Dynamic wrinkles develop in different areas of the face over time, due to repetitive facial movements. We naturally express ourselves through facial expressions and reactions, which can eventually result in deep lines and folds on our faces that remain even when the face is at rest. The good news is that Botox, a safe, non-invasive treatment, can effectively smooth out facial wrinkles and create a more youthful appearance for months at a time, reducing the severity of dynamic wrinkles in the eye, forehead, and lip areas. Though Botox is only a temporary solution to wrinkles, it offers effective results that can last longer with repeated treatments. At Buckingham Center in Austin, TX, board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Buckingham and his expert team offer Botox and Dysport treatments to patients who are looking for a way to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles.
- Botox – Before and After Pictures
- What is Botox?
- How Does Botox Work?
- How Botox Helps with Migraines
- Treatment Areas
- Botox Alternatives
- What To Expect During and After Botox
- Botox Instructions & Aftercare
- How Much Does Botox Cost?
- How Long Is The Botox Procedure?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Schedule Your Botox Consultation Today
Botox – Before and After Pictures
What is Botox?
Botox, which is made from a safe form of botulinum toxin, is a versatile treatment that has been used in medicine for decades to treat diverse conditions ranging from uncontrolled eye movements and lazy eye to overactive bladder. Today, it is best known for its anti-aging effects in Botox Cosmetic. One of the most popular cosmetic injectables available, its versatility and non-invasive nature only adds to its popularity and demand.
Since becoming FDA-approved in 2002 as a temporary solution to frown lines, this injectable treatment has been used to treat millions of patients in the US for aesthetic purposes. Considered to be one of the safest and most tested drugs on the market, it’s also extremely effective and convenient for patients.
Botulinum toxin injections relax and temporarily improve wrinkles, treating lines between the eyebrows, on the forehead, or at the corners of the eyes on a temporary basis with very little discomfort and no downtime. Some patients schedule their Botox appointments at lunchtime and head right back to work following their session!
Botox works by limiting the movements of facial muscles in the treated areas. By limiting these movements, the muscles cannot contract, resulting in a smoother, more youthful look to the face. Though the results are temporary, it’s a great introductory treatment for people who are interested in a non-invasive solution for facial wrinkles that inevitably occur with aging.
When administered by a qualified doctor, Botox treatments typically last about three to four months on average. In order to maintain their results, patients must keep up a consistent schedule of regular treatments.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox works as a neuromodulator, relaxing dynamic lines and wrinkles that form over time as the result of facial muscle activity and repetitive facial expressions. A skilled Botox injector can create a natural look that allows the patient to express themselves while easing unwanted wrinkles. Unlike the expensive wrinkle creams that many of our patients have used without success, Botox has the power to block muscular signals and prevent the face from contracting.
How Botox Helps with Migraines
Botox isn’t just for wrinkles. It’s a versatile treatment that can also provide relief from migraines. A migraine is a recurrent headache that usually affects one side of the head and involves side effects like temporary vision issues or nausea. In 2010, BOTOX® was approved by the FDA to treat migraines.
Botox works as a chronic migraine treatment by blocking neurotransmitters that carry pain signals from the brain, stopping the chemicals before they make it to the nerve endings around the head and cause a migraine. Patients who suffer from migraines may be able to find relief by receiving BOTOX® injections every 12 weeks.
Treatment Areas
| Around the eyes | Crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes |
| Between the eyebrows | “Frown lines” resulting from furrowing the brow |
| Forehead | Horizontal forehead lines or excessive sweating |
| Around the mouth | Laugh lines or fine lines caused by facial expressions |
| Jaw | Treatment for the masseter muscle |
Botox Alternatives
Dysport
Probably the best-known alternative to Botox, Dysport uses similar ingredients and has earned FDA approval as an effective treatment option for patients trying to keep their frown lines and wrinkles at bay. Like Botox, it temporarily immobilizes facial muscles to treat wrinkles. Dysport can:
- Smooth out fine lines
- Restore a youthful appearance
- Improve resting facial expression
- Produce effective results for an affordable price
Many people find that after several Dysport treatments, they don’t need maintenance doses as often because they have “unlearned” the habit of frowning or squinting that originally led to their dynamic wrinkles. The lasting effect of treatment with Dysport can differ between individuals, however. This is something you can discuss during your Dysport consultation with our specialist.
Injectables/Dermal Fillers
Botox is designed to treat dynamic wrinkles. Static wrinkles, on the other hand, are caused by volume loss and remain even when the face is at rest. In such a case, perhaps patients should consider facial fillers to address such issues. These wrinkles and furrows are best treated with injectables made from biocompatible materials like hyaluronic acid, rather than neuromodulators.
Dermal fillers can also be used to restore volume in areas of the face that are sunken and appear tired. Injectables are a great non-invasive rejuvenation option for people who are not interested in surgery.
With so many injectables currently on the market, choosing the right one can be a challenge. During a consultation at our Austin practice, Dr. Buckingham can help determine the right injectables for your needs.
What To Expect During and After Botox
Patients often wonder how they will feel following a Botox or Dysport session. In general, the procedure for the forehead area consists of 4 or 5 small injections, while the crow’s feet area involves 2 to 4 per side.
Ice is used as a topical anesthetic at the injection site in most cases, but if a patient is particularly nervous, a topical cream may be used to help them remain as comfortable as possible during treatment. Our experts use a 32 gauge needle, which is very tiny and causes very little discomfort.
There should not be any pain once the Botox injections are complete. Minor bruising, redness, and swelling may occur, but these side effects should subside quickly.
Botox typically begins to take effect within a few days following the injection. Effectiveness increases during the first week. In some cases, the full effects can take up to 2 weeks to emerge. The results typically last for 3 to 4 months, depending on the treatment area. The severity of the patient’s wrinkles, the strength of the facial muscles, and the number of past treatments all play a role in the longevity of the results.
Botox Instructions & Aftercare
Recovery
In general, the recovery process for injectable treatments is easy. Most patients are able to resume work and other daily activities as soon as the treatment is complete and can engage in light exercise 4 hours following treatment. However, if the Botox session was to treat your frown lines, we recommend keeping your head elevated for 3 hours post-session.
Aftercare
Follow these aftercare instructions to help ensure optimal results and to prevent complications from occurring:
| Pain management | You may have mild bruising, swelling, discomfort, and/or a headache following the injection session. You may use an ice pack on the treated area and take Tylenol for the discomfort. |
| Don’t rub the area | Do not massage the treatment area. This may diffuse the Botox into the surrounding muscles, causing unwanted effects. |
| Don’t lie down | Stay upright and avoid lying flat for 2-3 hours after treatment to prevent Botox or Dysport from spreading unevenly. |
| Rashes or swelling | If any rashes or any abnormal swelling develops and persists for 3 or more days, call our office at 512-401-2500 |
More information on aftercare and Botox safety can be found on the product site.
How Much Does Botox Cost?
An average treatment ranges from $150 to $350 for each injectable area. However, there are a number of factors that go into determining the cost of Botox, which can be further discussed during your initial consultation at Buckingham Center in Austin, TX.
How Long Is The Botox Procedure?
A treatment session lasts approximately ten minutes. Botox is a favorite among busy patients because they can often fit treatments into their lunch break with no downtime.
Related Articles
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- What can I do if I am resistant to Botox?
- Which works better for smoothing wrinkles, Botox or filler injections?
Frequently Asked Questions
While these muscle relaxants are fantastic treatments for wrinkles once they’ve appeared, there’s not much research indicating that they do much in preventing wrinkles.
Even if they do ultimately keep dynamic wrinkles from forming, there are other proven treatments available at Buckingham Center to keep the skin looking young. Treatments ranging from skincare products, chemical peels, and other non-invasive procedures help to maintain the skin’s long-term health and beauty.
Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery strives to make Botox affordable for all patients in Austin, Sunset Valley, and surrounding areas. That’s why we consistently feature special offers on our site.
While these two options are very different, the best choice depends on the goals you want to achieve. Botox is ideal as a quick fix for your wrinkles. But if you’re looking to give your skin a long-lasting refreshed look, then laser treatments might be a better option. Every case is different, and a consultation with our specialists will help clear up any confusion regarding these two procedures.
Q – Can Botox or Dysport help reduce the appearance of crow’s feet?
Crow’s feet are the wrinkles that appear in the skin at the corners of the eyes, resembling the shape of a bird’s foot. They are particularly noticeable when a person is smiling, squinting, or laughing. When delivered safely by a specialist, cosmetic injections like Dysport or Botox can serve as an ideal treatment for crow’s feet.
Q – Is it safe to get Botox or Dysport while I’m still breastfeeding?
Botox is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. While it is almost certainly safe to inject, we require that you wait until you are done breastfeeding to schedule an appointment with us.
Q – If I have a special event coming up, how far ahead of time do I schedule an appointment for Botox?
Patients often schedule anti-aging treatments to look their best when attending a wedding, graduation, party, or another special event. Since the maximum effect of Botox typically appears around 10 to 14 days after treatment and lasts for a few months, Dr. Buckingham recommends that patients get Botox approximately one month before their event for optimal results.
Q – Will my face be frozen by this treatment?
When administered properly by a trained Botox specialist, patients should have no issues with making normal facial expressions following their sessions.
Q – How much Botox is used during each treatment?
We use the standard 2.5 ccs yielding 4 units per 0.1 ccs of saline. The starting dose for a glabella is 20 units of Botox. For the periocular lines (crow’s feet), it is 10 units per side. Forehead treatment is more variable and depends on the size of the forehead.
Q – Are there any risks or side effects associated with Dysport or Botox?
Botox, Dysport, and other botulinum toxin treatments are very safe and pose very minimal risks for asymmetry or incomplete muscle relaxation. Even rarer side effects include allergic reactions, dry mouth, droopy eyelids, double vision, drowsiness, headaches, neck pain, and vision issues. On the off-chance that any of these occur, seek medical attention right away.
Why Choose Dr. Buckingham
- B.B.A. in Accounting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
- Completed his pre-medical coursework achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average at the University of Texas in Austin.
- Received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
- He was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society as a junior medical student and served as the organization’s vice-president and later president.
- Graduating medical school in the top 2% of the class with highest honors, Dr. Buckingham received the Donald Duncan Memorial Scholarship in Anatomy, the Edward Randall Medal for Academic Excellence, and the Merck Manual Award.
- He then performed a general surgery internship and Otolaryngology residency at UTMB and was a nominee for the UTMB overall-outstanding resident.
- Additionally, he served as president of the UTMB House Officer Association and served two years on the Graduate Medical Education Advisory Committee and Executive Committee.
Schedule Your Botox Consultation Today
If you’re interested in learning more about Botox or Dysport and are wondering whether you’re a good candidate for this treatment, call our Austin practice at 512-401-2500 or fill out our convenient online contact form.