General Information

BOTOX® Cosmetic injection is the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the industry, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Botulinum toxin, better known as BOTOX® Cosmetic, is used to reduce the appearance of frown lines, "crow's feet," laugh lines and other wrinkles sometimes called dynamic wrinkles.

"BOTOX® Cosmetic is magic. Nothing can do what BOTOX® Cosmetic can!" - Dr. Mani

This procedure is one of the safest available for reduction of wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used safely and successfully in ophthalmology for over 12 years and for wrinkle therapy for almost 10 years. It has been approved by the FDA for the temporary reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. In the amounts used for wrinkle therapy, the only possible side effects are temporary and localized to the area of injection. At California Cosmetic Laser Clinic you will always receive maximum strength, fresh BOTOX® Cosmetic. Although individuals may have slightly varied results, we will work with you to achieve your most optimal results.

This procedure, sometimes referred to as cosmetic denervation, has been widely used and is considered a safe and effective way of treating aging skin. It works by physiologically weakening the facial muscles beneath the skin that are related to expression lines. The contractions of those muscles result in wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic works by blocking the impulses from the nerve to the facial muscles thereby relaxing them. The result is that the pull of the underlying facial muscles relax causing the skin to flatten. This results in a smooth, unwrinkled look. BOTOX® Cosmetic cannot treat wrinkles caused by sun damage, scarring, or facial trauma. The effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic will wear off but can be maintained with two to three injections per year.

What are the overall advantages of treating wrinkles with BOTOX® Cosmetic?

• Reduces wrinkles without surgery.

• No sedation or anesthesia is needed.

• Corrects underlying muscles (as opposed to the skin's surface or skin's sub-layer the way peels do).

• Reduces horizontal creases in forehead. Reduces frown lines.

• Minimizes the look of crows' feet and laugh lines.

• Provides dramatic effects.

• Effects are customizable and reversible.

• Some patients report they no longer get migraine headaches.

How does it work?

First, a few drops of BOTOX® Cosmetic are injected with a tiny needle into the muscle that creates a wrinkle. When BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve impulse from reaching that area, and as a result, the muscle weakens.  BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment does not effect normal facial expressions.

Basically, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. If a specific muscle can't move, it can't cause a wrinkle.

What can BOTOX® Cosmetic be used for?                                          

• Frown Lines                                  •Brow Lift

• Brow Asymmetry                          •Bunny Lines

• Lip Wrinkles                                  •Worry Lines

• Severe Underarm Sweating        • Crow's Feet

Transversal lines forehead

Treatment Procedure

Dr. Mani will administer several tiny injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic directly into the muscles of the areas you wish treated.

The location of the injections will be determined by examining your ability to move certain muscles in the selected area. The location, size, and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly among individuals.

No anesthesia is required, although you may choose to have the area numbed with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Most patients compare the sensation to a pin prick and treatment takes only a few minutes.

You may resume normal activities immediately. You may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and could last up to 5 months. After that, the muscle action returns. When frown lines reappear, a repeat treatment is necessary to regain the results.

Are there any side effects?

Side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic are minimal, with slight discomfort upon injection of the solution. This may be minimized by the use of anesthetic cream half an hour prior to the injection. Bruising at the sight of injection may occur but is not common. One percent of patients develop a slight lowering of one eyelid and, also rarely, asymmetry of facial expression. These effects are temporary and may not even be noticed by the patient.

When the medication begins to wear off, the wrinkles begin to reappear; however, they frequently are not as deep as the original ones. It usually takes two or three injections each year to maintain the smooth, youthful appearance that is desired. Clinical studies suggest that after several rounds of treatment, the patient may require injections less often.

The Anatomy of a Wrinkle

As an example we'll look at the common "frown" of the glabellar lines. The lines that appear between your brows (glabellar lines) actually result from muscle movement and the passage of time. You may have heard the expression "wearing your emotions on your sleeve," but in reality you wear them on your face. If you're angry or annoyed, for example, you knit your brows together. Underneath your skin, your facial muscles contract, cause a pleating of the overlying skin, and then, as anyone can see, you're frowning.

After years of crinkling and wrinkling, those glabellar lines start to linger longer and can become more pronounced. For women, whose faces tend to be more animated than men's, and whose skin is typically more delicate, these lines may appear exaggerated and more permanent.

Results you can see…

In a clinical study results were still visible up to 5 months

Un-retouched clinical photos taken while frowning both before and 30 days after treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic.
 

BOTOX® Cosmetic

Men are becoming equal fans of BOTOX® Cosmetic, too. Erasing frown and worry lines give a more assured appearance. And a special added psychological benefit? Seeing yourself "look" less stressed or angry actually triggers more positive emotions.

BOTOX® Cosmetic & Filler Combination Treatments

Using BOTOX® Cosmetic to relax the dynamic muscles that cause wrinkles is frequently combined with follow-up dermal fillers. Some lines on the face are a result of skin laxity aging and are not affected by BOTOX® Cosmetic. These lines are readily improved with the use of either Restylane, Juvederm (both Hyaluronic acid fillers) or Cosmoderm/Cosmoplast collagen products. In some situations the fillers can be injected during the same visit. Other times, such as when treating lip wrinkles, the filler will be placed several days later when the muscles have relaxed, after receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic.  This particular combination treatment can affect a dramatic improvement for the entire facial area.

Caution: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued statements warning of the possible hazards of "BOTOX® Cosmetic parties." Whether used to treat medical conditions such as blepharospasm or strabismus or cosmetic concerns such as furrow lines, a BOTOX® Cosmetic injection is a medical procedure that should be performed in a controlled medical environment by a licensed physician.

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