How
does one get wrinkles?Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles when you smile, laugh or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to become. While you may have earned every one of your wrinkle lines, you no longer have to show them anymore. Thanks to a new use for an FDA approved drug, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure known as cosmetic denervation uses BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to improve the
BOTOX® Cosmetic blocks the impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to wrinkle lines. BOTOX® Cosmetic relaxes the muscles so they do not contract as before the BOTOX® Cosmetic injection. After the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in their usual normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections have been used safely and effectively for over ten years to treat many other non-cosmetic disorders. Each year many thousands of patients receive BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments for a variety of conditions and it is quickly becoming the most popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging.
A tiny needle is used to inject a very small amount of BOTOX® Cosmetic very precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of medication is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. When asked, most patients describe the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is used, and you can resume normal activities immediately. You can drive yourself home or back to the office. Some patients will experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site, which can be covered with make-up.
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. Additionally, in some cases, the medication can migrate and cause a temporary weakness of nearby muscles. In very rare cases, there can be a drooping of an eyelid or asymmetry of facial expression. The risk of any side effects depend upon the muscles injected. Dr. Brandeis will discuss these side effects with you before your treatment.
If the dynamic wrinkles discussed above make you look older than you are, cosmetic denervation with BOTOX® Cosmetic can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. It may take two to three days to see an improvement and up to one week to see the overall effects. The skin will appear smooth and even show a youthful glowing appearance. BOTOX® Cosmetic cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since these wrinkles are unrelated to facial muscle contractions.
The effects of the BOTOX® Cosmetic last from three to four months. Therefore, to maintain the effects of the BOTOX® Cosmetic, you will need to have BOTOX® Cosmetic about every four months. Clinical studies indicate that the duration of treatment benefits is increased over time so that you should require injections less frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient to patient and BOTOX® Cosmetic may be less effective for those over 65 years of age.