Wrinkle Reduction Injections

How does it work?

Botulinum Toxin is a drug doctors have been using for years to treat wrinkles and facial creases. Botox is a brand name of a toxin made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are other brands, such as Dysport and Xeomin. Our drug of choice is called Bocouture and one we have used for many clients with great results.

Botulinum toxin blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can't contract. That makes wrinkles relax and soften. Botulinum toxin is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet (lines around the eye), and frown lines. It won’t help with wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity.

How Is a Procedure Done?

Having Botulinum toxin injections takes only a few minutes. You won’t need anesthesia. The therapist uses a small needle to inject it into specific muscles with only minor discomfort.

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 drug to another area. You should also stay upright for 4 hours after the injections and to take a day off from exercising.

What can be treated?

The most common reason to use Botulinum toxin is to reduce the appearance of face wrinkles.

Botulinum toxin injections can help treat other conditions, such as:

Severe underarm, hands and forehead sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Chronic migraine
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

How long do the effects last?

The effects from BotulinumToxin 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.

Is there any downtime?

You may have some temporary side effects after a Botulinum Toxin injection. These could include:

Bruising. This is the most common side effect and will go away.
Headaches. Typically, these are rare and end in 24 to 48 hours.
Eyelid drooping. This happens with only a small percentage of people and usually goes away within 3 weeks. It usually happens when the drug moves around, so don't rub the treated area.
Crooked smile or drooling
Eye dryness or severe tearing
Mild pain or swelling around the injection site
Flu-like symptoms or a general unwell feeling
Upset stomach
Numbness
Weakness in nearby muscles