3-Minute Botox Treatment: A Non-surgical Way to Look Younger

Do you want to look younger and feel more confident but don't want surgery? Botox is a quick, effective way to maintain your youthfulness without going under the knife. Botox is injected into strategic muscles around the brows to produce the desired lift that lasts for 3 months.

Botox injections can reduce dynamic wrinkles

Our patients in New York City deserve the very best when it comes to anti-wrinkle treatments. Did you know that there are different types of wrinkles? There are the everyday wrinkles that we are all familiar with, and then there are “dynamic wrinkles.” These are wrinkles that are formed from underlying facial contractions that develop when you make certain facial expressions like frowning or appearing surprised. If you have prominent dynamic wrinkles, you should consider having Botox injections in New York City to treat them.

What is Botox? 

Botox is the brand name of botulinum toxin, a purified protein solution developed in a laboratory under controlled conditions. Botox is an injectable liquid medication doctors have used for years to treat wrinkles and facial creases because Botox paralyzes treated muscles temporarily. It has many uses including smoothing out unwanted lines on the face due to aging; fighting underarm sweating issues by reducing sweat gland activity in selected areas; relieving chronic migraines and treating overactive bladder. The treatment was once reserved for the rich and famous, but has now become widespread as the cost has come down.

What It Treats

Botox® injections in New York City are able to minimize wrinkles like those found on the forehead, between the eyebrows, or crow’s feet near the eyes. In addition to its cosmetic applications, Botox injections can be used to treat medical conditions such as hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, as well as for helping to prevent and treat migraine headaches and overactive bladder. Other Botox injections sites such as the lips, around the nose, chin, scrotum can be discussed with your doctor to treat smoker's lines and gummy smile, nose droop, wrinkled chin, and scrotal sweating.

How It Works

Botox® injection works by temporarily reducing the activity of injected facial muscles to prevent them from receiving nerve transmissions from the brain to contract. In other words, Botox paralyzes treated muscles temporarily so they can't make facial expressions. If the muscles at the injection sites cannot receive the message to contract, the treated muscles cannot form dynamic wrinkles or facial expressions at that location.

How Long Does Botox Last? 

One of the most common questions people ask about Botox is "How long does it last?" The answer is 3-6 months and that depends on various factors such as the area treated, the elasticity of the skin, one's metabolism. For instance, Botox treatment's desired effect usually lasts for 3 months on the face before the muscle regains strength. After repeated treatments on the face, (you'll need more than one), you may find your results last longer because the muscles take longer to regain their full strength after being relaxed with Botox injection- sometimes lasting 5 months!

Meanwhile, Botox treatment for excessive sweating of the armpits (hyperhidrosis) typically lasts for 6- 9 months because more units of Botox are used in each armpit (100 units/ armpit) and there isn’t much movement of the muscles in the area.


How long does it take for Botox to work?

Botox treatment may take up to 10 days for you to see the final result. However, you may start noticing improvement 3 days after Botox injection but it continues to improve over the course of 7-10 days, so wait a little more before deciding if you want another Botox injection touch-up.

How much does Botox cost?

There are many factors that go into pricing for Botox injections, and the cost of treatment will vary from doctor to doctor. For instance, some doctors charge per unit of Botox used (ranging between $15-$25 per unit, average of 50 units are injected in a session) while others may charge by total area treated ($400-500 per area). Prices are discussed during your cosmetic consultation where your concerns are also addressed.

What is the ideal age to start receiving Botox treatments?

Many people are asking the question: "What's the ideal age to start using Botox?" There is no definite answer, but many patients choose to have it done in their late twenties or early thirties. This is because by this point, you will know what your skin concerns are and what your lifestyle looks like. If you're still undecided about starting Botox treatments, take some time to think about these 3 questions: What bothers me most about my appearance? Do I want temporary treatment in case I don't like the results? And how much am I willing to spend on treatments?

Botox before and after

See before and after results of real people here

Before and after Botox for TMJ here

Before and after Botox browlift

Botox for facial slimming: Masseter Botox

Botox injection is often associated treatment of dynamic wrinkles, but there are many more uses of Botox on the face. Botox treatment can be done to slim the face in desired areas. For instance, Botox treatment can be injected into the Masseter muscles in the jaw area to achieve a slimming effect of the jaw line area. This treatment can produce natural-looking yet dramatic results at the injection site when done properly.

Botox for eye asymmetry

Do you notice that one eye is much smaller in photos? Botox can be used to open up the eyes and to correct eyes of different sizes. This is a very safe and effective treatment to correct facial asymmetry but it should only be done by a board certified dermatologist to avoid unintended side effects of eyelid droop from injecting the wrong muscles. 

Botox eyelid droop

Botox eyelid droop also known as ptosis, can occur when the smooth muscles of the eyelid area are injected with Botox or if there is absorption of Botox into the adjacent smooth muscle of the upper eyelid. This can be treated with a prescription eyedrop called Apraclonidine 0.5% applied three times a day. It is best to avoid this side effect by visiting an experienced injector. Signs of eyelid droop typically begins 3 days after the procedure and if untreated, can last for 3 months.

Scrotox

Scrotox is a new and innovative procedure whereby Botulinum toxin is injected into the scrotum. It was initially performed as a medical procedure to treat scrotal pain but it is mainly used now for the cosmetic benefits of improved appearance of the scrotum. Wrinkles on the scrotum becomes less noticeable, the scrotum sweats less, the scrotum looks bigger or more filled out, and the testicles hang more loosely or lower.

Botox vs. Dysport

Dysport and Botox are both types of botulinum toxin injections that area FDA-Approved for treatment of dynamic wrinkles. Both Dysport and Botox have been proven safe for reducing wrinkles, but there are some differences between the two in terms of how quickly the effect kicks in and how long the effect lasts. For a quicker result, consider Dysport which kicks in 1-3 days after treatment but may not last as long as Botox at 3 months. While Botox usually takes effect 7 days after treatment and may last for 4-6 months. Also, Dysport is FDA-Approved for moderate to severe wrinkles between the brows (glabellar lines), while Botox is FDA-Approved for glabellar lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet (laugh lines) around the eyes.

Botox® alternatives: Dysport®, Jeuveau®, and Xeomin®

Botox is the first botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injectable that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines (i.e. the frown lines between the eyebrows) in April 2002. Since then, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeauveau have been approved by the FDA ushering in some stiff competition for Botox and more options for Aesthetic doctors to choose from.

Botulinum toxin type A in 4 different flavors

The four injectables all have one thing in common: botulinum toxin type A, but since they are made by different manufacturers, costs, formulation and potencies varies . These differences add up to unique personalities of each neurotoxin. For instance, Dysport takes effect the earliest but it may also not last as long in some patients. Ultimately, which neurotoxin is chosen may depend on provider preference, cost, patient preference since they all perform similarly.

Botox treatment aftercare

Botox aftercare should start immediately following the treatment and consists of moving the treated muscles to encourage uptake of Botox into the desired areas. Avoid blood thinners and excessive intake of alcohol in order to reduce the risk of bruising at application sites. It is okay to resume facial lotions and make-up, but you should avoid excessive rubbing or massages of the treated areas.


Botox® Versus Fillers

Some people confuse Botox® with injectable fillers. Although there is some similarity between the two products, there are some pretty big differences. Injectable fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane work by enhancing facial skin volume as a method of minimizing lines and wrinkles. Botox® works by temporarily relaxing facial muscles responsible for dynamic wrinkles.

Skin Botox in NYC

Skin Botox is a new treatment to temporarily reduce the appearance of skin pores on the face with the help of microneedles. Skin botox is performed by adding dilute Botox, hyaluronic acid-based filler, in a sterile vial (AquaGold) before injecting it directly into skin using microneedles. Skin Botox also helps to reduce sweating and oiliness of the face for instant poreless, glass skin.

Botox and baby: is it safe to receive Botox treatment during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Though some research has found that botulinum toxins may be too large to cross the placenta during pregnancy, pregnant and nursing women are encouraged to avoid potential sources of the toxin, including certain foods.

Your Appointment

One of the most appealing aspects to this treatment is that it is quick and painless. You will take part in a consultation first to determine what treatment best suits your needs. Before you receive injections, a topical anesthetic numbing agent will be applied to your skin to ensure your comfort. You may have up to eight injections administered into targeted muscles.

After your injections, you will need to contract treated muscles a bit by making certain facial expressions. This helps to ensure that the product is evenly distributed under your skin. You will be asked to refrain from certain physical activities for a day or two after your treatment to ensure that the product settles in the correct location without migrating elsewhere.

Botox can be combined with laser treatments, Morpheus8 radiofrequency with microneedling, Dermal fillers, Ulthera as part of a customized treatment plan

Learn More

If you are a resident of New York City who would like to learn more about how Botox® injections can help turn back the clock on aging skin and wrinkles, consider us here at Radiant Skin Dermatology and Laser

We are conveniently located in Midtown, Harlem, and Washington Heights. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!