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Reference: Areas most commonly treated with Botox and fillers.
An Investment in Youthfulness — Now & in the Future
In addition to hair restoration procedures, Samson also performs non-surgical
cosmetic procedures for men and women that can dramatically enhance one's youthful
appearance.
Contact us for rates and appointments.
Fillers
Fillers are naturally occurring substances that are used to physically augment the skin and smooth out wrinkles.
This works because the substance is injected under the skin and occupies physical
volume there, and literally props up the overlying skin to make it appear as
though the wrinkle or fold is less deep. The substances last anywhere from 3-4 months and 12-18 months, depending on
the product. The fillers do not affect the contraction of the underlying muscles
of the face that created the wrinkles in the first place.
They simply occupy
space just under the skin to make the overlying skin less folded and the
fold less deep.
Botox
Botox Cosmetic is an entirely differentproduct for the treatment
of facial wrinkles. It is often used in conjunction with one of the fillers
for a more comprehensive treatment of facial wrinkles. Extremely small volumes
are injected into the treated areas. The Botox works its way into the muscles
in the treated areas, and paralyzes them for three to five months following
the injection.
The treated areas maintain their normal sensation. You won’t
be numb in the area, and when you touch your face in the treated areas, it
will feel normal. The only difference you will notice is that when you try
to make the motion that you had the Botox to prevent, you will find that you
will not be able to make that motion.
For instance, if you receive your Botox
in between your eyebrows to alleviate the frown lines and furrows often
seen here, you will notice that when you try to squint and make those furrows,
your face will simply not respond, and the areas do not move. There is no altered
sensation of any sort.
How it Works
We will use the area in between the eyebrows (the “Glabella”) as an example in describing how Botox works. The following example applies to all areas treated on the face.
Before Botox treatment, left, one can fully contract
facial muscles, producing wrinkling in 1) the forehead, 2) the glabellas
and 3) the nose ("bunny lines"). Prolonged contraction
will result in permanent wrinkles in these areas. After Botox treatment,
right, facial muscles no longer fully contract in the treated areas. When you furrow your brow and make the frown lines, a nerve impulse comes
from your brain, through a nerve, and stimulates the muscles in this
area to contract. The result is that the overlying skin is wrinkled, and
the result is frown lines and furrows. The nerve stimulates the muscle by releasing
a chemical called a neurotransmitter, which causes the muscle to contract.
The Botox simply works by preventing the nerve from releasing the neurotransmitter
for three to five months after injection, thereby effectively paralyzing
the very tiny muscle. Since the muscles on the face are so tiny compared to
larger muscles in the body, e.g.: the heart muscle, the diaphragm (breathing
muscle), the bicep muscle, etc, minute amounts are injected into the area,
usually about 0.4cc to 1.0cc is injected. or about the volume of one or two
drops of water.
These amounts are
so small that even if the entire dose of Botox was injected into an
artery of a living person, nothing would happen, unless the person was allergic
to Botox, or had an underlying neurological disease. Botox is used
to treat both Static and dynamic wrinkles.
Crows feet lines are visible before Botox
treatment (left) but not afterward (right) even with identical smiles. No
Botox was used underneath the eye socket, therefore that area still wrinkles.
Static vs. Dynamic Wrinkles
Wrinkles that are not present when your face is at rest, but appear when you make a movement with the underlying muscles, are called “dynamic wrinkles,” because they are only present when the underlying muscles are in motion. Again using the frown lines in between the eyebrows as an example, men and women in their 20s typically experience dynamic wrinkles.
Wrinkles that are not present when your face is at rest, but appear when you make a movement with the underlying muscles, are called “dynamic wrinkles”. |
Over time, with continued contraction of the muscles in between the eyebrows, the frown lines transition from dynamic wrinkles to static wrinkles. This is seen typically in men and women in their 30’s and 40’s and beyond.
Static wrinkles are present when the face is at rest, and deepen when the underlying
muscles contract. The static wrinkles in between the eyebrows, for instance,
deepen with time, with the continued contraction of the underlying muscles, transitioning
from wrinkles to actual furrows.
Benefits
- Appearance: Many patients who receive Botox treatments say
that their friends and family notice that they appear less angry or stern looking
(particularly when the furrows between the eyebrows are treated). You may also
appear younger, particularly when the horizontal wrinkles on the forehead and
the “Crow’s Feet” area beside the eyes are treated. There also may be other
areas that you’d like treated, such as banding of the neck, and the “Bunny
Lines” found on the sides and bridge of the nose in some individuals with expressive
faces.
- Prevention: If dynamic wrinkles are treated early enough, they can be prevented from becoming static wrinkles, which are always present and are permanent. The dynamic wrinkles will disappear with the Botox treatment, because they are only present when the underlying muscles are contracting. After a Botox treatement, the muscles will no longer be contracting, and the dynamic wrinkles will no longer be present.
- Reversation: The human skin is not a leather covering, but
a dynamic organ. It changes with time. If you have static wrinkles on your
forehead, in between your eyebrows, or beside your eyes (“Crow’s Feet”), these
may be lessened over time with repeated Botox treatments, about three per year.
This is because when the underlying muscle stops folding the overlying skin,
the wrinkles in that skin tends to lessen. Certainly, even if you have static wrinkles, there is always a component of the original Dynamic Wrinkle left
in the Static Wrinkle, because that’s how they were created in the first place;
the skin is simply folded so much for so long that the wrinkle becomes permanent,
and the dynamic wrinkles become Static. However, with Botox treatments, the
static wrinkles will lose the Dynamic Wrinkle component in that area, and appear
less wrinkled when the face is in motion. As mentioned, over time, with repeated
treatments, the wrinkles can often efface and become less deep, and appear
less severe.
Safety Issues
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also let your doctor know if you have any underlying neurological disease such as myasthenia gravis, motor neuropathy, or Eaton-Lambert Syndrome.
Complications
Botox is administered with a tiny syringe. Complications are very rare.
Bruising occurs occasionally in the areas treated, particularly if you
are taking blood thinners such as aspirin, ibuprofen and Vitamin E supplements..
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