Botox

Non-surgical procedures such as Botox have become immensely popular for those seeking an effective way to improve their looks without the downtime. Botox is the trade name for a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin, which works by temporarily paralyzing select muscles in the face that create wrinkles. There are several types of botulinum toxin, but type A is the one doctors primarily use to treat cosmetic issues.

Dr. Michael J. Yoo has helped numerous patients at his Irvine and Beverly Hills offices enhance their looks with this easy procedure. Schedule a consultation to get started.

Botox – A Great Non-Surgical Aesthetic Enhancement

The very thought of paralysis is frightening to most patients unfamiliar with its medical usefulness. Neurotoxins like Botox have been used to successfully treat a wide variety of medical conditions, including voice disorders, sweating, and migraine headaches. The Food and Drug Administration approves Botox for nonsurgical aesthetic enhancement.

The substance is selectively injected to target specific muscle groups, such as those that create frown lines and the lines around the outer aspect of the eyes when smiling or squinting. Weakening and paralyzing these muscles dramatically improves the appearance of dynamic wrinkles or the lines that occur with movement. Static lines and wrinkles – the lines that are present even when the face is at rest – are generally not affected, although the lines and creases accentuated by muscle movements can somewhat improve.

Fillers are a great complement to the beneficial effects of Botox by ‘filling’ in the creases and grooves unaffected by the neurotoxin. They are a safe and effective way to add volume to certain areas, thereby restoring a more youthful appearance.

Conditions Treated By Botox

There are multiple conditions, both cosmetic and health-related, that respond extremely well to the use of Botox for treatment. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Yoo in his Orange County office to discuss treatment of any of the following cosmetic or medical concerns.

Migraines

The Food and Drug Administration approved the treatment of migraines with Botox in 2010 after finding that the neurotoxin is very effective in reducing the pain associated with this condition. Chronic migraines can be eased for up to three months using Botox injections, which can be administered every 12 weeks. For the 12% of Americans whose lives are severely impaired by throbbing head pain, Dr. Yoo may recommend the injections as a great non-invasive option.

Sweating

Botox is oftentimes injected into the armpits in cases of extreme underarm sweating, or severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis. This condition can be crippling and shameful for those who suffer from it. Where strong antiperspirants or topical treatments fail, Botox can often solve the problem by interrupting the chemical that triggers the sweat glands and cutting the process of perspiration off at the source. Studies show that it may also be effective in other areas of the body that may sweat profusely, including the skin below the breast, hands, feet, and even the head and facial region.

Forehead Lines

Forehead lines are another symptom of time that often have the effect of highlighting a person’s age. These creases can be smoothed out with Botox injections for an even, unblemished, young-looking brow area devoid of worry and time. In some cases, these injections can also provide the effects of a temporary brow lift.

Crow’s Feet

Lines around the eyes are very common with age and Botox is an equally common treatment for them. Crow’s feet begin showing up in individuals as early as in their twenties and tend to get deeper and more dramatic over time as skin becomes looser and more prone to creasing.

Furrowed Brows

People dislike the dreaded brow furrow primarily because it has the power to make happy people look unnecessarily angry. Botox can be quite effective in lessening this problem, giving back the attractive relaxed expression patients once had in their youth by smoothing out the skin between the eyebrows.

Bands on the Neck

The paralyzing effect of Botox is extraordinarily useful in getting rid of vertical bands on the neck, which can induce appearance anxiety in potential patients. Movement of the neck muscle causes these bands so, by temporarily paralyzing this muscle, the lines are smoothed out.

How Botox Works

While the idea of Botox might be ubiquitous, its actual modus operandi is less widely understood. Here is how this fascinating compound functions:

Botox is actually a neurotoxin that works by creating a sort of paralysis in the nerve-to-muscle communication mechanism, which utilizes a messenger called acetylcholine. In very tiny doses injected into the human body, Botox obstructs this neurotransmitter’s signals between the nerve cell and the muscle it is trying to talk to. Without the ability to receive the message, the muscle is paralyzed and unable to continue moving as instructed. This causes the creases and wrinkles to grow softer and lift out, creating a more smooth and youthful exterior.

Botox vs. Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are injected below the skin surface to help smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and add volume to areas such as the cheeks, chin, and lips. Compared to Botox, dermal fillers are effective at treating static wrinkles.

Side effects potentially associated with Botox and dermal fillers are comparable, both involving minor bruising or swelling in the affected area and both lasting for only a day or two. The longevity of the two cosmetic options do differ, however; while the effects of Botox wear off after three to six months, fillers can last anywhere from six months to five years, depending on the specific compound being used. During the consultation appointment, Dr. Yoo will be able to assist the patient in determining the right treatment option for them.

Are You a Candidate for Botox?

Botox is used pretty broadly – about six million injections are administered to patients every year. If the patient is generally healthy, but has facial wrinkles, excessive sweating, or chronic migraines that are getting in the way of them living their best life, then they may be a good candidate for Botox treatments.

If, however, the patient has any medical concerns including preexisting nerve or muscular damage, it is important to bring these up to Dr. Yoo during the consultation. In some cases, Botox may negatively impact preexisting medical concerns. Botox is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as research has not ascertained whether or not the drug is potentially dangerous for either the mother or the child.

Consultation

Treatment Process

Botox injections only require a brief appointment, and patients are able to continue their normal routine immediately. It is possible that patients will experience some slight puffiness or a bit of bruising, which is caused by the needle entering the skin. The Botox will begin to soften the harsh lines on the face upon injection and physical results should be visible within less than three days and as little as one day. Any bruising or swelling is on the mild side, lasts no longer than a day or two, and can usually be successfully obscured with makeup.

How Many Units Are Needed?

The cosmetic issues to be addressed and the severity of those issues will dictate the unit size of each injection. Dr. Yoo will provide more detailed information tailored to the individual’s circumstances and wishes during the consultation visit. Generally speaking, Botox injections can consist of anywhere from two to 25 units, and this varies based on the depth, size, and location of the crease and the person’s physical frame and gender.

Recovery & Results

This technique is a quick and effective way to improve one’s appearance. Results can be seen in one to three days and last up to 120 days. There is usually no swelling or bruising. The injected areas should not be massaged or rubbed for three to four hours after injection. This prevents unwanted spread of the neurotoxin.

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