Botox® is the FDA approved muscle-relaxing agent that can significantly reduce expression lines, deep lines and wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and forehead.  These problem areas are caused by years of squinting, laughing, frowning and smoking, resulting in an older and more stressed appearance.  Botox® works by blocking a muscle from responding to messages your brain sends to contract and move. As a result, the muscle relaxes and the overlying skin remains unwrinkled and smooth. Treatment is quick and easy. Botox® is injected with a very fine needle into the specific muscle that is contracting and causing the lines and wrinkles.  Treatment is effective, safe, and takes approximately 10 minutes. The pain is a minimal "pin prick" and no anesthetic is required.

Will I still be able to make facial expressions?

Yes.  Botox® will only help to relax some of the muscle movement so expression will still be present but the movement will not as pronounced as prior to treatment.  A potential benefit of repeated treatments is visible creases in the skin may soften and become less apparent over time.

What can you expect after treatment?

Botox will begin to take effect in a few days and will reach its maximum benefit in two weeks.

What areas of the face are treated?

The most common area treated is in between the eyebrows (called the glabella).  Other areas that respond well to treatment are the forehead, crow’s feet, under eye, bunny lines (found on the upper part of the nose bridge caused by scrunching this area) and vertical lip lines.

How long do results last?

Most areas will last approximately four months, with the crow’s feet and lip line areas lasting approximately 3 months.  Some patients who are consistent with treatment find over time they achieve longer lasting results.

Laser skin treatments can compliment a Botox® treatment.  Click here for more information.