y

Botox®

What is Botox®?

Botox

Botox® is the first FDA approved neuromodulator.  It is used to treat wrinkles as a result of dynamic muscle movement.  Botox® and other neuromodulators remains one of the best non-invasive treatments for wrinkles on the forehead, lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet on the lower eyelids, smile lines, and neck bands.  It can also be used to treat excess sweating or hyperhidrosis of the armpits.

Dr. Kil has been successfully injecting Botox® in NYC since 2007.  She injects the right amount to relax wrinkles to achieve a natural appearance while avoiding a frozen look.

What are neuromodulators?

How can a natural look be achieved with Botox® injections?

Dynamic muscle movement, such as smiling and frowning, is responsible for the formation of wrinkles on the face, especially on the forehead, lines between the eyebrows, lower eyelids, and nasal side walls. Over time, these wrinkles become deeper. Neuromodulators such as Botox®, Daxxify®, Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin® interrupt the communication between the nerve and facial muscle, relaxing the affected muscles. Consequently, there is a decreased depth of fine lines. Dr. Kil aims to achieve a natural look by enabling limited muscle movement after a moderate dose of neuromodulator is administered. There are recent advances in treatments with neuromodulators for the lower face, including decreasing a square jaw, treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, reducing downward pull of the mouth corners, lifting the chin to achieve a Nefertiti lift, and reducing neck or platysmal bands.  Furthermore, neuromodulators can be used to treat excess sweating (or hyperhidrosis), especially in the armpits.

Who is a candidate for Botox®?  Who is not a candidate?

Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding are advised to hold off on treatment.  Patients who have muscle weakness in the treatment area are advised against treatment, as neuromodulator treatment can worsen the weakness.   Finally, patients who have an infection at the treatment area are advised to delay treatment until the infection has resolved.

How do you prepare for Botox® treatment?

Patients are advised to avoid alcohol, advil, alleve, aspirin, fish oil, and vitamin E for 48 hours before the procedure to minimize possible bruising.

What can you expect during Botox®?

After the treatment area is cleaned with alcohol, Botox® is injected in small amounts.  The treatment areas are pink and swollen, looking like little bee stings.  These bumps go down within a few minutes.  Ice packs are provided to help reduce the bumps.

What is the aftercare and recovery for Botox®?

Patients can apply cold compresses to the treatment area to decrease the redness, swelling, and bruising.  They are advised to avoid alcohol, advil, alleve, aspirin, fish oil, and vitamin E for 48 hours after treatment to avoid worsening of bruising and swelling.  Patients are advised against laying flat for four hours.  They are also advised to avoid massaging the treatment areas, performing strenuous exercise, or going to saunas for one day to prevent migration of the neuromodulator to other muscle groups.

What are the side effects of Botox®?

Common side effects include redness, swelling, bruising, headaches, and asymmetry.  Other side effects include heaviness of eyebrows and eyelids, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and asymmetric smile.  Consequently, it is important to receive treatment from an experienced provider who is adept at handling these side effects.

Full results appear seven to ten days after treatment.  Patients who receive Botox® treatment at New Bloom Dermatology can get a touch-up at no additional charge within two weeks, especially in the event of asymmetry or lack of efficacy.  Patients are advised to do the touch-up within two weeks to prevent any antibody formation that could decrease the efficacy of future neuromodulator treatment.

Treatment duration can decrease as a result of excess muscle movement and antibody formation to neuromodulators.  Patients who have had a shorter treatment duration can also consider supplementation of zinc 50 mg daily, which has been shown to extend neuromodulator duration by 20-30%.

When will I notice results from Botox®?  How long does Botox® last?

Full results appear within seven to ten days after treatment and treatments last three to four months.

What are the potential costs for Botox®?

Please contact the office at (212) 207-0078 or info@newbloomderm.com for pricing per area.

How is Botox® different from the other treatments offered?

Neuromodulators remain one of the best researched and effective non-invasive treatments for wrinkles as a result of muscle movement.  They are also being used in areas of the lower face as a result of tense muscles, such as the ones on the lateral jawline and neck bands.  It is a quick treatment and requires minimal to no downtime.  Patients who do not want injections and minimal downtime for the treatment of wrinkles can consider laser treatments such as Clear and Brilliant Touch Laser or LaseMD .  Patients who can afford additional downtime may consider Smartxide DOT Fractionated CO2 Laser.

Botox® and other neuromodulators are not the same as fillers.  Fillers are injected to deep wrinkles or folds as a result of volume loss in areas such as the folds between the cheek and the mouth.  However, certain fillers that are thinner in density, such as RHA Redensity, can be safely injected to superficial wrinkles to help smooth the skin’s texture.

Before any treatments are scheduled, a cosmetic consultation is required to ensure that Botox® is an appropriate treatment.