BOTOX® & Fillers
BOTOX®
With time-proven results, it is no wonder that Botox® has been administered millions of times to patients worldwide. This prescription medication can help you reduce or eliminate the wrinkles on your forehead, especially between the brows. It helps to reduce or eliminate those scowl lines and chances are, you know someone who has had it. Botox® is injected directly into the muscles that cause wrinkles to form on your forehead. There, it interferes with the signal that causes the muscles to contract, thereby preventing you from making those wrinkles. After years of concentrating, frowning, and squinting, those lines can be permanent, so don’t wait.
At Eye Associates of New Mexico, you will visit with a specially trained oculoplastic surgeon who has specific training in administering Botox® and advanced techniques in Botox injection. In fact, he has treated hundreds of patients thousands of times for both medical and cosmetic reasons. Come in for a free consultation and talk with someone you can trust for great results.
What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
It is a purified protein administered in a simple, nonsurgical procedure that temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people aged 18 to 65.
How can I be sure I’m getting real BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Only licensed and trained healthcare professionals have the experience necessary to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic. Allergan, Inc., the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic, is the only source for healthcare professionals to purchase the product, and each label has the “Allergan” hologram.
How long has BOTOX® been used?
BOTOX® has been used therapeutically for over 15 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. It is approved in more than 75 countries. BOTOX® for therapeutic use remains one of the most widely researched medicines in the world. The same product with dosing specific to glabellar lines was approved in 2002 as BOTOX® Cosmetic.
What is the difference between BOTOX® Cosmetic and fillers?
Frown lines are caused by overactive facial muscles. Fillers correct the wrinkle by adding volume around the muscle with intradermal injections. BOTOX® Cosmetic is intramuscula~ blocking the chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them. While there are many options available for fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the only product of its type that affects the muscles that cause wrinkles between the brows.
Have patients been happy with their results?
According to a recent survey of 204 dermatologists and plastic surgeons, BOTOX® Cosmetic has the highest satisfaction rating of all physician-administered treatments in 2003 and 2004.*
And for the past 3 years, BOTOX® Cosmetic was the most popular physician-administered cosmetic procedure in the United States (surgical and nonsurgical combined), The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery also estimates that almost 3 million people were treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic in 2004 alone.
What is the BOTOX® Cosmetic procedure like?
It’s a simple, 10-minute treatment consisting of a few tiny injections. You may resume normal activity immediately. The doctor decides exactly where to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic for best results.
Is the procedure painful?
It causes little discomfort; most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. Overall, the discomfort is minimal and temporary.
When will I start to see results?
You should start to see a visible improvement in the area between your brows within a few days. The area may continue to improve for up to a week.
How long will the results last?
When administered properly, the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment can last up to 4 months.
How will BOTOX® Cosmetic affect my facial expressions?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected in small doses directly into the muscles that cause those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows to form, allowing that area to smooth out. It won’t affect your ability to laugh, smile, or otherwise express yourself.
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic expensive?
It is the least costly facial aesthetic procedure performed in the United States.
Important Safety Information: Patients with certain neurological disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects. Serious allergic reactions have been rarely reported. If you think you’re having an allergic reaction such as difficulty swallowing, speaking, or breathing, or other unusual symptoms, call your doctor immediately. The most common side effects following injection include a headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea.
Juvederm™
How are wrinkles corrected?
The appearance of wrinkles and facial folds can be smoothed by adding volume underneath and bringing the skin back up to the surface. Generally, this is done by injecting materials called “dermal fillers” into the skin, to achieve a temporary effect.
What is a dermal filler?
Dermal fillers are compounds that can be safely injected below the surface to raise the level of the skin. Examples of dermal fillers are collagen and hyaluronic acid.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural complex sugar found in all mammals. It’s a major component of the dermis connective tissue matrix. HA retains water like a sponge, absorbing more than 1000 times its weight. This helps to attract and maintain water, hydrating your skin and increasing its volume and density. HA is also involved with the transport of essential nutrients to the skin’s viable cells.
JUVEDERM™ Injectable Gel
What is JUVEDERM™ injectable gel?
How is JUVEDERM™ injectable gel different?
JUVEDERM™ injectable gel is produced through HYLACROSS™ technology, cross-linking high concentrations of HA and still maintaining a smooth product. During the cross-linking phase of manufacturing, hyaluronic acid chains are “tied” to each other by chemical bonding; in effect, interconnecting many strands of HA. Unless hyaluronic acid is cross-linked, it will be absorbed by the body and persist for only about a week. HYLACROSS™ technology results in a smooth-consistency gel, which is a primary factor in the smooth, natural look and feel that is a hallmark of JUVEDERM™ injectable gel wrinkle correction.
Treatment
What happens before treatment with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel?
Your healthcare professional will assess your facial wrinkles and folds and determine if treatment with JUVEDERM’” injectable gel is appropriate for you.
Can this be done in the office?
Yes, wrinkle correction with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel is an in-office procedure.
What happens during treatment with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel?
You sit in a chair while your physician injects JUVEDERM™ injectable gel. There can be a bit of discomfort during any wrinkle correction, and you can discuss with your healthcare professional whether you would like pain management during treatment.
How long does treatment with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel take?
It generally takes about 30 to 45 minutes for a consultation and treatment.
What happens after treatment with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel?
Your physician will review with you what to expect following treatment with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel. And we will send you home with details for aftercare treatment.
Generally, you should avoid the following for at least 24 hours:
Exposure to any of the above may cause temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the injection sites. If you have swelling at the injection site, you can apply an ice pack for a brief period. Your healthcare professional will inform you when you can apply makeup after your treatment.
Remember that correction is temporary and touch-up injections, as well as repeat injections, are usually needed to maintain optimal correction with any dermal filler, including JUVEDERM” injectable gel. If you have any questions or concerns about your JUVEDERM™ treatment, contact us.
How long does JUVEDERM™ injectable gel last?
Treatment with JUVEDERM™ injectable gel lasts up to 6 months or longer.