Botox

About Botox

It should come as no surprise that Botox is one of the most popular anti-aging treatments on the market. It’s safe and effective, minimally-invasive and results in little to no downtime. With the popularity of Botox on the rise and the many varied positive effects of the treatment, it has become one of the most sought after minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments on the market.

What is Botox?

Botox is a injectable neuromodulator that works to treat wrinkles and lines caused by repeated muscle movement such as frown lines and also helps to delay the formation of new lines. This has led to an increase in preventative Botox (sometimes called Baby Botox) with people beginning Botox treatment 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 such as the nose, lower face, lips and neck softening the appearance of lines and wrinkles by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles, which prevents the muscles from contracting.

It’s effective for people of all ages from mid-twenties on as it minimizes the appearance of existing lines, as well as working to weaken the muscles so that the wrinkles in the affected areas don’t worsen over time. Keep in mind that Botox isn’t a miracle fix, it won’t work on lines that are caused by other factors such as sun damage.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Botox

There are a number of reasons that more and more, people are turning to Botox as their anti-aging treatment preference. However, in some cases, it might not be the ideal choice. These are the Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• It’s the premier treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. Botox is considered more effective than almost any other option for erasing lines and wrinkles caused by muscle movement.
• It’s a temporary treatment, so if you try it out and decide that it’s not for you - you don’t have to continue and the effects will wear off after a couple of months. After the treatment wears off, your face will not be altered in any way and will return to the same state as before the Botox treatment.
• It’s safe. There are very few health risks associated with using Botox.
• There is little to no downtime so Botox can easily fit into your lifestyle.
• You get results quickly. It might not be on the same day as the appointment, but you’ll see results within a few days as your lines and wrinkles become noticeably smoother.
• Botox offers a quick turn-around time. The first appointment is a bit longer, but thereafter you’ll be in and out in under 15 minutes.
• Repeated treatments offer longer-term benefits. 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 can add up. A single area should cost between $400 and $500, depending on where you live in Clackamas, OR, and in some areas it can go up to almost $2000. Depending how many areas you want to be treated, and how often you go, the costs can pile up quite quickly.
• It must be done by a professional. It can be tempting to try to find a lower cost option, but in order to ensure that the treatment is safe and effective - it needs to be administered properly in a medical setting.
• Botox limits your face’s range of movement. The treatment can prevent some facial expressions as it paralyzes your facial muscles, resulting in a frozen or surprised look, especially if done by an inexperienced or non-qualified provider.
• Although it’s a positive, the temporary nature of Botox can also be a disadvantage, as it requires regular injections for the best results.
• The slight possibility of side effects. There have been cases of allergic reactions that are readily treatable but may cause pain or discomfort.
• It’s not an option if you’re trying to get pregnant, currently pregnant or breastfeeding as there are no studies that look at the effects of Botox in these situations.
• There is a chance of bruising at the site of the injection, and this can last for up to a week.

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked Botox questions in Clackamas, OR:

Is Botox safe?

While Botox remains one of the most popular minimally invasive treatments, there are many that have concerns, because it’s derived from a toxin that paralyzes muscles temporarily. Complications from Botox are rare, but it is possible that the Botox can spread into other areas, resulting in drooping eyelids or an uneven smile. The results are not permanent and will wear off within 3 – 4 months.

The poison, 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 - they should be qualified and have proven experience in successfully and effectively offering Botox injections. Every provider that is listed on Anzolo Med has been checked to ensure that they meet the medical requirements in Clackamas, OR.

What is it used for?

Botox, which works by paralyzing the underling facial muscles, is most commonly used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is a popular option for the treatment of migraines, muscular disorders, excessive sweating and, in some instances, bladder and bowel disorders. It is also effective in treating temporomandibular joint disorder, bruxism, vaginismus, and for reducing a gummy smile.

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 where your provider will make treatment recommendations in line with the results that you’re looking for. This is an ideal time to ask any questions that you might have.
• The second step is the Botox appointment, where you will need to complete a consent form. If it’s your first appointment, it will be around 30 minutes, and any follow-up appointments will be even shorter. Your provider will talk through the procedure and what you can expect, then inject the Botox into 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 like to see the results with the treated areas appearing smoother and plumper and a month down the line, the Botox will still be effective.
• Three months after your treatment, you’ll gradually be able to see movement returning, and it may be time to consider booking your next Botox appointment.

How long will it take to see results?

The full effects of Botox are not immediate as the Botox needs some time to bind to the receptors on the nerve cells, which then relaxes the muscles. You should start to see results around two to three days after treatment, but the full effects will take upwards of a week to show. If you want to compare a before and after of the difference, you should wait at least 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 as the longer the muscles don’t move; the fewer lines will appear as a result.

Do Botox injections hurt?

The pain from Botox is minimal as the needles used for the treatment are very small. After the treatment is finished, you may have small red bumps on your face that will last for 15 to 20 minutes. There is a small risk of bruising that can take a week to disappear. To reduce the chance of bruising, try to avoid anything that works to thin the 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 pain, you can request the area to be numbed with a topical anesthetic cream before the injections.

How long does Botox last?

Botox lasts for between 3 and 6 months. As the muscle gradually returns to action, you will notice the lines and wrinkles beginning to reappear. At this point, they will need to be treated again. When the lines and wrinkles reappear, they often appear less severe as continued Botox treatments result in the muscles shrinking. If you discontinue Botox treatments the effects will wear off completely, and muscles will go back to their normal movements.

How much should I expect to pay?

The total treatment amount will vary from person to person, depending on how many units are needed to treat the area taking into account the size of the area and the strength of the muscles that need to be relaxed. In Clackamas, OR the cost per unit ranges between $10 and $25 per unit. The frown lines between the eyebrows is a popular treatment area, and the right number of units for most individuals will be 25; however it could be as few at ten and as many as thirty.

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; however, others use Botox as a preventative treatment from the age of 25.

Botox Additional Treatments

Although Botox enjoys a reputation for its ability to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, there are a number of other cosmetic and medical conditions that can be effectively treated with Botox.

Migraines

Botox offers relief for 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

If you sweat excessively, this condition can be treated with Botox which is injected into the areas with overactive sweat glands. It works by disabling the nerve signals that active the sweat glands. Its most effective in the armpits where a provider will inject around 50 units in each armpit over 20 to 25 injections. 

Because the treatment uses a fine needle and the Botox is injected superficially, the pain is minimal, and the sensation can be compared to pinpricks. However, because the same site is treated upwards of 20 times, it is common to apply a numbing cream before the appointment to reduce sensation in the treatment area.

Similar to facial Botox, the effects last between 3 and 6 months, but it is common for the results to be longer-lasting.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Botox can be injected directly into the muscles of the jaw to relieve symptoms of TMJ as well as teeth grinding and a clenched jaw (bruxism). The treatment helps to prevent damage to the teeth and is often effective in reducing the instances of headaches that are a result of tension caused by jaw-clenching. 

The effects of the Botox last between 3 and 6 months, and 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 used to treat the condition.