Botox

What is Botox?

Botox is an injectable wrinkle muscle relaxer. It uses botulinum toxin type A to temporarily paralyze muscle. This reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles. A Botox treatment is minimally invasive. It’s considered a safe, effective treatment for fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. It can also be used on the forehead between the eyes. Botox was originally FDA approved in 1989 for the treatment of blepharospasm and other eye muscle problems. In 2002, the FDA approved the use of Botox for a cosmetic treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. It was approved by the FDA for treatment of wrinkles around the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet) in 2013.

According to a 2016 clinical study, Botox is a simple, safe, and effective treatment for reduction of forehead wrinkles.

How do you prepare for your Botox injection treatment?

Botox Cosmetic involves a nonsurgical, in-office treatment. It requires minimal preparation. You should let your treatment provider know about your medical history, allergies, or medical conditions before your procedure. Your treatment provider should be a licensed physician, a physician assistant, or a nurse.

You might need to remove all your makeup and cleanse the treatment area before the procedure. You may also need to avoid blood-thinning medicine like aspirin to reduce the risk of bruising.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can't contract. That makes wrinkles relax and soften.

How often will you need Botox injections?

Dr. De La Torre will design a timeline based on your needs. The effects from Botox will last 3 to 6 months. As muscle action slowly returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and need to be treated again. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are shrinking.

How do you prepare for Botox treatment?

It generally takes 7 to 14 days to take full effect. It’s best to avoid alcohol starting at least 1 week before the procedure. You should also stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications 2 weeks before treatment to help prevent bruising.

Avoid rubbing the injection site for 24 hours so you don’t spread the Botox to another area. Your doctor may also tell you to stay upright for 4 hours after the shots and to take a day off from exercising.

For more information on Botox injection treatment for facial fine lines and wrinkles, call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine or schedule an appointment online today.