What is Botox®?
Botox® is an injectable neuromodulator that works to treat certain types of lines and wrinkles known as “dynamic wrinkles.” These signs of aging are caused by the contractions of facial muscles. Botox® is also used to delay the onset of dynamic wrinkles, leading to an increase in preventative Botox® (sometimes called Baby Botox®), and people are now starting Botox® treatments in their mid-twenties and early thirties.
Botox® injections are an FDA-approved treatment for frown lines, lines on the forehead and crow’s feet. It’s also effective for other areas of the face, such as the nose, lower face, lips, and neck. Botox® softens the appearance of lines and wrinkles by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles to disrupt the contractions.
Botox® is effective for people of all ages, from mid-twenties and older. It minimizes the appearance of existing lines, as well as weaken the muscles to prevent wrinkles from worsening as you age. Keep in mind that Botox® isn’t a miracle fix for all signs of aging. It won’t work on lines that are caused by other factors, such as sun damage.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Botox®
More and more people are relying on Botox® as their preferred anti-aging treatment for a number of reasons. However, in some cases, it might not be the ideal choice. Here are the pros and cons of Botox® to consider before opting for the injections.
Pros
- Botox® is the premier treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. It is considered more effective than almost any other option for reducing lines and wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement in the face.
- Botox® is a temporary treatment, and injections last about four to six months. You can try it out, and decide if it’s right for you. If you decide against further injections, your skin returns to the same appearance as prior to the injections, with only signs of the natural aging process.
- Botox® is safe. There are very few health risks associated with using the product.
- There is little to no downtime with Botox®. You can resume your normal activities immediately after the injections.
- You see immediate results. Some people see results right after the injections, but most people see results within a few days.
- Botox® injections require very little time. The first treatment takes 30 to 60 minutes, and follow-treatments take about 15 minutes.
- Repeated treatments offer longer-term benefits. Results last four to six months, and you’ll need follow-up injections about every four months. In addition to being an effective treatment for wrinkles, Botox® helps to reduce, sometimes even remove, lines caused by repetitive facial muscle movements.
Cons
- The costs of Botox® injections can add up. Depending on where you live, Botox® injections in a single treatment area may cost between $400 and $500, but it may be as high as $2000. Depending on the number of treatment areas and the frequency of your treatments, the costs can add up quite quickly.
- Botox® must be done by a professional. It can be tempting to try to find a lower cost option. In order to ensure that the treatment is safe and effective, choose a medical practitioner, trained aesthetician, or nurse injector for your Botox® treatments.
- Botox® may limit range of motion in your face. The treatment temporarily paralyzes facial muscles to soften wrinkles. This may prevent you from making certain facial expressions. You can reduce the risk of this effect by ensuring that the individual administering the injections is experienced and properly trained.
- The temporary nature of Botox® can be a disadvantage. You’ll need maintenance injections about every four months to maintain the anti-aging benefits.
- Although rare, side effects have been reported with Botox® injections. The most common are allergic reactions that may cause pain or discomfort.
- Botox® is not recommended for women who are trying to get pregnant, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding. There is no research as to the safety of Botox® injections in these situations.
- There is a chance of bruising at the site of the injection, and this can last for up to a week.
Botox® FAQs
Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about Botox®.
Ask a question-
Is Botox® safe?
While Botox® remains one of the most popular minimally-invasive treatments, there are many people who have concerns. It is true that the active ingredient in Botox® is a toxin that temporarily paralyzes muscles. Complications from Botox® are rare, but it is possible that the Botox® can spread into other areas. This may result in drooping eyelids or an uneven smile. The results are not permanent and will wear off within 3 – 4 months.
The toxin, botulinum type A, has very little risk and few to no side effects when administered by a qualified professional. This makes choosing the right provider important. Choose someone who is qualified and has proven experience in successfully and effectively offering Botox® injections. Every provider that is listed on Anzolo Medical has been carefully checked to ensure that they meet the medical requirements as set by CA.
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What is Botox® used for?
Botox® works by temporarily paralyzing the underlying facial muscles. It is most often used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Botox® is also used for the treatment of migraines, muscular disorders, and excessive sweating. In some cases, it is also effective for certain bladder and bowel disorders, temporomandibular joint disorder, bruxism, vaginismus, and for reducing a gummy smile.
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What can I expect from my Botox® appointment?
If you have concerns about your Botox® appointment, this should help you to understand what you can expect at each stage of the process:
- The first step is a consultation with your provider. After a thorough examination and discussion about your concerns, the provider makes treatment recommendations to help you achieve your goals. This is an ideal time to ask any questions that you might have.
- The second step is the Botox® appointment. You will complete a consent form. Expect your first appointment to take about 30 minutes. Follow-up treatments may take slightly less time. Your provider explains the procedure and what to expect. Botox® is injected in the targeted muscles with a fine needle.
- Immediately after the treatment, you can expect to have a small amount of swelling and redness which will disappear after ten minutes. It is possible that you may have a slight headache afterwards, although most people experience very little in the way of pain or side effects.
- One day after Botox® treatment, you probably won’t have any symptoms, but there is a chance that you may have some minor bruising or a mild headache. You may not yet see the effects of the treatment.
- A week after your treatment, you’re likely to see the results of the injections. The skin appears smoother and plumper.
- Three months after your treatment, muscle movement starts to gradually return to normal. This is the time to schedule your follow-up appointment for additional Botox injections.
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How long will it take to see results?
The full effects of Botox® are not immediate. Botulinum type A takes some time to relax the muscles. You should start to see results around two to three days after treatment, but the full effects will take up to one week. Look for full results after about two weeks.
Keep in mind that you may still see some fine lines. The appearance of these lines will decrease as the facial muscles remain relaxed and immobile over three months. This is what makes long-term Botox® use so effective. The longer the muscles remain immobile, the fewer lines you may have.
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Do Botox® injections hurt?
The pain from Botox® is minimal. The needles are very small. After the treatment, you may have small red bumps on your face that will last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is a small risk of bruising around each injection site that may last up to one week. You can minimize the risk of bruising by avoiding anything that thins your blood, unless it’s medically necessary. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), fish oil, vitamin E supplements, and alcohol.
If you are worried about the discomfort of Botox injections, you can request a topical anesthetic cream to numb the area before the injections.
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How long does Botox® last?
Botox® lasts for 4 and 6 months. As the muscle movement gradually returns, you will notice the lines and wrinkles starting to reappear. At this point, you will need a follow-up treatment. With continued Botox injections, the lines and wrinkles are less severe. If you stop Botox® treatments, the effects will wear off completely, and muscles will go back to their normal movements.
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How much should I expect to pay?
The total cost of treatment with Botox® varies from person to person. It depends on how many units are needed to treat the area. Additional considerations are the size of the area and strength of the muscles that need to be relaxed. In [STATE], the cost ranges from $10 and $25 per unit. Frown lines between the eyebrows are often treated with Botox® injections. Most people require about 25 units of Botox® to soften these lines, but it may 10 to 30 units.
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When should you start getting Botox®?
Many patients start using Botox® around the age of 30 when lines and wrinkles start to become more noticeable. Others start Botox® injections around age 25 as a preventive treatment.
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Patient Testimonials
Read real reviews from the Anzolo community
Pre-Appointment:
Being as this was my first time with lip fillers, I did my research and spoke with 3 different offices on the phone before choosing Dr. Lee.
Gabriel, the patient coordinator, was very quick when responding to emails and answered my long list of questions from his own personal experience. I also looked at the photo's on Dr. Lee's website of his chin fillers and was sold!
Appointment Day:
The office was very clean and the lobby was decorated beautifully it felt like a living room. When I got into the room I told Dr. Lee exactly what I wanted (bigger lips + stronger jawline) he recommended we start with two syringes in my lips of Juvederm XC and then Juvederm Voluma for my chin to strengthen my jawline.
I was numbed up and ready to go, he started injecting my top lip. It pinched a little and I slightly felt the solution going in but overall it didn't hurt too bad.
Then...
The left side of my lip turned blackish blue and began to swell like crazy. Dr. Lee said it could be from the Juvederm going into a vein. As I learned, unfortunately, when putting fillers into the lips there's no way for them to tell if they are hitting a vein or not. I was a little freaked out since it was my first time I didn't know what to think of my blue lip.
Dr. Lee was calm and said not to worry he would dissolve the filler immediately. He reassured me, my safety always comes first and told me he would take care of me. He dissolved the filler, made sure I was comfortable in the private waiting room while the swelling went down and set me up with an immediate appointment at a very well known dermatologist doctor to get her opinion and ease my nerves. He then went above and beyond and set up a hyperbaric chamber treatment to speed up the healing process.
After My 1st Appointment:
Though it didn't go exactly how I imagined my first filler appointment would go, I never once felt like I made the wrong decision by coming to Dr. Lee.
He was professional, knowledgable and looked after me the entire weekend; texting to make sure I wasn't in any pain and was healing properly.
Since then I have gone back 3 times, once to refill the side of my lip we had to dissolve the filler in and two others to plump them up a little more to make them bigger.
I trust Dr. Lee will always do the right thing and that's exactly what I want in my doctor!
Maddison on Johnson Lee, MD via Google Reviews
I am so glad that I chose Dr. Lee to perform my mommy makeover. He truly goes above and beyond for his patients. Dr. Lee and his staff have always made me feel at ease throughout the entire process, from the initial consultation to the morning of my surgery and beyond. I don’t live in the LA area, and Dr. Lee always went out of his way to accommodate my distance and traveling. He gave me a helpful “pre-consult” over FaceTime/phone to make sure it was worth it for me to travel to Beverly Hills for an in-person consult. In person, I was impressed by his kind yet confident demeanor. He has performed countless mommy makeovers, yet both he and his patient coordinator took the time to explain the process in detail, answer my questions, and hear my vision for my body. This “patient first” attitude continued through all of my pre-op, surgery, and post-op communications with him and his staff. Dr. Lee even personally visited me on the evening of my surgery. Throughout my recovery process, he regularly checked in and was always available to answer any questions. I developed a small seroma, and not only did he clear his schedule to see me within 12 hours, but he also immediately contacted his plastic surgeon colleague in my area for my follow-up aspirations so I didn’t have to travel all the way to LA. He truly goes above and beyond, every step of the way!
Did I mention how in love I am with my results?! After 2 back-to-back pregnancies (including carrying twins), my breasts were uneven and drooping, my abdomen had extra skin, and my flanks and torso had stubborn fat deposits. So I received a breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and 360 degree liposuction. Dr. Lee gave me full yet natural and proportional breasts; the small waist I never had; and the shapely butt that was hiding beneath my fat. I am confident in this “new and improved” version of me, and the compliments from family and friends are so wonderful to hear! Thank you for your expertise and for always going above and beyond, Dr. Lee!
Mama Bear on Johnson Lee, MD via Google Reviews
Just finished my first round of PRP for my hair. I was greeted and assisted by Gabriel. Everything was very pleasant and smooth. I will definitely be...
Gustavo D. on Johnson Lee, MD via Yelp
Dr. Lee is my go to guy in LA for aesthetics. He is amazing! I’ve tried some of the best Doctors in LA and I’m never more satisfied with my services than after I leave Dr. Lee. Not only does he make me feel incredibly comfortable, keep me laughing, and make me look beautiful but he does so with exceptional precision. I’m very picky and Dr. Lee always exceeds my expectations with his exceptional work and basically reads my mind. Look no further...you too can have your go to Dr. with Dr. Lee!
Colby DiSarro on Johnson Lee, MD via Google Reviews
Botox® Additional Treatments
Although Botox® is widely known for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, there are a number of other cosmetic and medical conditions that are treated with Botox®.
Migraines
Botox® is used for treating chronic migraines that are caused in part by muscle tension. If you struggle with headaches at least 15 days per month, Botox® is an FDA-approved treatment that relaxes the trigger muscles, effectively reducing the severity and duration of the headaches.
To receive treatment for your migraines, you will first need a diagnosis from a neurologist who may perform the Botox® injections. The injections can also be administered by a facial plastic surgeon or any specialist with knowledge of craniofacial anatomy.
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating. This condition can be treated by injecting Botox® into overactive sweat glands. Botox® works by disrupting the nerve signals that activate sweat glands. Its most effective in the armpit area. Treatment typically requires 20 to 25 injections for up to 50 units of Botox®.
Individual injections are quite comfortable. You may only feel a slight prick in your skin. Because 20 to 25 injections are needed, though, it is common to numb the area before the treatment. The effects of Botox® for hyperhidrosis last 3 to 6 months. Some men and women find that Botox® helps with their excessive sweating for longer.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Injecting Botox® directly into the muscles of the jaw may help relieve symptoms of TMJ, teeth grinding, and a clenched jaw (bruxism). The treatment helps to prevent damage to the teeth. Botox® is often effective in reducing headaches that are caused by clenching.
The effects of the Botox® for TMJ and other jaw disorders last 3 and 6 months. During this time, the muscles learn to relax. This may mean that follow-up treatments may not be needed, or that fewer units of Botox® are needed for subsequent treatments.