What is Botox®?
Botox®, originally known as Oculinum, is a neurotoxin used to prevent and remove wrinkles. Botox for wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet is an easy and effective solution to signs of aging.
It was initially used in FDA studies of patients that had eye muscle-squeezing disorders. Dr. Allan Wulc took part in conducting the original clinical trials in the 1980s. At that time, he noticed the effect of Oculinum on wrinkles and spoke about it at an international meeting in the early 90s.
Now, Botox is a household word. The other neurotoxins available — Dysport®, and Xeomin® — were more recently approved, and they are also used in our Philadelphia office.
HOW DOES BOTOX WORK?
Botox is a type of neurotoxin that is injected under the skin to remove wrinkles. Small doses are placed in multiple locations to selectively elevate certain facial muscles, lessen wrinkles, and lift areas that are sagging.
Botox and other neurotoxins act by temporarily blocking transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles that cause wrinkling. The muscle relaxes and the furrows in the skin diminish.
The wrinkles that occur with expression or at rest that you see in the mirror are what we can make disappear with Botox®. →
Common Botox Injection Sites & Treatments
Botox in the neck
We initially reported Botox® in treatments to the neck in a paper published in 1994.
Sagging in the neck is often caused by the spasm of the platysma muscle. The platysma muscle, if treated with small doses of Botox®, relaxes and improves the sagging in the neck and allows other parts of the muscle to pull upwards—restoring the jawline and recreating a more youthful face and neck contour. With a very small amount of Botox®, we have been able to improve the neck by 30% to 50% in select patients.
If a neck is heavy with fat or very very loose muscles, other treatments such as liposuction, Kybella® or face and neck lift may be better options.
Botox Lip Flip
The Botox® lip flip makes the lips pout slightly. It is more effective for the lower lip than the upper lip. It can be used to enhance the benefits of fillers.
What to Expect During a Botox Injection Treatment
Botox®, Dysport®, and Xeomin® are all administered in our Philadelphia office. Before treatment, your facial expressions are observed along with areas of wrinkling.
Dr. Wulc — the lead surgeon at W Cosmetic Surgery™ of Philadelphia — has a unique injection technique, perfected during his 25 years using neuromodulators (such as Botox®). This technique is employed by fewer than 1% of aesthetic physicians. Because of his expertise, Dr. Wulc has taught these methods to other physicians and has published his research and findings.
Patients undergo injections at several sites using a very fine needle. Bruising from Botox® injections is rare and any bruising is usually easily concealed. Called the “nanodroplet” technique, small doses (much smaller doses than those used by other providers) are placed in multiple locations to selectively elevate certain facial muscles, lessen wrinkles, and lift areas that are sagging.
Most of our patients don’t require topical anesthesia (numbing cream) on the injection sites prior to the procedure because Dr. Wulc has several ways of making the injections minimally bothersome.
The onset of effect varies from person to person, but usually, results of Botox®, Dysport® or Xeomin® are seen within 5-7 days.
How much does Botox cost?
The cost of Botox depends on the number of areas being treated and the amount of Botox needed to treat those areas. Schedule a consultation to get a customized estimate.
Are there any Botox alternatives?
Other alternatives to Botox are Dysport and Xeomin, which we also provide at W Cosmetic Surgery. Each of these neurotoxins is bound to a carrier protein (with the exception of Xeomin which doesn’t have a protein). The toxins differ primarily in the amount they spread in the face after injection. Some of our patients have a strong preference for one or the other. While we can use them all to the same benefit, they vary in price.
Is there any downtime after receiving Botox?
There is no downtime after receiving Botox – that’s the beauty of it!
How long does Botox last?
Botox® weakens muscles for about 2.5 months. The effect on wrinkles depends on the age of the patient, lasting only 3 months or so in the expressive and over-40 crowd.
It could potentially last longer in those that are either younger or have been getting injected for a longer period of time. In general, patients with sagging necks require Botox every 3-4 months.
What are the possible side effects of Botox?
Described side effects of Botox include:
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- Pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site.
- Headache or flu-like symptoms.
- Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows.
- Crooked smile or drooling.
- Eye dryness or excessive tearing.
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In our practice, all of these side effects are experienced rarely because we’ve found ways of reducing the pain of injection using vibration, small needles, and have refined our techniques of injection. The flu like syndrome listed above is seen in some patients; we often advise trying a different neurotoxin and that seems to resolve the situation.
How often should you get Botox?
Because Botox achieves shorter-lived results, patients should receive it ever 3-4 months if they would like to upkeep their less wrinkled appearance.
Can Botox be administered around the mouth?
We initially published our results with Botox around the mouth in 1994. Botox ®can improve jowls, improve some marionettes, and reduce wrinkles around the mouth. It needs to be repeated every three months.
Is Botox dangerous or bad for you?
As long as it is administered by a certified and experienced doctor, Botox is generally a safe anti-aging and age-reversing option.
Can I get Botox while breastfeeding?
There has been no scientific evidence to support the idea that Botox will negatively affect breast milk or harm a breastfed baby. Nonetheless, we prefer to postpone Botox injections till the cessation of breast feeding.
BOOK YOUR BOTOX CONSULTATION TODAY
Interested in Botox injections? Contact us today to learn more
The consultation is a private meeting for you to discuss your goals, have your candidacy assessed, and ask any questions you may have about the procedure.
Dr. Wulc will examine your skin to determine the treatment option that can help you reach your goals.
Discover your possibilities.
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