BOTOX Cosmetic® (Botulinum Toxin type A) for Anti-Aging
At Imagen, we use BOTOX Cosmetic® (botulinum toxin) to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as soften the jawline, reduce grinding of the teeth, and treat Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). Botox Injections temporarily act as a muscle relaxant underneath the skin lessening the movement in the area and decreasing lines and wrinkles over time. Both BOTOX® and Dysport are used for the same purpose, however, BOTOX® has more recognition as a household name. BOTOX® participates in Allē, a rewards program for earning points and certificates towards your treatment.
What is Botox Cosmetic(botulinum toxin)?
Botox is a neuromodulator which inhibits the signal that travels from a nerve to a muscle fiber, telling it to contract. The Botox sits in the receptors on the muscle, preventing the passage of the signal, thus preventing the muscle from contracting. Over time (about 3 months), your body removes the Botox from the receptors and normal motion returns.
What is Botox Used For?
At Imagen, we use Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxina) to relax wrinkles by reducing the frequent muscle contractions that are part of facial expression. This results in a more relaxed, stress-free, and youthful appearance without a face lift. Botox is derived from clostridium botulinum and has been used in millions of patients worldwide to treat undesirable frown lines between your brows, forehead wrinkles and to soften crow’s feet around the eyes. But that’s not all it can do!
Botox can also be used to soften the jawline, improve a gummy smile or lift the tip of your nose! The treatment helps to minimize lines of expression and therefore can help you to look younger and more refreshed*. There are also other Botulinum Toxin products available such as Dysport and Xeomin. Botox is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment, it is not plastic surgery.
Botox Cosmetic is not the same as Botox Therapeutic. If you are looking for treatment of muscle spasms (blepharospasm or limb spasticity), medical conditions such as overactive bladder/urinary incontinence or neurologic conditions (myasthenia gravis, ALS or cervical dystonia), you will want to find a healthcare provider that uses Botox Therapeutic or Myobloc. These treatments, unlike Botox Cosmetic, are often covered by your health insurance. Most dermatology and plastic surgery clinics use exclusively Botox Cosmetic to treat signs of aging.
What are the 3 Areas for Botox?
Botox is FDA approved to treat the glabella (11s), forehead and crow’s feet. It can be used
“off label” for many other lines, wrinkles and more!
COMMON AREAS OF TREATMENT WITH BOTOX COSMETIC:
- Facial Wrinkles
- Forehead Creases
- Frown Lines or 11’s
- Crow’s Feet
- Masseters/Bruxism
- Smoker’s lines
- Chin Dimples
- Neck bands
- Axillae (for severe underarm sweating)
- Palms of Hands (for excessive sweating)
Am I a Good Candidate for Botox Injections (Botulinum Toxin) or Fillers?
If you have lines or wrinkles on your face from the movement of your facial muscles, then you may be a good candidate for Botox injections. If your lines are deep, you may need several treatments before you see significant improvement. There are very few people whose facial wrinkles will not be improved with Botox treatment. Suitable candidates for Botox lead a healthy lifestyle, have minimal medical conditions, and follow a medical grade skincare regimen. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not receive Botox injections.
Botox Cosmetic is not FDA approved for pediatric patients and should not be used in patients under 18 years old. In the state of Nebraska, you must have parental consent to receive injections if you are under the age of consent (19).
What Should I Expect with my Botox Treatment at Imagen?
Our experienced providers perform all of our facial rejuvenation treatments. Botox is a minimally invasive treatment that does not require anesthesia (although as a courtesy we can use numbing cream on the area beforehand if you would like, just let us know!) Botox is an office-based treatment that only takes a few minutes to perform. You can expect to see the results in as little as a week with no downtime!
Although our injectors use Botox for improvement in the signs of aging, some of our patients who treat the forehead and frown lines also notice an improvement in chronic migraines!
How many units of Botox do I need?
The number of units needed for your Botox injection will depend on several factors. Men typically need more units than women, because their muscles are stronger. Some areas are larger (like the forehead) and if you have a lot of lines you may need more units to cover the area. Some muscles are stronger (like the masseter) and will require more units and some are more delicate (like those around the lips) and will use less. For your first time, we will typically use the lowest number of units that we think will get the job done.
This means you may need to come back for a touch up. We think that this is preferable to using too many units initially. You can always add more, but if you look “frozen” or “over done” there isn’t a way to reverse the Botox effects. All of that being said, a typical starting point for an area of Botox is generally about 12 units.
When do you start to see the effects of Botox?
Unfortunately, the effects of Botox are not immediate, but how long does Botox take to work? With a little patience, you will see the product gradually take effect, relaxing the muscle contractions and improving the facial wrinkles and frown lines. Most patients see their Botox kicking in about 3-5 days after their injection and full results can take up to 2 weeks.
How long does Botox last?
How long your Botox results last depends on many factors. Clinical trials show that for most patients, the results will last between 3 to 5 months. If you are looking to prevent wrinkles from forming (like many of our 20 to 30-year-old patients), you may only need treatment every 6 months.
If you already have deep lines, you may desire treatment as frequently as every 3 months. It all depends on how your muscles respond to the treatment. The duration of treatment also depends on how many units you use. For areas that are treated with fewer units (like the lip lines, neck lines or under eye area or when you’re using “baby botox”) the results typically don’t last as long. In areas where larger doses are needed (for example the larger facial muscles like the masseter), the results may last longer.
Is Botox Cosmetic Safe?
Botox is a very safe treatment, there are few serious side effects. Most patients are back to pretty much normal activity right after their injection. That being said, your healthcare provider should always review the prescribing information, medication guide and side effects with you. Botulinum toxin injections have been used in millions of patients worldwide and has been an FDA approved cosmetic treatment for the improvement of wrinkles in the US since 2002.
What are the risks of Botulinum Toxin?
The most common side effect of Botox injection is bruising at the injection site. This is seen most commonly when treating the crow’s feet. Patients taking blood thinners have a higher risk of bruising. To reduce the risk of bruising, you may wish to ice the treatment area before and/or after the injection. Oral or topical Arnica can also help to prevent or treat bruising. Although Botox Therapeutic can be used to treat chronic migraine, some patients do experience headaches after Botox injections. The pain will typically resolve after a few days and it responds well to ibuprofen.
There have been reports of side effects involving eye problems after botulinum neurotoxin injection. Drooping eyelids or heaviness in the brow or eyelid are the most common of these and are related to the temporary muscle weakness caused by Botox, but there have also been reports of double vision and dry eyes. The drooping brow is typically related to the placement of the Botox and can often be improved with another injection. It is possible to experience trouble swallowing when having the injections around the neck bands. Allergic reactions to Botox are very rare.
Because Botox is derived from clostridium botulinum, it is possible to get botulism (muscle weakness, dizziness, loss of bladder control) from Botox injections. Most reported cases of botulism result in patients receiving very high doses of Botox (over 100 units). None of the effects of Botox are permanent and our healthcare providers have years of experience with Botox.
Is Botox (botulinum toxin) good for your Face?
Prejuvenation has become a very popular topic in the realm of dermatology and plastic surgery. The idea is to prevent signs of aging rather than chasing after youth and trying to bring it back once it’s gone. Along with clinical Sunscreens (Like TiZO or iS Clinical) and prescribed skin care, Botox Cosmetic is a popular way to help slow the signs of aging and limit facial wrinkles. By relaxing the muscle contractions, you can help stop frown lines before they form permanent creases in your skin. Regular Botox injections help to keep those muscles weak, preventing deep lines from ever forming.
What is the Difference Between Botox and Dysport?
Botox and Dysport are both botulinum toxins. Botox is onabotulinumtoxinA and Dysport is abobotulinumtoxinA. They are essentially two different brands of the same toxin (we explain it like Coke and Pepsi are two different brands of Cola…some differences, but similar products). Dysport has a smaller protein profile and is thus taken up into the junction between the nerve and the muscle faster. Most patients who have tried both products will say that they notice a slightly faster onset with Dysport (2-3 days), but that the results and duration are similar. Just like with the colas, some patients have a brand loyalty, but most don’t notice much difference.
How Much Does Botox Cost in Omaha, NE?
Many patients are surprised at how affordable Botox treatment can be. All of our Botox treatments are based on the number of units used. If your muscles are very strong, you may need more units initially. For many patients, as the muscles weaken with repeated treatments, they may need fewer units to achieve the same effect. At Imagen, our Botox is only injected by our experienced providers.
Our Botox is $13 per unit. A typical treatment for the frown lines or crow’s feet will usually start at $156. We do participate in Allergan’s Allē (formerly Brilliant Distinctions), a loyalty program for Botox, Juvederm and CoolSculpting users. Every time you get a Botox treatment you earn points. These points can then be redeemed for coupons to use toward your next treatment (or another cosmetic treatment) so you always have a Botox Special!
Treatments That Compliment Botox Injections
Here at Imagen, we focus on total body rejuvenation and anti-aging when it comes to our cosmetic procedures. We not only want to enhance your youthful appearance, but we also want to maintain a youthful appearance, as well.
Although we offer liposuction of the face and neck, we also specialize in neuromodulator treatments, fillers, laser treatments, microneedling, chemical peels, skincare, and PRP to increase skin rejuvenation, health, and longevity. Along with these cosmetic procedures, Imagen is the only provider in Omaha that offers Renuvion for skin-tightening with all of our liposuction procedures and as a standalone procedure, as well.
Schedule a Consultation for Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin)
If you are interested in learning more about Botox Injections, fillers or other med spa treatments being used as part of your comprehensive facial rejuvenation treatment plan, please call us at 402-347-4433 to schedule a complimentary consultation. We also offer minimally invasive surgical procedures such as liposuction, BBL and Renuvion.
If you are not in Omaha, Lincoln, Council Bluffs or the surrounding metro, we do offer virtual consultations as well!