By Carl W. Soderstrom, MD, Soderstrom Skin Institute
Smiling, frowning, squinting, and even chewing — basically any facial movement — can eventually lead to one of the most common signs of aging: wrinkles. They can make you appear tired or even angry when you are not. One of the quickest and safest remedies to remove wrinkles is an injection of botulinum toxin type A, also known as BOTOX®.
History
BOTOX is a purified protein produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Originally approved in the 1980s by the FDA as treatment for a “lazy” eye and uncontrollable eye blinking, it quickly grew to popularity and has been used for cosmetic purposes since 1989.
How It Works
BOTOX works by relaxing the muscles of facial expression, which are located beneath the immediate surface of the facial skin. Once the resting tone of these muscles is weakened, the muscles relax and the skin flattens out. This treatment option is an entirely different approach to treating the aging face. While filler injections work by filling in a wrinkle, BOTOX injections will physiologically weaken the muscles, reducing the wrinkles naturally.
Most common areas of concern include:
• Crow’s feet
• Forehead furrows
• Frown lines
Treatment
There are 43 muscles in your face and it’s vital that the person who performs BOTOX injections understands and pinpoints the correct spots to optimize your treatment.
A very thin needle is used to inject small amounts of BOTOX into specific muscles. By carefully choosing specific muscles, your health care provider weakens only the wrinkle-producing muscles, preserving your natural facial expressions.
The entire treatment usually takes less than 15 minutes. Results last 4-6 months and can be repeated as needed.
Important To Remember
Don’t rub or massage the treated areas after the wrinkle treatment because it can cause the BOTOX to migrate to another area of your face. If this happens, you could have temporary facial weakness or drooping.
Combination Therapy
BOTOX can be combined with other cosmetic skin procedures — such as retinol and glycolic products, chemical peels, dermal fillers, or microdermabrasion — to further improve your results. This combination of therapies can even help to prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles.
Consultation
As with any cosmetic procedures, be sure to talk with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to find out which treatment is best to meet your skin rejuvenation goals.
Soderstrom Skin Institute is proud to be celebrating 40 years in Central Illinois. For additional information on our BOTOX® Cosmetic and Skin Rejuvenation program, contact us toll free at 888.970.7546. To schedule a consultation with Board Certified Dermatologist Carl W. Soderstrom, MD at our Peoria office, please call 309-674-7546. Before and after photos are available at SoderstromSkinInstitute.com.
Photo credit: Soderstrom Skin Institute