BOTOX®

Facelift, Los Angeles Style

Many wrinkles have been worn into the skin by making the same expression thousands of times over many years. These "expression lines," whether "frown lines" or "crow's feet," are due to the contraction of a muscle under the skin in the area. We have known for years that for the frown lines, surgically cutting the responsible muscles will improve the wrinkles, but there has not been any successful way to surgically treat the crow's feet or squint lines at the corners of the eyes. Then Botox® was discovered to be effective at eliminating these lines without surgery, and it has become extremely popular as a result. Over the past several years, it has been the most common non-surgical procedure performed by plastic surgeons in this country!

Botox® works by paralyzing the muscles which cause the lines. It is extremely safe, and was used for decades by eye surgeons to weaken overactive eye muscles before its use in treating wrinkle lines even began. Several injections of small amounts of Botox® are used for each area to be treated, and the effect lasts for 3 - 6 months in most people. Regular repeat injections over time permanently diminish the offending muscle, and may decrease the need for Botox® continually.

Recent work with Botox® has shown that in some patients, migraine headaches may be diminished or eliminated completely with injections in various areas, and the wrinkle lines around the lips may be treated effectively as well. Excessive sweating in the palms has been diminished in selected individuals with underarm injections. Newer uses for Botox® are being discovered all the time - a recent report even suggests it may be beneficial in decreasing prostate symptoms in men!

One caution - Beware cheap Botox® advertised widely. It may be "home made" and could be extremely dangerous, or else it is very dilute. The drug comes as a powder, and the more water that is added, the less Botox® in each injection as a result. Rather than getting cheap Botox®, you are actually getting expensive water!

BACK TO PROCEDURES