Botox
BOTOX SANTA BARBARA – BOTOX INJECTIONS SANTA BARBARA
When it comes to cosmetic procedures, Botox is one of the most popular all over the globe. It gains that reputation because of its high level of effectiveness in addressing a variety of skin conditions and health problems. Botox, also known as Botulinum toxin, is mostly used for cosmetic purposes such as the smoothing of wrinkles in various facial areas.
What Is Botox?
Botox is an injectable liquid that is used for the treatment of smile and squint lines, frown lines, horizontal forehead lines, and nasal crunch lines. Botulinum toxin make these line to be less deep by making the supporting muscles relaxed. It is important to only use Botox in small quantities. Botox should be used under the supervision of an experienced and qualified aesthetic professional to guarantee the outcome and your safety.
Botox has been around for over twenty years now, and it has been used to treat a lot of patients cosmetically and medically. Botox is manufactured with a bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum, and the manufacturing process is carried out in a lab. It goes through certain levels of purity, and the purification is carried out under conditions that are strictly controlled. Botox is manufactured by a company known as Allergen, and the company has been manufacturing this product safely for over twenty years now.
Botulinum toxin does not travel to other places in the body when it is injected into a little facial muscle. After a period of three to six months, it will gradually, naturally wear off. There are some other types of Botulinum toxin that are currently being manufactured by other companies. But none of them has been proven to be as safe or effective as Botox.
If you need help with wrinkles or smoothing of your skin, too much sweating, or persistent migraines, allow the team at SB Aesthetics to assist you! Our highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon, Dr. Sheffield, can provide you with the specific treatment needed to help you accomplish your individual goals in a short amount of time. Call (805) 318-3280 our Santa Barbara office to find out if Botox is the right treatment for you.
What is Botox Used For?
There are many ways to use Botulinum toxin, promising a wide array of benefits. Botulinum toxin for wrinkles is the most popular. It helps to effectively smoothen the current skin imperfections and prevent the appearance of similar problems in the future, especially as a result of aging. As a neuromodulator, it relaxes the muscles by preventing contractions and the appearance of wrinkles. This is the same reason why Botox brow lift is also popular amongst aging women.
Botox for sweating is another popular application that we perform in our office. Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a socially embarrassing condition. If you sweat profusely in your hands, feet, face, or underarms, this treatment can prove to be promising and deliver exceptional results. It will help to stop the nerve signals that could cause your glands to produce more sweat.
We can also help you when it comes to Botox for a migraine. If you experience migraines at least 15 days or more in a month, with each episode lasting 4 hours or more, you have a good reason to consider Botox.
Botox injections are used for quite a number of things including:
- Horizontal lines on the neck
- Squint, nasal scrunch or bunny lines
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Crow’s feet and lines around the eyes
- Frown lines or 11’s lines
- Lifting of the brow line
A small amount of Botox can also be applied to other areas on the face, but this actually depends on how your facial expression muscles work. If your eyelids are saggy, Botulinum toxin can help to raise them up. It can also lift the mouth corners, and smoothen cobblestoned or dimpled chins. It is usually not applied in the lines around the mouth; this is because it will make it difficult to eat and speak.
How Long It Takes Botulinum Toxin to Work
Patients may start noticing the effects three days after it is applied, but the full effect can be seen seven days after the injection. Your provider might ask you to come back after the initial treatment in order to examine your response. Patients might only experience a partial response after taking the first set of Botulinum toxin injections. This is absolutely normal, and you will start noticing full relaxation after the second and third set of the injection.
How Long Does Botulinum Toxin Last?
A lot of patients experience the effects of Botox injections for a period of three to six months. Some patients go for Botulinum toxin injection three to four times the first twelve months, and then two to three times in the next twelve months after that. After the complete relaxation of the muscles for a while, maintaining that relaxation does not require much. But every patient is unique, so they don’t respond in the same way.
How are Botox Injections Performed?
In our office, we follow stringent procedures to administer Botulinum toxin successfully, effectively, and safely. The botulinum toxin, in its powdered form, dilutes in sodium chloride. Once the solution is ready, we inject directly into the neuromuscular tissue. It will take one to three days before the effects are apparent.
Does A Botox Injection Hurt?
Botulinum toxin is injected into the facial muscle with a very tiny needle (just like the needles used for acupuncture), so the pain it causes during injection is very little. Botox doesn’t result in inflammation or irritation. But patients complain (in rare cases though) of a mild stinging sensation.
What is the Botox Recovery Like?
By strictly adhering to the right Botox recovery tips, you can greatly minimize a lot of the negative effects associated with the injection.
It is recommended that you don’t massage your face for a minimum of twelve hours after the injection is applied except you are asked to do so by your doctor. It is even best that you don’t touch the injected area for that period of time.
You should try your possible best to stay awake for a minimum of four hours after the procedure in order to avoid resting on the injected area. In the first night following the procedure, you should put an additional pillow beneath your head to minimize the swelling.
Also, for the next four to six hours after receiving the Botox injection, you should avoid bending down or carrying out any form of exercise. Do not use any facial treatment or chemical peels for four hours following the procedure. If you are experiencing any form of swelling or redness, you should consider staying away from direct sunlight.
If you notice anything usual, such as skin bleaching or severe pain, you should contact your provider immediately.
What are Botulinum Toxin Side Effects?
Some of the most common side effects experienced include mild nausea, transient numbness, headache, paralysis, neck weakness, wheezing, swelling, gallbladder infection, decreased eyesight, fatigue, and dryness of the mouth, among others. It is not recommended for lactating or pregnant women, as well as for those who had previous allergies with the drug. In our office, Dr. Sheffield provides the highest level of service, making sure that the risks of suffering from the side effects will be minimal.
How Much are Botox Injections?
The cost of Botulinum toxin Cosmetic is higher in larger cities with high costs of living, such as Los Angeles or New York. But the actual cost is dependent on the office, as some charge more than others. As a result of this variability, the price range is relevant to the geographic location, the credentials of the injector and the amount used. For women, the cost of relaxing frown lines is within the range of $400 to $600. For men, with larger muscles, the cost is within the range of $500 to $700. The price can be determined by the number of units or by syringe, depending on the doctor.
Tips for Choosing the Right Plastic Surgeon for Botulinum Toxin Injections
There are a lot of doctors with experience with it comes to administering Botox injections. Nevertheless, every doctor has his or her own qualification and level of experience, so it crucial that you ask questions and make more inquiries when looking for a Botox specialist that can meet your specific needs.
You need to ask questions regarding the doctor’s level of experience and the total cost of the procedure. You also need to find out if the doctor offer touchup treatments in situations where patients are not really satisfied with the final outcome. You also need to ask the doctor to show you some before-and-after photos of the jobs he or she has done in the past. This will give you a better insight of what to expect.
Click below to learn more about how Botox and Dermal Fillers are used in non-surgical procedures.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Whether you are thinking about having an aesthetic treatment, a non-surgical procedure or have had prior surgery and are seeking to additional touch-ups, it is critical to work with a skilled plastic surgeon that specializes in facial procedures. Dr. Robert Sheffield is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon at SB Aesthetics offering services to those in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Oxnard and Ventura, CA, and the surrounding communities. Dr. Sheffield offers patients a customized treatment plan and is available to answer your questions. To schedule a consultation, call 805.318.3280 today.