The vertical lines between the eyebrows are the direct result of repeated muscular action of the muscles of facial expression. Years of squinting and frowning leave deep wrinkles in the skin between the eyebrows. After many years of frowning combined with the weathering action of the sun, the skin is left with deep vertical lines, which are there even when the face is at rest. You look like you’re mad even when you’re not.
The laugh lines around your eyes and those on your forehead are often caused by your expressions, as well as sun damage.
There has never been a satisfactory solution to these problems until Botox. Once Botox has immobilized the muscles for several weeks, many of the noticeable lines between the eyebrows, on the forehead or around the eyes may relax and become less noticeable.
Conventional surgery involves a large incision, raising the hairline and cutting the muscles. Newer endoscopic plastic surgical techniques avoid the large incisions, but still involve prolonged healing and the expense and inconvenience of major surgery. Some surgeons try to remove the wrinkle surgically, but this is often not effective and is a surgical procedure. Similarly, deeper laugh lines around the eyes and those on the forehead can rarely be helped except by laser surgery, other surgical procedures or peels, but many patients do not wish to undergo these procedures.
Minimal bruising and redness may occur at the injection sites. Usually there is virtually no sign of treatment within about an hour of the injections. Makeup may be used directly after treatment, but one should be careful not to press or massage the area for several hours after injection. We also recommend not lying down or napping for several hours after the procedure. Heavy physical exercise should be avoided for several hours after the procedure. bruising can occur as with any injections, so be sure to discontinue aspirin if possible, 10 days prior to injections well as NSAID’s like Motrin, Advil, naproxen, Aleve and ibuprofen. Bruising usually lasts only a few days but rarely much longer.
A very small needle is used to inject Botox, and the discomfort is minimal, as only a few drops are needed.
You will not see the effect for a few days as, generally, it takes about a week or two for the full effect.
The range that has been observed is between 2.5 and 8 months. After the muscles have been less active for several months, they actually get smaller and shrink.
By keeping the muscles inactive for several months, for example, you lose the habit of frowning, preventing lines from coming back. However, should one wish to regain the ability to knit his or her brows, one only has to wait until the effect of the Botox has worn off and all voluntary muscle action will return.
Botox can immobilize the underlying muscles so the muscles underneath are not tethering the skin down. Once the muscles “let go” of the skin, the wrinkles and folds will smooth out on their own. Other muscles, such as those needed to raise the eyebrows up are not affected so natural expression is maintained.
Botox can be used to treat the vertical lines between the eyebrows, the squint lines or “crow’s feet” lines at the corner of the eyes, and the forehead horizontal lines and is approved by the FDA for all these areas.
If you are an actor or in a profession in which you need all of your expression lines, such as a psychologist, then Botox in certain locations may not be for you.
Botox is also being used in some other facial and neck areas as well.
Botox is an FDA approved medication for the cosmetic treatment of vertical wrinkles between the brows, forehead and crow’s feet. The FDA recognizes the common practice among physicians to use FDA approved drugs in their professional discretion in so-called “off label” uses, such as the use for wrinkles elsewhere on the face or body.
If you have any questions or wish to set up an appointment, please call our office. Frequently, only one session is needed to see results.
