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Botox

Botox – Answers to my patients most common questions.

Botox

Do you have questions about Botox?

 

Botox. Who would think that a substance that is responsible for food poisoning could also make us look more youthful!

Below I’ve listed some of the more common questions I’m frequently asked by my patients.

 

What is Botox?

Botox is a prescription drug and is made by the drug company Allergan. It works by temporarily blocking muscle activity by preventing the transmission between nerve endings and muscle fibers. In lay terms this means that when Botox is injected into your muscle the muscle will temporarily relax.

 

What areas do you treat? 

Common areas treated are:

  • Forehead wrinkles.
  • Frown lines.
  • Crow’s feet.
  • The muscle bands in the anterior neck.

 

What can I expect from my first Botox procedure? 

The procedure is quick and easy, it usually takes about 10 minutes. The first thing I will do is assess your facial wrinkling to make sure that Botox is indicated. I will then mark your face to pinpoint the injection sites. A small fine gauge needle is used to inject the Botox into the target areas. You will feel small pin pricks in the treatment areas. My patients tell me the pain is a 1-2 on the scale of 10.

 

What kind of results can I expect to see? 

Botox does not work instantly, so don’t expect to see immediate results! Results are generally seen anywhere from 1-7 days after the procedure.

Botox is not permanent, it will gradually wear off.  My patients generally return for repeat injections every 3-4 months.

 

Who administers the Botox at your office? 

I administer all of the Botox injections to our patients at Kadlec Clinic Plastic Surgery and Dermatology. The chance of complications can increase when administered incorrectly by an inexperienced injector. Complications might include problems swallowing, problems breathing, muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision, blindness and drooping eyelids.

 

At what age do people start getting injections? 

It depends. Some of my younger patients are in their early 30’s and use Botox to prevent wrinkles from forming.

 

Do you do Botox parties? 

No. While they sound like a lot of fun I do not think they are safe. For patient safety I believe in maintaining the highest medical standards. This means administering Botox in a safe clean clinical setting with no alcohol involved.

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/botulinum-toxin

 

For more on patient safety, click the following link:

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety

 

Botox

Facial rejuvenation-Fillers, Botox, Juvederm, Chemical Peels and Skin Care

FACIAL REJUVENATION

 

 

 

Facial rejuventaion

Facial rejuvenation

 

I frequently see patients in my office who tell me they just don’t recognize themselves in the mirror anymore. As they have aged these patients have developed wrinkles, saggy skin, less facial volume and uneven pigmentation. They often tell me everyone keeps telling them they look tired. Everyone ages differently. Contributing factors to aging are genetics, sun exposure, and lifestyle choices. Alcohol consumption, smoking, stress and getting enough sleep all play a factor.

For patients seeking facial rejuvenation, there are several non-surgical way to address the visible signs of aging.

 

MEDICAL GRADE SKIN CARE PRODUCTS:

Good skincare starts with a good medical grade skin care product.  These products can make the skin look its best and help lighten those dreaded pigmentation spots. In my office I carry the SkinMedica skin care line but there are other skin care lines that are comparable. Make sure you are using a skin care line that is ‘medical grade’ meaning it can only be obtained through a physician. https://www.skinmedica.com/?item=%2fpeels.html%2f&user=extranet%5cAnonymous&site=SkinMedica

 

BOTOX 

After you’ve established a good skin care routine you might want to incorporate Botox into your wrinkle zapping regimen. Botox paralyzes the facial muscles that contribute to wrinkles.  Botox is most commonly used to stop crows feet, forehead wrinkles and the ’11’s’; those lines that often appear between the eyebrows as we age. The procedure takes about 10 minutes and lasts generally about 3-4 months. https://www.botoxcosmetic.com/?cid=sem_goo_43700008344047006

 

 

FILLERS:

Fillers are another line of defense against wrinkles. They are often used in conjunction with Botox. While Botox addresses the wrinkles in the upper part of the face and Juvederm addresses the wrinkles in the lower part of the face. Fillers can fill in where facial volume has been lost in the mid face, they can also fill in the other lines that form around the mouth region.

JuvedermXC and Juvederm Ultra XC are two very popular fillers made by Allergan.  A skilled injector can determine which of the 2 Juvederm products would be best suited to the patients needs. During the procedure the Juvederm, which is a jell, is injected into the face to smooth out wrinkles. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and last from 6 months to 2 years. https://www.juvederm.com/

 

CHEMICAL PEELS:

Chemical peels are another popular way to make your skin look it’s best by removing fine lines and fading age spots. A chemical peel is a quick 15 minute procedure. Your skin may be red and peel for up to a week after the peel but this can be disguised with a light foundation. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/chemical-peel

 

If the patient further desires to take 10-15 years off of their face they may consider the surgical route and undergo a face lift, eye lift or a brow lift.

You can find more information about these procedures on our webpage:   https://frankflemingmd.com/procedures/non-surgical-services/chemical-peels-richland/