Are Fillers Right for You?
Injectable cosmetic treatments are the medical aesthetics success story of the 21st Century. In 2022, over 15 million Americans requested some form of injectable procedure to improve their appearance.
Why Botox® Remains the Leading Nonsurgical Solution to Crow's Feet and Frown Lines
Botox® Cosmetic and other injectable treatments based on the botulinum toxin, such as Dysport®, remain the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic treatment chosen by American consumers. In fact, Botox-type injections account for over six times as many procedures as the top five plastic surgeries combined. To say that Botox is successful severely understates the reaction.
For a more relaxed and younger appearance, Dr. Richard Blanchar at Bayview General Medicine & Aesthetics in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and our team are proud to offer Botox Cosmetic and Dysport to our patients. The best results come from knowledgeable and experienced professionals who understand the anatomy of the face.
The medical origins of Botox
It’s ironic that a toxin that causes severe food poisoning can also be medically valuable, but poisons depend on the size of the dose. The active ingredient in Botox exists in tremendously diluted form compared to the toxin present in botulism. In these tiny quantities, there’s little danger to the patient. Botox produces a small, temporary muscle paralysis effect.
The first use of Botox treated eye muscle spasms that could be severe enough to affect vision. As the injection took effect, the twitching muscles stopped, and patients could see without distraction. It likely didn’t take long before someone noticed the smooth, relaxed effect on nearby expression muscles.
Today, Botox remains in use as a treatment for eye issues, as well as other conditions with spasming muscles, such as cerebral palsy. Other applications were discovered too, so you’ll find Botox treating overactive sweat glands, bladder dysfunction, and migraines.
How Botox works
The paralytic ingredient of Botox affects some of the chemical signals transmitted by nerves to the brain. The most pronounced effect is on contracted muscles. Botox blocks the contraction signals, so targeted muscles simply relax.
When you consider facial wrinkles, there are two origins. Passive wrinkles occur when your skin loses support and becomes lax. Wrinkles form when skin falls into voids or starts to sag. There’s no active function causing these creases.
The crow’s feet around your eyes and the worry lines on your forehead result from musculature under your skin. These muscles form expressions when you smile, squint, frown, or furrow your brow. When you’re young, you make an expression, then relax and everything returns to rest positions.
As you get older, these commonly used expression muscles stop returning to a completely relaxed state. Your face may now seem permanently stern, or the crow’s feet remain after your smile has ended. The result is lingering creases that prematurely age your face.
Your Botox treatment
The injection phase of your Botox treatment takes only about 10 minutes. The applicator needle is small, so you’ll feel only a minor pinch, though light local anesthetics may reduce even this effect. Recovery time is minimal, no more than you’d expect after a blood test. You can schedule a Botox treatment for your lunch break and return to your regular routine.
To learn more about Botox or to schedule a Botox or Dysport treatment, call Dr. Blanchar’s office at 954-776-6992 or use the request appointment tool online. Join the millions who have already gained the benefits of Botox Cosmetic treatments. Contact Dr. Blanchar today.
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