Botox

The most popular injectable in the world

What is Botox?

Botox is the most commonly used injectable across the entire globe! It’s used for a wide variety of cosmetic treatments due to its powerful effect on smoothing facial wrinkles and lines. Botox is also used for a multitude of other medical treatments such as migraines and excessive sweating.

Botox is produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The active component is Botulinum Toxin, Type A, which is a neurotoxin responsible for the relaxation of muscles involved in wrinkles and smoothening of lines in the skin. It is also the component responsible for the treatment of many medical conditions indicated by Botox.

The advancement of science and medical treatments with Botox has allowed us to use this muscle-relaxing toxin safely and powerfully! Botox cosmetic has been used safely for decades and is extremely effective in smoothing wrinkles and lines for a more youthful appearance. It also has many medical uses, such as for conditions like chronic migraines.

  • Wrinkles are generally thought to be either static, due to decreasing skin collagen structure, or dynamic, due to muscle activity beneath the skin. Though static wrinkles may respond better to dermal fillers, botox can be very effective against both types of wrinkles. As muscles beneath the skin undergo frequent contraction, such as with smile lines or crow’s feet, frown lines, or forehead lines, etc., the skin in these areas can wrinkle. Botox’s ability to fully relax the underlying muscles helps even out these wrinkles and smoothen the skin.  This is why Botox has long been one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the world – its ability to quickly turn back time and produce beautiful results consistently. Read more about facial volume loss.

  • Botox can also be used for facial contouring. With age and other hereditary factors, certain facial muscles can become more pronounced. An example is the enlargement of the masseter muscle of the jawline in women. This can lead to a wider facial jaw profile, contributing to a more masculine appearance of the female face. In this case as well as in similar cases, botox injections can target muscles to relax and help contour the areas that may be creating unwanted angles in facial profiles. As the Botox temporarily paralyzes these muscles, they lose bulk and are therefore less pronounced. This makes botox a powerful tool for slimming down the face and creating a more youthful, feminine look. Other areas, such as the jawline itself, chin, and neck can also be treated with botox for tightening and contouring to produce a more defined youthful jaw profile.

  • Another great application for Botox is skin tightening. As we age, some areas of the face tend to droop, sag and loosen. One culprit of these changes is the pulling of certain muscles. For example, the platysma muscle that runs from midface down the jawline into your neck can cause a sagging jawline. Using botox in the platysma muscle allows it to relax against the jawline, reducing the drooping while tightening the neck and bringing back youth to your facial profile.

  • Botox can also effectively treat hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is the scientific term for excessive sweating. Sweating, as an autonomic response in the body, is controlled by the nervous system. As a neurotoxin, which blocks neural signals, Botox offers a great way to block the nervous system responses that cause overactive sweating in the areas affected by hyperhidrosis. Although retreatment may be needed, results can last up to one year.

  • Botox is also a great non-surgical approach to a brow lift. There are several muscles in the upper face that interplay in the placement of the brows. As highly expressive features of the face, our eyebrows, and the surrounding areas are susceptible to forming wrinkles, lines and drooping. These wrinkles are often a result of contractions in the many muscles beneath the affected areas that naturally pull the brows downwards. Luckily, Botox can be administered to these muscles around the eyebrows, relaxing them, and creating a brow lift. Additionally, by relaxing these muscles, the other forehead muscles can pull more freely on the brows, smoothing out the wrinkles and lines around them and between them, while lifting the brows to brighten the eyes.

  • Botox is great for anti-aging treatment, but not just on the face! The neck, chest, or décolletage areas are important upper-body areas affected by wrinkles and lines. Sun damage and aging skin, through the loss of collagen and skin elasticity, can occur in these areas similar to the face. Botox also works synergistically with other modalities such as skin photorejuvenation or IPL and dermal fillers to improve the skin texture and reduce wrinkles in these areas. The result is even, smoothed skin, restoring the youthful glow to the neck, chest, and décolletage!

  • Botox a neuromodulator has the unique ability to block muscle contractions, thus allowing the targeted muscles to relax. When injected in the gastrocnemius muscle (the calf muscle), Botox manages to notably reduce the size of the calf muscle without having any negative impact on leg function. This makes for a powerful and relatively easy solution to calf sculpting and reduction, giving our patients access to the beautiful, slim aesthetic they’re looking to achieve for their legs.

Botox Applications

COSMETIC:

  • Frown lines or Glabellar lines

  • Crows feet

  • Under-eye lines

  • Bunny lines/nose wrinkles

  • Forehead wrinkles

  • Eyebrow lift

  • Mouth corners

  • Lip lines

  • Marionette lines

  • Jaw slimming

  • Chin

  • Neck/Platismal Bands

  • Underarm

  • Gummy smile

MEDICAL, FDA APPROVED APPLICATIONS:

  • Chronic migraines

  • Hyperhidrosis (chronic sweating)

botox neurotoxin
botox for wrinkles

Botox FAQ’s

  • Botox takes anywhere from 1-3 days to start working and takes approximately 2 weeks to reach its peak effect.

    The typical duration of Botox treatment is 3-5 months. This variation depends upon the strength/condition of the muscle, to begin with, and the dose of Botox used (more corrective dosing = longer-lasting effect, if indicated).

  • To start, you and Dr. Brandish will develop an individualized treatment plan to determine if Botox is the best tool for the desired result. She is an expert injector with an artistic eye and years of experience using neurotoxins such as Botox to contour the face and turn back the clock.

    Before the treatment, Dr. Brandish may use topical numbing agents to minimize discomfort with the injection. Botox is injected with a very small needle that is important to reduce any mild discomfort. The procedure usually only takes several minutes to administer with almost no downtime.

  • The most commonly observed side effects from a Botox treatment are swelling or redness at the injection site. This looks similar to a mosquito bite and usually resolves in 5 to 10 minutes. Bruising may occur as the risk remains with any injection but it is usually very mild and resolves within a few days. A much more rare side effect can be ptosis or droopy eyebrow or eyelid. This occurs in less than 1-2% of cases and is self-limiting.

Dysport

An alternative form of Botoxin A is the main component of muscle relaxation.

What is Dysport?

Dysport® is an exciting new alternative to BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Dysport contains the same active ingredient as Botox, botulinum toxin-A, but it contains different protein carrying molecules. One of the primary differences between Dysport and Botox lies in their rate of diffusion when injected into the tissues. Studies have shown that Dysport has a wider range of diffusion than Botox. This may be more helpful when used in areas where diffusion of the product would have an advantage, such as the smile lines.

Indications for Dysport are the same as Botox. It is used to treat wrinkles around the smile lines or crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines. Dysport is FDA-approved and thoroughly tested for safety.

Dr. Brandish can tell you if you would be a good candidate for Dysport, as she has extensive experience in advanced and innovative non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques using Dysport and other injectable.

dysport neurotoxin wrinkles

Dysport FAQ’s

  • Dysport’s anti-wrinkle effects can last about 3-5 months.

    The majority of patients see improvement in just 1-2 days after treatment and full results can be seen in two weeks. There is minimal downtime, which means you can get back to your day right after your office visit.

  • To start, you and Dr. Brandish will develop an individualized treatment plan to determine if Dysport is the best option for the desired result. Dr. Brandish has extensive experience working with neuromodulators like Dysport. Her skilled injection techniques work to create natural results, so you never look “frozen.”

    Before the treatment, Dr. Brandish may use topical numbing agents to minimize discomfort with the injection. Dysport is injected with a very small needle which is important to reduce any mild discomfort. The procedure usually only takes several minutes to administer with almost no downtime.

  • The side effects of Dysport are minimal with very little downtime.

    Some potential side effects can occur including swelling, bruising, or redness at the injection sites that resolve within a few minutes to several days.

    In clinical trials, it is reported that approximately 1% of patients nationwide could develop a slight lowering or drooping of one eyelid (also known as ptosis). This is temporary and will be completely resolved.

Xeomin

A uniquely purified choice for frown lines

What is Xeomin?

Xeomin is an injectable wrinkle relaxer made from Botulinum Toxin, which is a neurotoxin responsible for the relaxation of muscles involved in wrinkles and smoothening of lines in the skin. It is used to smoothen moderate to severe lines and wrinkles in the face. This non-invasive treatment is administered in small amounts, relaxing the facial muscles responsible for brow furrows, smile lines or crow’s feet, and other deep-set wrinkles like forehead lines. Many people request Xeomin because they wish to regain a youthful appearance and soften facial contours that may have been altered due to the natural aging process.

Xeomin has been proven effective for the treatment of glabellar lines by two different double-blind clinical trials, in which more than 540 random patients were evaluated at several different treatment centers. Xeomin is an alternative to Botox, Jeuveau, or Dysport, all of which help give a similar glow to your appearance and diminish the facial lines to achieve smoother skin. If you have given alternative anti-aging methods a try and have not received your desired goals, we offer these different wrinkle relaxers and other solutions here at Brandish Clinic.

xeomin neurotoxin wrinkles

Xeommin FAQ’s

  • The effects of Xeomin® are usually seen within 2-5 days. It takes approximately 10-14 days before you experience the full results of your Xeomin treatment, though results vary from person to person. Most people enjoy the benefits of Xeomin for about 3 to 5 months.

  • To start, you and Dr. Brandish will develop an individualized treatment plan to determine if Xeomin is the best tool for the desired result. Dr. Brandish is an expert injector with an artistic eye and years of experience using neurotoxins such as Xeomin to contour the face and turn back the clock.

    Before the treatment, Dr. Brandish may use topical numbing agents to minimize discomfort with the injection. Xeomin is injected with a very small needle that is important to reduce any mild discomfort. The procedure usually only takes several minutes to administer with almost no downtime.

  • Xeomin has minimal side effects that are mild and self-limiting. Mild or severe, temporary or permanent. The most common side effects include redness, bruising, or swelling at the injection site which usually resolves very quickly.

Jeuveau

The newest anti-wrinkle injection

What is Jeuveau?

Jeuveau – the newest anti-wrinkle injection. #newtox.

Jeuveau contains the same botulinum toxin-A molecule (responsible for wrinkle relaxation) as Botox and other neurotoxins. It is the newest wrinkle-relaxing injection that promises to smooth away stubborn forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and even crow’s feet.

Jeuveau produces results similar to other neurotoxins such as Botox or Dysport. It uses similar dosing measurements and can have a longevity profile comparable to the other neurotoxins. Many patients choose this anti-wrinkle injection based on previous experience with Jeuveau treatment. Many also use this alternative agent due to a lack of response to the other neurotoxins.

Jeuveau has provided us with more tools and options for anti-wrinkle treatment. With so many noninvasive solutions to fighting the effects of age, you can now age as gracefully as ever!

Jeuveau FAQ’s

  • The longevity of Jeuveau is similar to the other neurotoxins. Most patients will have anywhere from 3-5 months of treatment results. In the study conducted by the manufacturers of Jeuveau, Evolus, patients received an average of 3 treatments a year to maintain their results.

  • To start, you and Dr. Brandish will develop an individualized treatment plan to determine if Jeuveau is the best tool for the desired result. Dr. Brandish is an expert injector with an artistic eye and years of experience using neurotoxins such as Jeuveau to contour the face and turn back the clock.

    Before the treatment, Dr. Brandish may use topical numbing agents to minimize discomfort with the injection. Jeuveau is injected with a very small needle which is important to reduce any mild discomfort. The procedure usually only takes several minutes to administer with almost no downtime.

  • Jeuveau was proven to be safe and effective and was FDA approved for both of these reasons. In most cases, side effects range from none to mild. The most common side effects include swelling or bruising at the site of injection, which resolves quickly and completely in all cases.