Crow’s feet after Botox
What is Botox?
Botox is an abbreviation of the brand name Botox Cosmetic. It is based on the botulinum toxin and is an injectable neuromuscular blocker, or muscle relaxer, used to treat wrinkles. Botox is a prescription medication and is often the very first cosmetic procedure that people undertake.
Be sure to check out the Botox Before & After pictures at the bottom of this page!
Why choose Botox?
Your appearance and first impression can set the tone of every personal meeting, even video conference calls. Looking angry or tired can send the wrong message before a person even has the chance to get to know you. There are solutions and Botox is just one of them.
What is botox used for?
It was first approved to treat the glabellar lines between the eyes but has been used to treat many other areas around the face.
In some people’s minds botox has become synonymous with cosmetic dermatology but, in fact, there are many more approved treatments than just botox.
The Off Label, or Extra Label, Uses of Botox
When a drug is used “off label” that means it is being used to treat a condition that was not included in the original FDA clinical safety trials.
“Off-label” use is legal and widely practiced with virtually every drug having off-label uses. Clinicians are free to prescribe any drug for any reason deemed medically appropriate. These uses typically include a use very similar to the “approved” use.
At least 6 years and 2.6 billion dollars are needed to bring a new drug from development, through the FDA process, to market. It is not economically feasible and clinically necessary to submit each and every practical use of a drug for FDA approval.
Here is a fairly comprehensive list of the off label and on label applications for botox in the field of cosmetic dermatology:
- Eyebrow Lift – also known as a “chemical” or “Botox brow lift”. This treatment is not permanent.
- Lip Flip – shows off more red of the upper lip, adds more surface without bulk or projection. Used to treat what is known as the “gummy” smile or “inverted” smile
- Scarring – Botox can be used in a post operative (after surgery) way to lessen the appearance of a fresh scar
- Acne – similarly to the treatment for hyperhidrosis (excess perspiration), Botox can be applied in micro droplets using a micro-pen to reduce acne scarring.
- Peach Pit Chin – also known as cobblestone, peau d’ orange which means “orange skin” or “orange peel” in French. All can be treated with Botox injections.
- Frowns – the DAO, or Depressor Anguli Oris, muscle can weaken allowing the mouth to appear in a continuous frown. The DAO muscle can also be successfully treated with Botox.
- Masseter Injection – also known as the “V” jaw look or jaw slimming. Injections of botox into the masseter muscles of the jaw result in more of a V-shaped face as opposed to square face. Masseter injections can sometimes be use to reduce ear pain, teeth grinding or bruxisms.
- Neck Creases – the vertical, platysmal bands in the neck, also known as guitar strings, neck aging, smile for photos, pop out. The injection of botox into the platysmal bands can result in a softened appearance.
- Nose – botox injections can be used to address nasal flaring, nasal tip dropping, something that shows up in photographs and in your profile view.
- Crow’s Feet – botox injections can be used to minimize the orbicularis oculi contractions, also known as Crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes.
- Bunny Lines – botox injections can be used to treat the nasalis, or Bunny Lines, that contribute to a series of horizontal creases at the bridge of the nose.
- Glabellar Lines – also known as the elevens, can contribute to having an overly concerned look or “knitted brow”. Botox injections are best used before deep, hard to treat lines develop and the possibility that a dermal filler would be needed as well. In general men need more, up to twice as much, botox to address their glabellar lines.
- Naso-labial Folds – also known as “parentheses lines”, run vertically on either side of the mouth. Botox injections can be used to relax the muscles that cause “parentheses lines”.
- Face Turned Down – as a person ages their entire face can begin to droop or look “turned down”. Sometimes strangers, or even family members, mistake this for unhappiness. Botox injections can be used by an experienced applicator to significantly improve one’s appearance.
- Lower Eyelids – botox injections can help minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles in your lower eyelids that are caused by facial expressions. Dermal filler may be recommended to add fullness to the area if depleted by aging.
- Witch’s Chin – or chin ptosis, can be treated with Botox injections which are used to improve symmetry in the chin area.
Botulinum toxin injections, using Botox Cosmetic or Dysport, are a powerful tool in cosmetic dermatology, very useful for achieving your facial aesthetic goals. If you’re interested in trying a botox product we recommend starting with a free consultation by either calling us at (949) 477-9740 or using our handy contact form.
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