As my background is not in cosmetics, I have observed many women coming to our Alamo Plastic Surgery office requesting 50 units of Botox when really there are no lines on their forehead. It seems to be impacted based on your genes and your natural facial expressions versus a specific age. Women in their early twenties may “need” it, but we also see some women in their late thirties whom there are no wrinkles to address as they naturally do not move their forehead. First and foremost with botox and other injectables, it is important to go to someone with a great reputation whom you trust. Not an injector who prescribes 50 units to every patient. Often we hear women who got a "deal" on botox, but the plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or nurse injector simply injected more than they needed so they paid the same or more. Some of our patients only need to treat the glybella area for ~10 units or ~$110 which is a significant different from 50 units or ~$550. Be suspicious if a provider is trying to talk you into treating more areas than you feel comfortable. As a bonus there is no sales tax on botox treatments!
Neurotoxin injection is the most commonly performed nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in the United States. The popularity of this procedure is due to effectiveness, relatively low cost, risk and recovery time. There are several different brands of neurotoxins available in the US based on the botulinum toxin, with the two most popular brands being Botox and Dysport. When injected within or near a muscle, the toxin will block signals from the nerves to that muscle, thereby preventing the muscle from contracting. The muscle becomes weakened and may temporarily be unable to contract. This prevents the formation of or worsening of skin folds on the face that are created and reinforced by muscles contracting or animation. Check out my article on Botox for Beginners for additional information.
This is the area between your eyes. I have a friend who spent the last two years trying every wrinkle cream and also Amazon night strips to hold the skin taut at night. Needless to say nothing worked. To me, it was not extremely obvious, but to her, it was all she saw on her face. She was worried that she would develop deep furrows between her brows like her mother. The great thing about Botox is it temporarily paralyzes the muscles where it is injected. It will also weaken that muscle to prevent a wrinkle or line appearing or deepening in the future. After one treatment with Botox (~$110) she was hooked.
Generally the frontalis muscle. Botox should be injected high enough from the brow line to prohibit brow ptosis. By late 30s most people are affected by forehead lines / creases which don’t disappear immediately when you stop raising your eyebrows. For me it was after my second kid at age 32. I noticed my forehead lines seemed to linger longer and become deeper. One round of botox, and I was hooked.
Botox can be injected above the outer area of the brow to create a lifting effect. Your injector should be skilled at this as the risk of brow ptosis may increase.
Area besides your eyes or Orbicularis Oculi and Procerus Muscles. Another very common area for botox and usually forehead, glybella, and crows feet are treated simultaneously.
Lines or wrinkles which may develop around your nose. Also referred to as the Nasalis lines.
Corners of the mouth which usually takes 5-10 units of botox.
Botox can be injected into various points in the Mentalis to relax the mentalis muscle and prevent visible contour irregularities or chin dimples.
In addition to Botox there is a another product which behaves similarly called Newtox. At Alamo Plastic Surgery we do not use Newtox as it is a still a "new" product. Generally it is offered at a discount to Botox but similar units are used to Botox.
