Dr. Lori H. Saltz is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Botox.
Q. What is BOTOX?
A. Botox is a Botulinum Toxin Type A, which is a purified protein that is administered in simple injections, requiring no topical numbing prior to injections. Botox Cosmetic has been used in the US since 2002 and approximately 10 million injections have been performed since then.
Q. Who is the ideal candidate for BOTOX?
A. The ideal candidate is anyone that wants to reduce the wrinkle lines, known as frown lines (between the brows) and crow’s feet, the lines around the eyes. Although some patients think it is best to wait until they are older, I find that I do more and more younger people with Botox injections. That way, if they maintain it their muscles remain in a more relaxed phase helping to prevent deeper lines in the future.
Q. What is the recovery period for BOTOX?
A. Other than maybe a little swelling or redness that resolves within hours, there is no downtime for Botox. It does take anywhere from 3-5 days to see the effects.
Q. How long do the results of BOTOX last?
A. Results can vary from patient to patient but I usually tell my patients to expect to do Botox every 3-4 months to maintain that youthful glow.
Q. How much does BOTOX cost?
A. The cost of Botox varies from practice to practice. It is very important that you know who is doing the injections more than just the cost. While some prices may seem very low, they are charging “per area” rather than”per unit” and may be diluting the Botox, thereby hampering its effectiveness. If the price seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Q. How safe is BOTOX?
A. Botox Cosmetic is very safe. It is the most popular cosmetic procedure done in the U.S. You do need to have a proper injector like a board certified Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist because proper injection technique is very important. The most common side effects following injection include redness, swelling, tenderness, headaches and sometimes eyelid droop.
Q. How many treatments will be needed for BOTOX?
A. How long one will need Botox Cosmetic is completely dependant on how long they want the look of less lines and wrinkles. The longer you wait to redo the treatment, the more the lines will return because they are actually “expression lines” that come from frowning and squinting. Botox Cosmetic is a good way to keep your skin looking more youthful and enhances all procedures we do at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre from facelifts to lasers.