While wrinkles can’t be defeated by at-home treatments, there is a surprisingly simple solution to them. Botox is a popular, noninvasive treatment that works specifically to reduce or even eliminate these dynamic wrinkles that come from repetitive movements. By relaxing the muscles that make these creases appear, Botox can smooth out your frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines, leaving you with skin that looks smooth, even, and years younger.
The natural aging process brings with it a lot of hazards, but one of the most distressing for many people is the havoc it wreaks on the appearance of their face. As we age, the skin of our face naturally lose their volume and elasticity, causing sagging, fine lines, and deep creases. Areas that see a lot of motion such as the mouth and corners of the eyes are especially likely to develop wrinkles. Among the most common are crow’s feet, frown lines, and creases between the eyebrows. Whether alone or together, these signs of aging can make you look worried, sad, or just plain old.
Ideal Botox Candidate
Botox is a suitable treatment for any patient who wants to reduce or eliminate their dynamic facial lines, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. It’s an especially good option for people with creasing on the forehead, wrinkles between the eyes or at the top of the nose, crow’s feet, or frown lines. It can benefit any patient who suffers from early aging and is quite safe. Ideally, patients will be in good health and will understand how the treatment process works and what they can realistically expect from their results.
Botox Consultation
Before receiving Botox injections, it’s important to go through a consultation to be sure that we understand your specific concerns and that Botox is an appropriate treatment for your situation. During your consultation, we’ll conduct a brief examination to determine the cause of your problem, and we’ll listen to your medical history and your concerns about your face. After the examination, we’ll be able to recommend a specific treatment plan for you. Depending on your needs, you may wish to use Botox alone or pair it with dermal fillers to reduce static wrinkles or facial treatments to improve skin texture as well.
Real Patient Testimonial
Dear Dr. Kabkaer and Dr. Sheu, I wanted to e-mail you to tell you how thankful I am for all your time and work and for being so helpful in answering my questions and helping me with everything. I am extremely happy with the results and I owe it all to you. Many thanks.
Botox Procedure
Once you’re sure that Botox is the right choice for you, you’ll be able to go through with the procedure. Once you arrive at the Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic, you’ll be made comfortable in the office. Our aesthetic nurse Roseanne Gallagher, RN will give you ice packs to rub against the treatment area to numb the skin, and the areas will be thoroughly cleaned with rubbing alcohol to prevent infection. The correct amount of Botox will then be injected into the necessary areas with an extremely thin needle to reduce potential bruising. The whole procedure will be over in just a few minutes. There may be minor redness immediately after the procedure, but this ordinarily resolves itself within a few hours, and you’ll be able to return to normal activities immediately.
Results from Botox
You’ll notice the first results from your Botox treatment several days after the procedure, but the full results will take 2-3 weeks to show up due to the time it takes for your muscles to fully relax. Once the results are apparent, you’ll notice instantly smoother skin with fewer wrinkles and a noticeably younger appearance. Your results will last for up to 4 months, at which point you’ll need to repeat the treatment to maintain your wrinkle-free look.
Best Botox Injector in San Francisco, California
Dr. Sheldon Kabaker and his staff have decades of experience in facial rejuvenation. With their extensive training in specialized skin care and high level of experience in delivering Botox and other wrinkle treatments, there is no better place in Oakland California to get your own Botox treatment.
Related procedures: Lip Augmentation, Filler Injections.
FAQs about Botox
What is botox?
Is a popular noninvasive treatment that smooths dynamic wrinkles by relaxing the muscles that cause them.
How does it work?
Is made up of Botulinum toxin, a muscle-paralyzing agent that is quite dangerous when found in food but completely safe when used cosmetically. It works by blocking the nerve signals that tell your muscles to contract, which leads to a relaxed, smooth look throughout the face.
A motor nerve tells a muscle to move by releasing a “neurotransmitter”, or chemical that touches the muscle and causes contraction. Botox Cosmetic prevents the release of neurotransmitters, leading to paralysis of effected muscles.
What areas can be treated by Botox?
Is useful for any area with dynamic wrinkles, which means the wrinkles that are caused by movement. For most people, this means forehead wrinkles from scrunching up your forehead, wrinkles between the eyes from furrowing your browns, crow’s feet from squinting, and lines around the mouth from frowning and smiling.
Where will I receive my Botox treatment?
We perform all of our Botox treatments right here in our comfortable office in Oakland, California.
Is it going to hurt?
No. In fact, Botox is so pain-free that most patients do not even request a numbing cream. The needles are very small, so most people report that it feels like nothing more than a pin prick.
How long will it take?
The injections themselves take only a minute. The entire procedure, including icing and cleaning the treatment area, takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
Is there a recovery period?
Not really. Normal activity can be resumed immediately after receiving the injections. Some patients experience a small amount of redness, bruising, or swelling, but this is normally gone the same evening.
Will I be able to return to work right away?
Certainly. Since the treatment itself is so brief, patients can often go back to work the very same day.
How long will I have to wait to see the results?
The results will take 2-3 weeks to fully appear since it takes some time for the toxin to completely relax the muscles that are causing your wrinkles, but most patients do see some initial improvement after just a few days.
Are the results permanent?
Unfortunately, no. It will take 3-4 months for the benefits to wear off. Most patients schedule regular treatments so that they can maintain their results seamlessly.
Are there any uses for Botox besides wrinkles?
Is also used to clear up hyperhidrosis, or excess sweating, by paralyzing the sweat glands. The results from this are more durable and sometimes last up to 9 months. It can also be used to adjust the positioning of the eyebrows and to ease migraines.
If I get Botox in one area to correct hyperhidrosis, will it make me sweat more in other areas?
Surgical correction of hyperhidrosis has historically had a problem with compensatory hyperhidrosis, in which patient sweats more in one area to make up for not sweating in another area. Fortunately, this problem has not been seen when using Botox to correct excessive sweating.
Are there any risks to Botox?
While is extremely safe, a few patients do experience temporary headaches or numbness shortly after receiving the injections. One risk of the injection process is bruising, which is rare and resolves quickly. Another potential risk is weakness in surrounding muscles, created by unwanted spread of the Botox Cosmetic. For example, the upper eyelid may not open completely after injecting into the brow region. This effect resolves quickly, and with proper injection technique the risk is eliminated.
Is there anyone who cannot safely have Botox?
There are certain neurologic conditions that may have additional Botox risks, and it should not be used on patients who are breastfeeding.
How do you calculate the Botox cost?
The botox cost is determined by how much of it you need, measured in mL or cc.
Can I wash my face normally after receiving Botox?
Yes. Since doesn’t migrate throughout the face, no special treatment is necessary. Normal skincare can be resumed the same evening.
Am I a good candidate for Botox Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic is best suited for patients who do not want surgery, but desire reduction or elimination of wrinkles in certain areas. These include the forehead, the area between the eyebrows, the lateral eyes (“crow’s feet”), the upper lip, and the top of the nose (“bunny lines”). Botox Cosmetic can also be used to slightly raise the eyebrows and the corners of the mouth. There are no medical contraindications to Botox injections, but patients should not use blood thinning medications around the time of the injection to reduce potential bruising.
When are the effects of Botox Cosmetic seen?
Muscle paralysis develops over the week following injection, and maximal wrinkle reduction is seen up to one month after injection.
What kinds of wrinkles are treated with Botox Cosmetic?
Wrinkles that are created by muscle movement are improved with Botox Cosmetic. These wrinkles are referred to as “dynamic”, and are usually not prominent when the muscles are relaxed. In contrast, a “static” wrinkle is present even when the face is completely relaxed. This type of wrinkle is usually not improved with Botox Cosmetic.
How long does Botox Cosmetic last?
Botox Cosmetic effects last up to five months, at which point muscle movement returns to normal.
How many times can I have Botox Cosmetic injected?
There is no limit to the number of injections a patient can have over time.
Do Botox Cosmetic injections ever become ineffective?
Some patients develop resistance to Botox Cosmetic over time, but this is very uncommon.
When should I consider surgery instead of Botox Cosmetic?
Since the effects of Botox Cosmetic are temporary, patients may eventually want to consider surgical procedures that can have a longer effect on wrinkle reduction. Also, surgical lifting of soft tissue (through facelift, neck lift, midface lift, and brow lift) is the often the best way to restore volume and a more youthful position of the face.