Botox Cosmetic in Virginia Beach
BOTOX® Cosmetic is the nation’s number one cosmetic procedure, surgical or otherwise. Demand for the injectable surged by 2,500 percent in just five years. BOTOX® Cosmetic in Virginia Beach works to eliminate dynamic wrinkles of the face— that is, those wrinkles that are caused by years of facial movements such as laughing, smiling, and squinting.
As the first FDA-approved injectable neuromodulator for reducing the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines, also known as glabellar lines, BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the foundational cosmetic treatments and continues to top the list of aesthetic non-invasive treatments among patients throughout the United States.
In 2013, the FDA again approved BOTOX® Cosmetic to treat moderate to severe crow’s feet, also known as lateral canthal lines. In 2019, the FDA approved the treatment of horizontal forehead lines.
BOTOX® Cosmetics can actually prevent wrinkles from forming if the treatments are started early. Clinical studies suggest the effect on the injected muscle is cumulative; as the muscle atrophies over the years, the look can be maintained with fewer injections.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is best utilized in combination with an appropriate skin care regimen to establish and maintain a youthful, refreshed, vibrant appearance. BOTOX® Cosmetic may be used alone or in combination with other products such as Juvederm, Restylane®, and/or Sculptra®, as a viable alternative to surgery for facial rejuvenation.
How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic helps remove lines and creases in the face by deactivating and relaxing specific muscles so they do not contract and pull on the skin. It’s a simple treatment that consists of a few tiny injections with just minimal discomfort. No recovery time is needed.
In just a few days, patients see the effect of the treatment in the form of a renewed, revitalized, and youthful appearance. Typically, the results last about four months, but some last up to six months. After treatment, the overlying skin takes on a smoother, more refreshed appearance, while the untreated facial muscles contract in a typical fashion, allowing normal facial expressions to be unaffected.
Because BOTOX® injections precisely target specific muscles, it is important for patients to get these treatments from a trained and licensed professional who has plenty of experience with the cosmetic. This will maximize the positive aesthetic impact and help each patient get the full benefit.
A variety of factors can cause wrinkles to appear. One of the more common ways they form— and the reason certain wrinkles are referred to as “frown lines”— occurs as facial muscles contract with every frown. This repeated motion furrows the skin between the eyebrows and elsewhere, leading to wrinkles over time. Similarly, crow’s feet can develop with repeated squinting, which contracts the muscles around your eyes.
Other factors contribute to wrinkles as well, such as collagen loss, sun damage, or cellular aging. Whatever led to or contributed to the appearance of frown lines or crow’s feet, BOTOX® gets beneath the surface and selectively targets the root cause of dynamic wrinkles: muscle activity.
BOTOX® is most effective at reducing the appearance of these types of wrinkles, which become more apparent as muscles contract and release. In addition to the immediate effects of a BOTOX® treatment for dynamic wrinkles, constricting the muscle movement can help prevent the wrinkles from forming initially or becoming more visible over time.
Other wrinkles, known as static wrinkles, are classified as those that are apparent even when the face is at rest. These can form around the lips and nose. BOTOX® is not recommended to remove these wrinkles, as a combination of injectables and fillers can complement one another to help patients achieve the desired outcome. Fillers can also address undereye tear troughs and cheek hollowness.
Static wrinkles are actually the result of chemical breakdowns that reduce hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin in the skin. An injectable filler like Juvéderm® is made from hyaluronic acid gel, which binds to water cells and forms an important structural component of the skin. This filler helps to temporarily restore the hyaluronic acid that naturally declines throughout our bodies as we age. In conjunction with BOTOX®, this filler can help to wipe away wrinkles and restore a full, youthful appearance to your face without surgery.
What areas can BOTOX® Cosmetic treat?
Patients seeking BOTOX® Cosmetic in Virginia Beach to smooth out wrinkles primarily get the treatment in three FDA-approved areas: between the eyebrows, and on either side of the eyes and on the forehead.
The recurring wrinkles that appear between the eyebrows are known technically as glabellar lines, and they show when someone furrows their brow or scowls. The associated expression is often seen as one of anger or anxiety, which is why the wrinkles are informally known as frown lines.
Injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic into key points over each eyebrow and in the center just above the bridge of the nose will relax the underlying muscles there and result in an unlined, calmer appearance. The injection process itself takes about 10 minutes and can reduce moderate to severe lines.
Thin, crinkly lines that appear on either side of the eyes are known as crow’s feet, due to the way they roughly resemble the tracks of a bird. These wrinkles form and are deepened by repeated muscle use there due to squinting, and even smiling and laughing. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected superficially to the side of each eye, for six injections total. Like the glabellar line treatment, this injection process takes about 10 minutes.
BOTOX® is injected into the muscle framing the eye, the orbicularis oculi. This muscle is responsible for closing the eyelids, but by injecting three precisely targeted points, an experienced BOTOX® specialist can temporarily reduce certain muscle activity, thereby decreasing the appearance of the lines that lead to crow’s feet but allowing the eyelids to close and open as they always do.
Other areas prone to dynamic wrinkles require similar treatment to, again, reduce muscle activity and the appearance of lines associated with muscle contractions. Frown lines are connected to the procerus, depressor supercell, and corrugator muscles, which are responsible for depressing and lowering the brow, resulting in wrinkles there. In order to treat these wrinkles, Dr. Hugo will deliver injections into the muscles to reduce the activity that causes the appearance of wrinkles.
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BOTOX® Cosmetic is also frequently used to treat forehead lines, lip lines and other creases and wrinkles in the mouth, chin and neck area. Patients with questions about what BOTOX® Cosmetic can do are encouraged to talk to the Dr. Hugo team about the injectable, as well as the possibilities when it comes to temporarily reduce or eliminating their unwanted wrinkles and lines.
Though BOTOX® and facial filler treatments provide different aesthetic benefits depending on the patient’s needs, the two types of treatments can complement one another to tackle multiple issues at once. For example, patients can use BOTOX® to address the dynamic wrinkles while hyaluronic acid fillers, administer other treatments that reduce the appearance of static wrinkles.
How much does BOTOX® Cosmetic cost?
The details of each case determine the treatment price. The number of units used to achieve the patient’s goals is the primary determinant of BOTOX® Cosmetic cost.
How safe is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is approved by the FDA and has a more than 30-year record of safe and effective use. It has been approved for aesthetic use in 75 countries, and more than 12 million procedures have been performed since 2002.
It is a natural, purified protein that is administered at very low, controlled doses. The botulinum toxin is taken into the muscle at the place where it is injected, and the effects are usually confined to this region. It does not travel throughout the body.
Even beyond the cosmetic benefits, the FDA has approved BOTOX® for a wide variety of treatments. It has gained federal approval and has been used to treat such conditions as eyelid spasms, migraines, and excessive sweating, in which injections are made to shut down overactive sweat glands in areas such as the underarms. It has also been shown to lower depression and even as a treatment option for muscle stiffness.
BOTOX® was first used in 1989 by ophthalmologists as a means of treating involuntary eyelid spasms, hemifacial spasms, and crossed eyes. And now, BOTOX® is the only botulinum toxin that the FDA has approved to treat lower-limb spasticity, which is a condition in which patients (about 1 million in the United States) have an abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness that can cause discomfort and impede movement.
Of course, as a botulinum toxin, BOTOX® can have toxic effects if handled improperly. Some health risks associated with the toxin include blocked nerve signals that control muscles associated with breathing. However, when used at the recommended doses for medical treatments, there have been no serious reports of the toxin spreading beyond the treatment area.
When injected by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon like Ben Hugo, MD, the effects are localized and do not affect your ability to smile, animate, or otherwise show expression.
It’s unlikely that you’ll develop any significant side effects, but occasionally you may notice a very slight bruising where BOTOX® Cosmetic was injected. This is only temporary and can be covered with make-up. Rare side effects include a mild temporary headache and temporary eyelid droop.
First and foremost, it is important that you inform your specialist about any and all medications you take, be they either prescription or nonprescription products like vitamins and herbal remedies. It is also important to inform the specialist about any pre-existing medical conditions, as failure to do so can result in adverse side effects if the specialist is not fully aware of your patient’s history.
Likewise, inform the specialist if you have undergone a treatment using a botulinum toxin in the past four months, or if you have any allergies. And, as with any medical procedure, be sure to let the doctor know if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you plan to become pregnant or begin nursing.
Visit botoxcosmetic.com for more information on this Allergan product.