Each time you see your face in the mirror, are you concerned about creases and wrinkles on your brow area and surrounding your eyes? Known as dynamic lines and wrinkles, these skin changes occur due to repetitive facial expressions, including frowning, smiling, and squinting. As people mature, these lines and wrinkles eventually stay put and can make them seem less youthful.

Thanks to BOTOX®, it is now possible to temporarily reduce the development of moderate to severe Crow’s feet, frown lines, and horizontal forehead creases. BOTOX® uses a clean strain of botulinum toxin type A that temporarily disengages the facial muscles that cause those contractions, letting the skin recover on its own. At Ageless Aesthetics, board-certified aesthetic physician Dr. Anayo Umerah is thrilled to provide BOTOX treatments as a nonsurgical aesthetic option to help individuals attain smoother, renewed skin. We invite you to contact one of our facilities in Warner Robins or Macon, GA to find out more about the advantages of BOTOX®.

BOTOX® injections administered by a well-qualified aesthetician at Ageless Aesthetics are an ideal choice for individuals who want to reduce the appearance of existing or burgeoning dynamic wrinkles and fine lines. BOTOX® treatments performed at our Warner Robins, GA facility include the following benefits:

BOTOX® is a subdermal injection that causes temporary muscle paralysis in the face, erasing wrinkles, lines, and crow’s feet.

It works by blocking the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is an organic chemical that acts as the messenger between the brain and the muscles of the body. BOTOX® works by getting in between the signals sent by the brain and the muscles in the face, effectively blocking or greatly reducing the brain’s signals to that particular group of muscles. This means the lines normally created in the face by regular expressions, like smiling, frowning, squinting, or raising the eyebrows do not get made, since the expression is halted or diminished. 

BOTOX® also relaxes the muscles into which it is injected, causing them to release all their held tension and erase the wrinkles those muscles were creating.

BOTOX® and other drugs that rely on the Botulinum toxin have been used in cosmetic and traditional medical applications to treat wrinkles and lines, as well as to treat headaches, spasms, excessive sweating, and more.

Cosmetic BOTOX® Treatment

BOTOX® is most commonly injected into the upper face, to target muscle groups that cause “11” lines, forehead creases, smile lines, and crow’s feet. It can also relax the muscles in the jaw, acting as a facial slimmer.

BOTOX® is different than facial fillers like Juvéderm® (also made by Allergan, the company that brought BOTOX® to the market) in that it does not fill areas that are wrinkled or drooping: rather it affects the muscles causing the wrinkles.

Medical BOTOX® Treatment

Beyond removing wrinkles, BOTOX® has been effectively used to treat some chronic headaches and migraines, adult bladder dysfunction, hyperhidrosis (which is when the armpits sweat excessively), drifting or lazy eyes, painful vaginismus, and other conditions where unwanted muscle contraction is occurring.

In some senses, it is correct to think of BOTOX® as an injectable, specifically targeted muscle relaxant. While the effective action of the drug is to paralyze muscles by preventing neurotransmitters from the brain to send their message to the muscles, the effect is very much the same as an over-the-counter or prescription muscle relaxant.

What is Baby BOTOX®?

Baby BOTOX® is not a BOTOX® injection for children or infants; rather it is a micro dose of BOTOX® designed for small wrinkles and a more subtle relaxation of facial muscles. Because the dose is smaller it does not always last as long as a full “adult” dose might, but the effects are subtler and sometimes more desirable.

Baby BOTOX® is often chosen by people in their early 20s and 30s who do not yet have severe wrinkles. Getting a Baby BOTOX® injection is a common tactic to combat pre-wrinkles.

BOTOX® treatments can last 4 to 6 months, but most people’s injections will last 3 to 4 months. In very rare cases, the injection lasts only two months. First-time treatments tend to last the longest.

BOTOX® will begin working, for some people, as early as 3 to 4 days after the injection. However, most people can expect to see the full impact of the treatment in 14 days. If you’ve just had your injections, it’s best to wait the full 14 days before judging the results.

BOTOX® lasts between sixty days and six months, depending on the strength and size of the dose and the metabolism of the patient. Since it is temporary, getting multiple injections throughout the year is recommended.

Since BOTOX® blocks neurotransmitters from the brain, it takes some time for the full effects of the first injections to take place: sometimes up to two weeks. Early results tend to be seen in the first two or three days, however. It is typical to schedule a follow-up appointment two weeks after the first so your medical provider can check the progress and touch-up any areas that may have resisted the effects of the BOTOX®.

BOTOX® is a fast, easy procedure that only takes a few minutes in the doctor’s chair. In fact, the treatment is so efficient that you won’t even need to have any anesthesia. Instead, you simply sit in the doctor’s chair, they’ll inject the Botox, and you’ll be on your way shortly after. For most people, the entire process will take 20 minutes or less.

BOTOX® will begin working, for some people, as early as 3 to 4 days after the injection. However, most people can expect to see the full impact of the treatment in 14 days. If you’ve just had your injections, it’s best to wait the full 14 days before judging the results.

BOTOX® is most often used on the face to help treat:

• Wrinkles
• Crow’s feet
• Neck bands
• Sagging eyebrows
• Smoker’s lines
• Bunny lines
• Frown lines

However, BOTOX® can be injected into other areas of the body, too. For example, some people have injections in their back or armpits. Armpit injections are primarily to reduce sweating.

The manufacturer recommends a benchmark of 4 units of BOTOX® for each injection. However, depending on the individual, their desired results and the treatment area, up to 100 total units can be used safely. 

BOTOX® is a fast, easy procedure that only takes a few minutes in the doctor’s chair. In fact, the treatment is so efficient that you won’t even need to have any anesthesia. Instead, you simply sit in the doctor’s chair, they’ll inject the BOTOX®, and you’ll be on your way shortly after. For most people, the entire process will take 20 minutes or less.

Like any medical procedure, getting a BOTOX® injection starts with a conversation between doctor and patient. The medical professional in charge of the injections will discuss the desired objectives from the treatment, potential risks and side effects, and medical history and potential allergies. Before-and-after photos may be taken as well; and if your medical provider does not take them, it may be wise for you to do so yourself so you can compare the results of the treatment to make sure it is worth it for you to continue receiving it. After that, the process is simplicity itself.

The face is cleaned and made sterile, and then an approved medical provider injects the BOTOX® into the muscle groups that are causing wrinkles in the face. 

The types of needles used by doctors and nurses during BOTOX® injections are extraordinarily thin, and cause as little discomfort as possible. If pain is a concern, numbing agents can be applied to the surface of the skin. The low level of pain, coupled with the fact that the procedure itself can take less than ten minutes in the hands of an experienced professional, makes this a very common outpatient procedure. Indeed, nearly all patients are able to drive themselves home after receiving their injections.

Wrinkles are often the result of your muscles contracting. BOTOX® injections will help block the nerve signals going to the muscle that tenses up when you smile, laugh or make other facial expressions. The blocking of the nerve’s signal will allow the muscle to relax and wrinkles to soften. This can be done as a preventative measure or to improve the appearance of existing wrinkles. 

Migraines can be debilitating, and BOTOX® can help by blocking the neurotransmitters from the brain that are responsible for sending pain signals. Since the nerve signals are blocked, the chemicals never reach your nerve endings that are responsible for neck and head pain.

In just two rounds of treatment, over 50% of people that suffer from chronic migraines state that they experienced a significant reduction in migraine frequency and pain after BOTOX® treatment.

BOTOX® blocks the body’s nerve signals that cause sweating. As a result, your sweat glands will not produce excess sweat. BOTOX® for sweating treatment is often performed under the arms. 

BOTOX® works to limit the movement of your masseter muscle, allowing for significant pressure relief. Often, the maximum results of injections into the masseter muscle aren’t fully realized for up to three months.

Treatments should be as often as your doctor recommends. However, most people will need to get injections every three to four months to maintain their results. Over time, fewer treatments may be necessary.

For most patients, the pain is very minimal with hardly any discomfort. You may feel a very minor sting at the injection site. But this sting is minimized with the use of topical creams and numbing agents. 

Depending on the reason for your treatment, you may need more or fewer treatments. For wrinkles and fine lines, you can expect to have three to four treatments per year to maintain your appearance.

Fewer treatments are needed for non-cosmetic needs such as masseter and hyperhydrosis.

BOTOX® has been on the market since the 1990s and has been studied strenuously, because it does involve the botulinum toxin. However, study after study has shown that BOTOX® is a safe and effective drug when administered by a properly trained medical professional. Side effects commonly experienced are bruising around the injection site, which can last for up to a week: uneven effectiveness across the face, which is treated with an additional microinjection, and swelling. 

Pregnant women, those who are breastfeeding, and those who may become pregnant should not receive a BOTOX® injection, because the drug has not been adequately studied in those populations.

BOTOX® has very minimal side effects, but some people will experience some or a combination of the following:

• Headaches
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Pain
• Dry eyes

Adverse effects are very minimal and temporary, often only seen near the injection site shortly after treatment.

BOTOX® works great for treating frown and forehead lines. The procedure is similar to other injectables. Small amounts of the filler will be injected into strategic places to smooth and fill out the area. This will reduce the appearance of present wrinkles and inhibit new formation in the future.