What Are Botox Anti-Aging Treatments?
Many people begin thinking about anti-aging treatments and wrinkle fillers as skin changes during their mid-30s and beyond. Under eye wrinkles and face wrinkles occur sooner and deeper for sun worshipers and smokers, but Mother Nature has a way of reminding us all of the passage of time and the need for wrinkle reducers. Fortunately, you can fight back with face wrinkle and eye wrinkle treatments from the Botox specialists at Valley View Laser M.D. Wrinkle reducer and anti-aging treatments are the answer to how to get rid of wrinkles through a process that selectively relaxes the muscles, leading to the disappearance of face wrinkles and under eye wrinkles.
Botox is short for Botulinum toxin, which is produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. This anti-aging treatment has been used since 1920, but was marketed commercially as a wrinkle reducer and eye wrinkle treatment beginning in 1997. Botox gets rid of wrinkles by interfering with the transmission of the nerve impulse to muscles. This stops the muscle from working for a period of time, which is important because under-eye wrinkles and face wrinkles occur when the facial muscles contract. To be used effectively, the wrinkle reducer injections must be placed at a correct dosage into the correct muscle. Eye wrinkle treatments, face wrinkles, forehead wrinkles and other areas needing wrinkle fillers are prime spots to receive Botox anti-aging treatments.
Botox injections were initially used by ophthalmologists to treat a condition called “blepharospasm,” an involuntary squeezing of the lids, as well as for eye muscle disorders. From these medical treatments, wrinkle reducing powers were shown for eye wrinkle treatment and face wrinkles, which spurred further investigation into the cosmetic benefits of Botox as an anti-aging treatment and wrinkle reducer.
While many different medical providers can administer Botox injections, ophthalmologists like Dr. Mark Maria of Fava Maria Eye Associates are particularly well-qualified to perform these anti-aging treatments due to an ophthalmologist’s longstanding familiarity with Botox and its use in close proximity to the eyes for under-eye wrinkles, face wrinkles and other areas needing wrinkle fillers.
How Botox Wrinkle Reducer Treatments Work
A very thin needle is used to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin into specific muscles for under-eye wrinkles and face wrinkles during these anti-aging treatments. Since there are at least 43 named muscles in the face, it is vital that whoever performs your Botox wrinkle filler injections understands and pinpoints the correct spots to optimize your treatment, whether you’re undergoing eye wrinkle treatment or other wrinkle-reducer treatments. By carefully choosing specific muscles for the anti-aging treatment, Dr. Maria uses targeted wrinkle fillers to weaken only the wrinkle-producing muscles, preserving your natural facial expressions.
Dr. Maria has been using Botox anti-aging treatments medically since the 1990s, and he has used it for cosmetic wrinkle-reducer and wrinkle filler work since its FDA approval in 2002. Botox was approved initially for face wrinkles, specifically “glabellar” frown lines that appear between the brows. The treatment works quite effectively in this area, but it also works exceedingly well for under-eye wrinkles and eye wrinkle treatments like crow’s feet, as well as on forehead wrinkles and as a wrinkle reducer of those “bunny lines” on the sides of the nose.
What To Expect From Wrinkle Reducer Treatments
Botox injections are safe procedures in the right hands, but there are a number of reported side effects and rare complications to these anti-aging treatments. The good news is that since the wrinkle filler and wrinkle-reducer effects of Botox wear off over time, these problems reverse themselves. The most common side effect is bruising at the injection site for eye wrinkle treatment, face wrinkles or forehead wrinkles. This is related to the actual physical injection rather than the anti-aging Botox injection. Lid droop has been reported as well, but is very rare in cosmetic use. However, Botox wrinkle reducer treatments should not be used in patients with a history of autoimmune muscle problems such as Myasthenia Gravis and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
Are Botox Anti-Aging Treatments Painful?
Most people tolerate the wrinkle reducer injections well because they are delivered through very fine gauge needles. However, for patients who are more sensitive, local anesthetic cream may be applied to the forehead wrinkles, under eye wrinkles and face wrinkles 30 to 40 minutes prior to the anti-aging treatment. You may resume normal activities immediately. One note of caution: Do not rub or massage the treated areas for 24 hours after the wrinkle reducer 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 rather than wrinkle filler results.
When Will I See Wrinkle-Reducing Results?
With Botox anti-aging treatments, results begin to appear in three to five days, but may take up to a week. Finer under-eye wrinkles or face wrinkles will disappear right away while more established forehead wrinkles take more time. Overall, you will see wrinkle fillers with regular usage of Botox, as well as overall reduction of face wrinkles. If the wrinkles are very deep, ancillary treatment with wrinkle filler materials, about two weeks post-injection, may be necessary to achieve the best result.
How Long Do the Anti-Aging Treatment Effects Last?
The effects of wrinkle-reducer treatments last about six months, but they may vary by a month or so in either direction. Generally effects seem to last longer in patients who have had a series of injections administered just when the effects of the prior Botox anti-aging treatments begin to wear off.
How Much Do Botox Anti-Aging Treatments Cost?
The cost for Botox injections vary with how much of the drug is used, how many anti-aging treatments occur, whether the injections are for under-eye wrinkles, forehead wrinkles or face wrinkles, as well as the underlying cost of the Botox and supplies and who is giving the injection. The fixed cost of Botox to most providers is the same, although high-volume injectors can get slightly better drug pricing. We charge by the area – under-eye wrinkles, face wrinkles or forehead wrinkles – since we have found that the volume of drug given and the time required is fairly consistent in a given area.
Who Performs the Wrinkle-Reducer Botox Treatments?
All our anti-aging treatment injections are given by Dr. Maria, a board certified surgeon. Injections of Botox to face wrinkles, under-eye wrinkles and other eye wrinkle treatments or forehead wrinkles may sound like a simple procedure, but it’s an art and science that only an experienced health care professional should perform. Although nurses, PA’s, dentists and non-surgical doctors can do Botox anti-aging treatments, you should choose a provider with expertise in this area to get the best results. Botox injections can be combined with other cosmetic skin procedures, such as laser resurfacing, dermal fillers, wrinkle fillers or microdermabrasion, to further enhance your appearance. This combination of therapies can lead to overall wrinkle reduction and youthful skin.
Visit the Gallery to view results of Botox wrinkle reducer and anti-aging treatments.
Reclaim the skin of your youth with Botox at your nearby Valley View Laser M.D.
