By now, everyone who reads a magazine knows something about Botox Cosmetic. This injectable treatment is approved by the FDA to temporarily paralyze muscles in the face to suspend the formation of new wrinkles and the deepening of existing wrinkles. Botox treatments have been proven to reverse some of the signs of aging and can be repeated to maintain these results. This treatment works best in small doses on the delicate facial muscles, often lasting several months up to a year. Now, more than a decade since it was introduced, surgeons and patients are discovering the many uses for Botox Cosmetic.
A Crow’s Feet Killer
That delicate area at the corner of your eyes is probably creasing with every smile and laugh. Often cropping up around the mid-30s to early 40s, crow’s feet are a well-known sign of aging that plague the corners of the eyes. For many, they seem to appear suddenly overnight and only increase every time those muscles contract to form a smile. Botox Cosmetic works to halt this creasing and minimize the appearance of the wrinkles that are already here. It is gentle enough to get the job done without harmful side effects or damage to the eye area.
A Quick Lift of the Eyebrows
While there is a surgical procedure, called a brow lift or forehead lift, that can permanently reset your sagging eyebrows to a more natural position, Botox offers a quick shortcut for the right patients. When the eyes begin to look hooded thanks to that drooping brow, Botox will freeze the muscles just enough to lift the brow up, away from the eyes and give you a more youthful appearance. Your plastic surgeon will aim to lift the brows evenly, but your injections may shift in the days that follow, leaving one higher than the other. Plan ahead for this scenario with your surgeon so there are no surprises.
The Perfect Send-off for Frown Lines
While we’re talking about the forehead, Botox Cosmetic can also affect another common sign of aging making its mark on the upper portion of the face: frown lines. These deep, vertical creases form between the eyebrows after lots of squinting, pouting, and you guessed it, frowning. Once Botox is injected into these muscles, the frown lines are smoothed away and nearly invisible, depending on how deeply set they were. This same area can be treated for the horizontal lines that form across the forehead when we lift our eyebrows in surprise.
The Nonsurgical Band Banisher
As we age, the muscles in the neck form string-like bands. Many people opt for a neck lift surgery if these are present along with other signs of aging in this area. When banding is your only problem, Botox can be used to soften these muscles and restore a more youthful looking neck. Results of this application of Botox may vary based on the severity of your neck banding. Your plastic surgeon can make the right recommendations for your unique case.
A Lot of Medical Uses, Too!
Although it originated as a cosmetic treatment to fight the signs of aging, Botox Cosmetic has also been the subject of many medical research tests as of late. The results of these studies all seem to be in favor of new medical uses of Botox that could potentially help many people. Some of these uses may include:
- A migraine treatment. The FDA approved the use of Botox to treat chronic migraines in 2010, after injections made at the site of tension were shown to soothe the nervous system and block the pain receptors causing the headaches.
- The end of excessive sweating. When injected underneath the arms, Botox blocks the release of sweat gland-stimulating chemicals.
- Muscle stiffness. Those with chronic pain, cramping, and stiffness in key muscles around the elbow, wrist, and fingers (upper limb spasticity) may benefit from a Botox treatment.
- Lots more, too! Botox, the medical form of Botox Cosmetic, has been used in recent years to treat crossed eyes (strabismus), uncontrollable blinking or eyelid spasms (eye twitching), and cervical dystonia, a neurological condition which causes neck and shoulder contractions that are painful and impossible to control.
Find Out More About Botox Cosmetic Today
Discover the many ways you could benefit medically and cosmetically from Botox injections. Let Dr. Sheldon S. Kabaker guide you through the transplant process. As an Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgeon and Hair Transplant Specialist, he also offers nonsurgical skincare treatments at his practice. He received his medical degree from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine in 1964, before serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and seeing active duty in Vietnam. Dr. Kabaker has studied and taught facial plastic surgery internationally, including in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Today, he continues to educate himself while delivering superior results to his patients. To book a consultation with Dr. Kabaker, contact his office located at 3324 Webster Street in Oakland, California by calling (415) 379-9015.