Botox Q & A
What is Botox?
Botox is a cosmetic injection FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines. Every year, more than seven million people in the United States choose Botox to erase years from their look.
Dr. Shawl is an experienced facial plastic surgeon with an eye for beauty and aesthetics and knows exactly where to place your Botox injections to get the look you want without appearing as though you had work done.
In addition to Botox, Dr. Shawl also offers Jeuvea™, which is a cosmetic injection similar to Botox that’s FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe frown lines.
How does Botox diminish wrinkles?
Botox works by temporarily reducing muscle activity under your skin. Every time you squint, frown or raise your forehead, the muscles under your skin cause your skin to fold, which creates lines, creases, and wrinkles.
As you get older, your skin produces less collagen, which is the protein that provides your skin with its strength and elasticity, so when you make those facial expressions, your skin is unable to bounce back, resulting in the permanent lines.
By halting the activity of the muscle under your skin, Botox stops the folding of your skin and the creation of those lines.
What can I expect during Botox injections?
Dr. Shawl conducts your Botox injections at the office, which usually takes about 30 minutes for aesthetic procedures. The needle used for your Botox injections is very small, and any discomfort you experience should be minimal. However, if you’re sensitive to pain, be sure to let Dr. Shawl know so he can adjust your treatment.
The number of injections you need for wrinkle reduction depends on the treatment areas. In general:
- Crow’s feet - three injections on each side
- Forehead lines - five injections
- Frown lines - three injections
While results vary, you may begin to notice an improvement in your look within 2-3 days after your injections and your new look may last as long as four months. Once you start to notice your lines and wrinkles returning, Dr. Shawl recommends you return to the office for another round of injections. Frequent Botox injections may help thin the muscle under your skin, which helps improve the longevity of your treatments.
To schedule Botox injections with an experienced facial plastic surgeon who puts your needs first, call Matthew W. Shawl, MD, or request an appointment online today.
