The onset of forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet and frown lines is a common problem for men and women as they age. Though these lines and wrinkles are just reminders of your maturity and wisdom, they can also make you appear tired and even angry. At California Skin Institute, one way we treat these problem areas is with Botox, which is a quick and virtually painless treatment that can help you to look rested and rejuvenated.

This wrinkle treatment is ideal for both men and women and is available at all California Skin Institute locations across California – from San Francisco to Mountain View and San Jose and beyond. Continue reading below to learn more about Botox injections, and how the treatment can improve your look!

What is Botox?

Botox is a form of Botulinum toxin that has been purified and diluted to be safe for cosmetic use. Botulinum toxin is a muscle relaxant, and when administered in the form of Botox, can significantly ease the appearance of some wrinkles.

Although Botox is a toxin, it is FDA-approved for frown line treatment, it is not believed to have caused serious side effects, and the treatment does not carry the same risks of infection that may be present with facelift surgery.

How Botox Works?

When injected into facial muscles, the toxin temporarily blocks neuron activity, which prevents full muscle contraction. Because the muscles can no longer contract, the appearance of wrinkles caused by facial movements like frowning, raising eyebrows, or squinting is significantly reduced.

Botox injections are an ideal solution for smoothing the skin between eyebrows, eliminating lines on the forehead, and reducing the appearance of crow’s feet around the eyes.

What Botox Treats

We inject a small amount into the muscles that create wrinkles. This Botulinum derivative blocks the nerve impulses from reaching that area of the muscle and the contractions begin to weaken. As the muscle weakens, the treated areas begin to relax and the wrinkles in the skin become less visible and often disappear altogether.

Botox can be used to treat several types of wrinkles, including crow’s feet and frown lines.

What are the Advantages of Botox?

• Fast and effective. A typical treatment will show improvement approximately after 4-7 days, and takes only 10-15 minutes to complete.¹
• Little discomfort – we take great care in administering these injections.
• There is no “downtime.” After the injections, you may resume normal activity or go back to work.
• Creates natural-looking outcomes without evidence that you’ve had work done.
• There is no decrease in sensation or numbness of treated areas.
• The effects of injections are reversible; lasting 3 to 9 months.¹
• Repeated injections of upkeep treatments may cause a muscle memory response to develop, thus enhancing the effects.
• A non-surgical approach to treat wrinkles, which eliminates the need for anesthesia and long recovery times.

Who is the Best Candidate for Botox?

A wide range of patients benefit from Botox therapy. Typically, we treat patients from their 20′s to 80′s. Younger patients and those with fewer wrinkles are good candidates for this procedure because though their wrinkles may not be yet pronounced, California Skin Institute providers can administer Botox as a preventative measure to minimize the creasing of the skin.

Patients who’ve had laser resurfacing or a facelift also benefit from these injections because their fresh, newly resurfaced skin is prevented from repeated wrinkling.

Do Injections Hurt?

At California Skin Institute, we take great care to make Botox injections painless for our patients. We apply a topical anesthetic cream and/or ice compresses for several minutes prior to the treatment to numb the area. When the injection begins, you may feel a slight stinging sensation, but it will quickly subside. Once the injection is complete, the nurse will apply an ice compress to address any initial discomfort.

Are Injections Safe?

Botox has an excellent safety profile. It has been used by neurologists and ophthalmologists for nearly two decades to correct facial tics and to relax the eye muscles responsible for the condition known as lazy eye. These types of procedures require several times more Botox than what California Skin Institute uses to treat facial wrinkles, and have not produced any toxic effects to patients.

However, if you are pregnant or have a neurological disease should not be treated with Botox Cosmetic injections.

To learn more about this treatment, contact a California Skin Institute practice near you, or find a location near you and request a consultation!

Disclaimer

Treatment results will vary, talk to a practitioner to see if this treatment or procedure is right for you.

Conditions treated by Botox®

• Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
• Skin Laxity
• Wrinkles