BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most popular non-surgical, anti-aging procedure today. While it consists of injections of a botulinum toxin, the word “toxin” is misleading. BOTOX® in Richmond is so safe that it has been used for many years to treat muscle spasms, even in children.
As a cosmetic treatment, BOTOX® is used only on wrinkles that are a result of muscle contractions, such as crow’s feet and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by a loss of facial volume cannot be treated with BOTOX®. For those, dermal filler injections such as Juvéderm® are necessary. Some patients combine BOTOX® injections with Juvéderm® to improve all facial lines and wrinkles. The effects of BOTOX® last 3-6 months. It can also be used to treat Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
What can BOTOX® do for you?
In Richmond, BOTOX® injections can improve the following:
- Frown lines between the eyes
- Crow’s feet
- Horizontal forehead creases
- Lines across the bridge of the nose
- Vertical lipstick lines on the upper lip
- Dimples on the chin
- Muscle bands on the neck
Areas That Botox® Treats
Glabella: the area between the brows, form a crease, or number 11 appearance. Over time, repeat contractions of the procerus, depressor supercilli, and corrugator muscles begin to lower the height and arch of the brows. Botox® helps prevent wrinkles from forming, and restores the height and arch of the eyebrow, giving a ‘brow lift’ to patients in Richmond.
Forehead: the horizontal forehead lines are created by the frontalis muscle used to raise the eyebrows. Botox® lessens the severity of the wrinkles and softens the forehead lines.
Crow’s Feet: the wrinkles radiating around the outside of our eyes. Botox® placed into the orbicularis oculi muscles will soften the wrinkles and provide lift to a heavy upper eyelid & eyebrow.
Advanced Treatment Areas
Masseter Muscles – Used for chewing, get bulky and square off the angle of the jawline. Botox® relaxes these muscles to help slim and narrow the face.
Bunny lines – The nasalis muscle that lies over the bridge of the nose, when contracted, causes fine lines.
Lip Lines – The vertical wrinkles radiating around the mouth, are created by the orbicularis oris muscle used to close the lips. Botox® helps reduce these lines in some patients.
Jowls – The depressor anguli oris muscle assists in lowering the corners of the mouth. Botox® helps to elevate the corners of the mouth and diminish the size of the jowl to smooth the jawline of patients in Richmond.
Chin – The crease in the middle of the chin, or the dimpled appearance of the lower chin are created by the mentalis muscles. Botox® reduces the pebbly look and severity of the chin crease.
Hyperhidrosis (Excessive underarm sweating) – The nerves responsible for activating your sweat glands become overactive and cause too much perspiration. With stress or nervousness, the problem becomes even worse. Beginning around the time of adolescence, this issue may have a hereditary component as it often clusters in families. If the sweating cannot be attributed to an underlying health condition such as menopause hot flashes, low blood sugar, over active thyroid, medications, or diabetes, you may have primary hyperhidrosis. Since receiving FDA approval in 2004 for hyperhidrosis, Botox® injections in Richmond help improve or eliminate sweating for 3 to 6 months. With repeat treatments, some patients have a duration of up to 9 months without sweating. The recommended dose is 100 units total, for both underarms. Treating this condition will help avoid the risk of infections, or the social and emotional effects of soaking and staining your clothes.
Your Consultation for BOTOX®
Dr. Montante will spend time with you during your initial consultation to hear your concerns and goals, as well as answer your questions. He will review your medical history and examine your face to determine if you are a good candidate for BOTOX®. If some or all of the wrinkles that concern you are caused by loss of facial volume, he will recommend dermal filler injections to correct those.
If you are a good candidate for BOTOX®, you can have your treatment immediately after your consultation at our office in Richmond.
The area to be treated is numbed with an ice pack prior to your procedure. BOTOX® injections are well-tolerated, as the needle used is very small. Most areas require 3-5 injections.
Who Performs BOTOX® Treatments?
Botox® Cosmetic is an FDA approved medication that can only be injected by a licensed medical provider such as Nurse Practitioners and Physicians who are licensed to prescribe medications and trained in facial anatomy and aesthetics. At Montante Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, we use a small, fine gauge insulin syringe and needle to artfully inject Botox® Cosmetic into facial muscles, strategically placing the medication to relax the wrinkles.
When injected properly the outcome should appear natural, accentuating one’s beauty, and refreshing one’s appearance. Placement into the wrong muscles, or by a practitioner that infrequently practices the art of injection placement injecting a few millimeters away from the intended muscle group, can cause unwanted paralysis of facial muscles and therefore poor cosmetic outcomes.
Recovering from BOTOX®
You can return to work immediately after BOTOX® injections. Some patients in Richmond experience mild redness around the treated areas for about a half hour. Rarely, patients experience a tiny bruise at the injection sites. This usually goes away within 2-3 days.
Dr. Montante will see you for a follow-up appointment 2 weeks after your treatment. Most people do not need a touchup, but if you do, it can be done at that time.
Get rid of nagging facial wrinkles with BOTOX® injections in Richmond. Call us today to schedule a consultation and find out more about BOTOX®.