt impulses from reaching that area resulting in a weakening of the muscle. As the muscle weakens and becomes relaxed the wrinkles in the treated area gradually soften and often disappear.

WHAT IS BOTOX?

Botox is the purified toxin formed via the Clostridium botulinum microbes. A miniscule degree of BOtulinum TOXin protein injected right into a muscle mass helps prevent the conventional nerve impulses and stops the muscle from contracting.

HOW IS BOTOX ADMINISTERED?

Botox is injected with a very small, thin needed into a specific muscle region.  Botox is effective by causing the muscle to stop contracting. This subsequently stops the further development of wrinkles and expression lines.

Within 5 days after administered you may start to notice the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles as the Botox sets in, but it takes up to 2 weeks to reach the desired result.  Since the effects of Botox can last up to 4 months, Dr. Soares believes in conservatively treating patients using Botox for the first time. If the desired result is not reached within 2 weeks you may need to return to have a few more units injected to the area to achieve smooth, wrinkle free areas.

WHAT AREAS OF THE FACE DOES BOTOX TREAT?

In cosmetic applications, Botox is typically used to treat horizontal forehead lines, “crow’s feet” lines beside the eyes, or furrow lines between the eyebrows.  Other areas in which Botox can be used are the vertical lines on the sides of the nose bridge, sometimes referred to as “bunny Lines”, or injected to the center of the chin to remove depressions or indentions.

HOW CAN I GET READY FOR BOTOX TREATMENT?

Just do your typical daily routine.  Immediately after the treatment it is recommended to move the injected area to help encourage the BOTOX® into the muscle quicker for up to 2 hours.  It is further recommended not to participate in activities that elevate the heart rate or lay flat for up to 4 hours.

WHO CAN HAVE BOTOX?

Cosmetically, BOTOX® may be used for treating wrinkles in men and women over the age of 18.

WHO SHOULDN’T HAVE BOTOX?

  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding.
  • Those with muscle mass issues or Persistent diseases affecting the muscles, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome.
  • Individuals with an infection within the proposed injection site.
  • People who have previously experienced an allergic reaction to Botulinum toxin form A injections.
  • Persons under the age of 18 years.

HOW MUCH BOTOX WILL I NEED?

This depends on the area being treated and how advanced the wrinkles are.  The deeper the wrinkle, the stronger the muscle, the more units one may need.  The same applies to the duration of paralysis after treatment – stronger muscles may initially require shorter periods between treatments.  Dr. Soares will be able to give you a precise number of units before your treatment.

WHAT ARE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF BOTOX?

  • Dry mouth
  • Discomfort or pain at the injection site
  • Tiredness
  • Headache
  • Neck pain
  • Eye problems such as: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow’s feet lines, and/or forehead lines.

Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Do not receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.