Botox Injections in Temecula

Botox^® cosmetic is used mainly to remove and diminish wrinkles. When used in any desired area, patients can look refreshed and youthful, and of course, have fewer wrinkles. Some patients are concerned about having a “frozen” facial appearance. This tends to happen when Botox^® is used for other areas of the face not approved by the FDA, like the mouth and smile. When Botox^® is used for the area between the brows, over the forehead and in the Crow’s foot areas, almost all of the muscles of the face remain strong and patients get maximal effect without the “frozen” look.

Botox^® can also help to decrease certain headaches by stopping function of certain muscles which are thought to trigger headaches. Patients who have Botox^® treatment to treat wrinkles often report fewer headaches.  Botox^® is also used to treat hyperhidrosis, or increased sweating of the underarms and hands.  There are many other non-cosmetic uses for Botox^®.

Your Botox consultation with Dr. Newman will informative and fun!  You will tell Dr. Newman what you see in the mirror and together a care plan will be created to give you the results you want. Alternatives to Botox might also be touched upon during the discussion. Botox injection is relatively painless and Dr. Newman has incorporated special techniques to make your Botox experience pleasurable and effective. There is generally minimal bruising and swelling and patients may return to work after treatment, if, for example, they wish to have Botox on their lunch break.

It takes about two to five days for Botox to take effect. You should expect Botox to last about 3 to 4 months, although some studies have shown that after treatment with Botox every three or four months for two years, less frequent injections are required to maintain the same effect. One of the wonderful aspects of Botox Cosmetic is that it is completely nonsurgical and is performed at Dr. Newman’s office which is conveniently located.

Yes! It is a neurotoxin that is purified from a bacterium found in soil called clostridium botulinum. The toxin is used by this organism to fight other bacteria. Botox is purified and diluted millions of times and so it can be injected safely. Botox works by attaching itself to nearby muscles so they don’t flex when stimulated. Botox only works in the muscles near where it was placed and so cannot cause muscle effects elsewhere in the body.

Botox has found many uses in the field of medicine but is most commonly used for its cosmetic effects and less often, the treatment of migraines. Botox is a wonder drug in the treatment of wrinkles when used for the face because it provides paralysis of the muscles near the injection site. The muscles of the face that we use to make facial expressions help with communication but also have the effect of causing wrinkles to occur over time. In youth, our skin is thick and rich with elastic fibers and so when we use thee facial muscles, they have little effect on the overlying skin. Over time and with the aging process, our skin becomes thinner and we lose elasticity. Also, our skin becomes sensitive to the effects of the folding effects of the underlying muscles and the skin can become injured and develop wrinkles. Botox minimizes facial muscle movement and therefore minimizes the effect of the muscles on skin injury.

Once the facial muscles are treated with Botox, it takes approximately 2-5 days for the full effect. Most patients experience the full effect of Botox for three and a half months although, for some, it is shorter. Some patients report that their Botox treatments have lasted six months but it is very rare for the effect to noted more than six months.

Patients who have cosmetic eyelid surgery or other facial plastic surgery, like a face lift can also have Botox injected at the same time.

The cost of Botox treatment varies depending on who is treating the patient and how many areas and units are used. Some patients also may require less Botox to achieve the same effect as others. Also, some patients might want less effect than other patients and so may require less Botox. These patients want to have some muscle activity as opposed to complete immobility because they want to retain some facial expression. This is especially true when Botox is placed over the forehead muscles to soften the wrinkles that go across the forehead from side to side. Completely paralyzing these muscles can also cause the brows to fall and when this happens patients can notice that the skin of the upper lids is drooping over their eyes. Placing the Botox higher on the forehead can help to avoid this problem.

Once the effect of the last treatment of Botox has diminished, patients have a return of full muscle function. There is no withdrawal effect related to Botox.

When Botox is injected near the muscles of facial expression, it causes a paralysis of those muscles and there is no motion for approximately three and a half months on average. If more Botox is injected than the amount that requires the full effect, there is no additional effect. The excess Botox is simply broken down by the body.

Botox is purified from the Botulinum toxin purified from a bacterium but it is diluted millions of times to achieve the concentration necessary for medical use. Botox is not only FDA approved but there has never been a case of Botulism from Botox injection.

Dysport is another FDA approved substance used to treat facial wrinkles but chemically, is nearly identical to Botox. The real alternative to Botox is surgery. For example, the most common site treated with Botox is the area between the brows where skin wrinkling and folding can occur. It is also possible to remove these muscles for a permanent effect. There are other surgical procedures that overlap with the effects of Botox and they can be discussed with your Plastic Surgeon.