Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX®) Injection
Botulinum toxin, a synthetic chemical, has multiple types commonly used, including BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport, and others, and it can be used to block nerve signals for the treatment of various conditions. Botulinum toxin can be used for both cosmetic purposes as well as therapeutic treatment for medical conditions. For cosmetic purposes, this revolutionary procedure reduces or eliminates wrinkles in the upper face, targeting forehead lines, frown lines between the eyes, and crow’s feet. Notably, it is a non-surgical option with no scarring risks.
While its cosmetic applications are widely known, botulinum toxin injections, prove effective in therapeutic treatments for medical conditions like blepharospasm, a muscle spasm disorder resulting in involuntary eyelid closure.
Botulinum toxin is administered in extremely small doses directly into specific muscles. By blocking the signals from the brain to the muscle, it induces muscle weakening and subsequent relaxation of the overlying skin, resulting in the softening and potential disappearance of wrinkles caused by muscle contractions. The effects can typically last from 4 to 5 months.
Botulinum toxin injection is for those who:
- want to reduce or eliminate facial wrinkles
- reduce muscle spasms due to blepharospasms or other facial spasms
Before your treatment:
Ask your Pensacola ophthalmologist to determine if you are a candidate for botulinum toxin injection. Together, you will determine the number and regularity of treatments best for you.
What to expect on procedure day:
Your treatment can be performed in an examination room environment. Since it isn’t a surgical procedure, it does not require a surgery center. Your Pensacola doctor will inject an extremely small dose of botulinum toxin into designated facial muscles using a micro-needle. It will only take a few seconds. You might feel a stinging sensation that will subside quickly.
You won’t see the effects of the initial injections for three or four days, and improvements will continue for several days after that. If you experience any discomfort after the procedure, you can use ice compresses or over-the-counter pain medication. You may have a little bit of bruising.
Because this procedure is non-invasive and non-surgical, you may return to your normal activities immediately.
Realistic expectations:
Botulinum toxin, when used in these extremely small doses, has a high level of safety. Since botulinum toxin proteins are only attracted to muscles, it has no effect on the central nervous system. It does not cause numbness in the area of the injections, and muscles related to other facial expressions are rarely affected. One or two patients in every hundred may experience a temporary drooping of the eyelid, but this usually goes away in a week or two.
Serious complications with botulin toxin injection are extremely rare, but like any medical procedure, it does have some risks. Going to a specialist experienced in botulinum toxin injections can significantly minimize the risks. The vast majority of our patients are extremely happy with their appearance after botulinum toxin injection, however, we cannot guarantee you will have the results you desire.
If you decide that botulinum toxin injection is an option for you, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction.
Alternatives to botulinum toxin injection:
Chemical peels and cosmetic surgery have been the primary means of reducing the undesirable effects of aging and wrinkles. To learn about other cosmetic procedures, please visit the cosmetic procedures section of our Web Site. If you would like more information about this exciting procedure, you may want to make an appointment or request additional information from our practice.
