Botox Treatments

Botox is a popular cosmetic injectable that helps to relax facial muscles and reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles that develop as we age. Botox is actually a brand name for the drug produced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, other brands like Dysport and Xeomin produce a similar drug but Botox is the most widely known because it was the first cosmetic injectable on the market.

Botox works by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles in the treatment area, which temporarily paralyzes the muscles to prevent them from contracting. This softens and relaxes the muscles so that your skin appears smoother when you smile, frown, or make another expression.

When Botulinum toxin A is injected under the skin, it works on the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis of the muscles in that area and smoothing of the overlying skin, resulting in a reduced appearance of the wrinkles.

Botox can improve the look of:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines)
• Crow’s feet lines
• Forehead lines
• Marionette lines
• Facial asymmetry
• Bunny lines
• Perioral lines
• Smile lines
• Gummy smiles
• Dimpled chins
• Drooping eyelid
• Jowls

You may receive treatment for frown lines, crow’s feet lines, and forehead lines at the same time.

During the consultation with your provider, you will discuss concerns, recommendations, and treatment plan. Your skin will be cleansed prior to the procedure. This is a non-surgical treatment and does not require anesthesia. During your treatment, Botox is injected into the desired areas with an ultra-thin needle that is minimally invasive and on the lowest spectrum of the pain scale.

Botox injections can be performed on average in about 15 – 20 minutes. The length of your treatment will vary based on time spent during your consultation and the number of injections performed.

Botox injectables fall at a 1 on the pain scale on a pain scale of 1 to 5. (1 – least pain; 5 – most pain.)

There is minimal to no downtime. You may resume your daily activities or return to work after receiving treatment.

Mild redness or bruising may occur at injection sites. Redness will typically resolve within 30 minutes to one hour. Bruising may last for several weeks. Mild soreness may be present lasting hours to days. Severe reactions rarely occur, but a comprehensive review of your medical history, medications, history of reactions should be discussed with your provider to minimize that risk.

We do recommend a two-week minimum separation from special events to avoid the presence of bruising.

Botox will start to take effect in 5 to 7 days with full effects visible by day 14.

Botox results typically last approximately 2.5 to 4 months but may last shorter or longer. Over time, the effects will fade and you will notice muscle movement in the treatment area. Repeated treatments will be necessary for Botox to remain effective.

Contraindications refer to conditions that indicate an individual should not take a medical treatment. Do not receive a Botox if you:

• Are allergic to any of the ingredients in Botox
• Had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc, Dysport, or Xeomin
• Have a skin infection at the planned injection site
  are pregnant or nursing
• Have autoimmune disorders (discuss with your provider)
• Have a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome)

After receiving Botox injections, you will receive full post-treatment instructions from your provider based on the specific details of your treatment. We encourage patients to use the muscles more for the first hour or so after injection as this may help maximize the effects of the medication.

Please contact us immediately if you experience significant bruising, pain, or any other problems.

Please note that Botox treatments are priced according to the number of units used during the procedure and is priced differently depending on the location.  In Austin, Botox is $14/unit, while in other markets, it is $15/unit.  We strive to keep our prices competitive while also taking into account local factors.  The amount of Botox each patient will need differs based on the number of facial areas treated and the strength of each targeted facial muscle.