What is Injectable Botox®?
Botox®, Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin®, are wrinkle-relaxing injections that use tiny amounts of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to treat wrinkles, frown lines, crow’s feet, and other areas of the face and neck. A miniscule amount of the Botox® is injected directly into the carefully targeted muscles, causing them to relax, and gradually smoothing out the appearance of the overlying skin. The effects typically last about three to four months.
While Botox® was developed as the first neuromodulator injectable, there are other types of neuromodulators that have slightly different formulations with the same core ingredient. Viva Eve’s Cosmetic Dermatology specialists will discuss with you your preferences and provide recommendations during your complimentary consultation.
How do you prepare for Botox®?
Whether you’re preparing for Botox® treatment or any other neuromodulator treatment, you’ll have a consultation with one of our Cosmetic Dermatology specialists. During this consultation, you’ll discuss your skin goals, medical history, and areas of concern so that our specialist can design a custom skincare plan for you. If the best course of treatment includes injectable Botox®, you may decide to do the procedure the same-day, or may need to plan a bit further in advance.
Prior to your Botox® injection, you’ll be advised to:
- Stay off blood thinners (Advil, Ibuprofen, etc.)
- Avoid alcohol at least 24 hours prior to treatment
- Avoid beverages containing caffeine at least 24 hours before the treatment
- Stay away from topical products like Retinols, Glycolic Acid, and Alpha Hydroxy Acid for 3 days prior to your injection. These products may break your skin, making you susceptible to bruises and infections after the procedure.
- Avoid bleaching, waxing, using depilatory creams, or tweezing in the area to be treated for one or two days prior to treatment.
All these measures will help to minimize the risk of bruising or infection after your Botox® injection procedure.
Which areas of the face can be treated with Botox®?
- Transverse Lines and Wrinkles – Botox® is often performed on the upper portion of the forehead to treat the transverse (Horizontal) Lines and Wrinkles. This is one of the top two most common treatments involving Botox®.
- Worry Lines – The second most common use for Botox®, and the application for which it was first approved by FDA, is to treat the so-called Worry Lines (vertical lines between the eyebrows) formed by the glabella muscles. These are often formed due to concentration or stress.
- Crow’s Feet Wrinkles – Some patients develop Crow’s Feet Wrinkles, the lines that radiate outward from the eyes and worsen over time. This treatment involves injections around the sensitive anatomy of the eyes, so Viva Eve’s expert Cosmetic Dermatology specialists recommend that you seek an expert practitioner to treat this delicate area.
- Nonsurgical Brow Lift – The non-surgical Brow Lift using Botox® is an advanced injection technique. Botox® is injected in the vertical fibers of a muscle around the eye to decrease the force pulling downward on the lateral portion of the brow.
- Bunny Lines – Strategically placed Botox® injections can also minimize the appearance of the so-called Bunny Lines, which are wrinkles and fine lines that appear diagonally on both sides of the nose.
- Marionette Lines – Botox® is also useful for Marionette Lines because it relaxes the muscles that pull down the corners of the mouth, while dermal fillers are usually the treatment of choice for erasing those lines because they add volume to the lower parts of the face. Your Cosmetic Dermatology specialist may also recommend combining both treatments to achieve the best results.
- Facial Slimming Treatment – Botox® can also be used as a Facial Slimming Treatment. This procedure involves injecting it into targeted cheek muscles to reduce their prominence and to help patients with a square or angular jaw who would like to have slimmer, more feminine jawlines.
- Neck Rejuvenation – Another advanced Botox® injection technique is Neck Rejuvenation. This procedure addresses horizontal lines on the neck. This is a very delicate and sensitive area, and Viva Eve’s Cosmetic Dermatology specialists recommend that you only consider this type of injection with a very experienced practitioner.
What can you expect during a Botox® Injection procedure?
As a Botox® injection patient you should expect only the best services and products available.
If you are looking for an expert injector to administer your injectable Botox®, look no further than Viva Eve. We are here as your partner in your healthcare journey, knowing that injectables require a more delicate touch and a gentle hand to avoid over-injecting, ensuring the best possible results.
With topical anesthetic, a Botox® injection procedure at Viva Eve is virtually painless. Even when patients choose not to use a numbing agent, all they feel is a small pinch and report that pain is minimal. Our injectors are experts and do the anti wrinkle injections so quickly, you might not even notice when they are already done.
What is the followup and recovery like for a Botox® procedure?
There is no downtime or recovery time for injectable Botox®, whether it’s an anti-wrinkle injection or a different type of Botox® injection. You may resume normal activities immediately. However, our Cosmetic Dermatology specialists offer the following advice following the procedure:
- If there is any swelling, applying an ice pack to the treatment areas can help.
- Avoid lying down completely flat for 4 hours after a Botox® injection. This prevents the treatment from migrating outside the targeted areas.
- Avoid vigorous physical activity for at least 24 hours.
- Don’t rub or massage the treated areas because it can cause the botulinum toxin to migrate to other areas of your face.
- Consider using arnica, a natural remedy, to help reduce post-treatment pain and bruising.
What should I expect during Botox® Injection recovery?
Botox® injections are generally very safe, but each person reacts differently to this treatment in terms of pain and length of recovery time following injection. After treatment, you may experience slight bruising at the injection site that can last up to a week. If side effects persist, don’t hesitate to contact your Botox® injector.
What are the potential costs for a Botox® Injection procedure?
Cosmetic services are generally not covered by most insurance plans, but there may be some specific exceptions that are considered medically necessary and may be partially/fully covered.
What are the potential risks for a Botox® Injection procedure?/h2>
As with any kind of procedure, there are risks to take into consideration before you decide to get it done. Injectable Botox® is relatively safe when performed by an expert injector. Possible side effects and complications include:
- Pain, inflammation or bruising at the treatment area
- Headache or flu-like symptoms
- Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows
- Crooked smile or drooling
- Eye dryness or excessive tearing
We also generally recommend against using injectable Botox® while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Are there related procedures to a Botox® procedure?
Viva Eve offers a number of combination treatments, depending on your specific needs. Injectable Botox® and dermal fillers are two types of injectables made of substances that affect the body in different ways. When used at the same time, they complement each other. Your Cosmetic Dermatology specialist may recommend either doing both treatments at the same time or waiting a week or two after the Botox® injection.
Can I combine Botox® with other cosmetic treatments?
Viva Eve offers a number of combination treatments, depending on the patient’s specific needs. Botox® and dermal fillers are two types of injectables made of substances that affect the body in different ways. When used at the same time, they complement each other. Your Cosmetic Dermatology specialist may recommend either doing both treatments at the same time or waiting a week or two after the Botox injection.