Botox Injections

Botox are a type of injectable neurotoxin, like Dysport and Xeomin, that smooths out the lines that form from repetitive facial movements such as smiling, frowning and squinting. They can also be used on the brows, the forehead, the chin, on the tip of the nose, above the eyebrows to lift a saggy brow line, on the corners of the mouth, and bunny lines to give a fresher look. Neurotoxins work by blocking the nerve receptors on muscles to smooth out wrinkles. Since they are not fillers and do not provide a plumping effect, they should only be used to soften lines and wrinkles. Some of my patients therefore choose to get injected at a young age or at the first signs of a wrinkle as a means to actually diminish the lines from forming and/or getting worse. I typically apply a topical anesthetic first to make the injections more comfortable and then I will strategically inject the product into appropriate areas. These injectables temporarily block nerve receptors on your muscles, which soften the look of lines and wrinkles caused by repetitive movements. They can also be used to prevent lines and wrinkles from forming, extending your youthful look for longer.

What to Expect

You can typically see results in one to seven days, depending on which neurotoxin you choose. Botox will allow you to see the result in three to five days. Xeomin will also have a similar timetable. Dysport generally kicks in within a day or two. Regardless of the injectable used, the results typically last, on average, three to four months. But, after repeated regular injections, your results may last up to six months. You may be red or bruised at the injection site for a few days, and, in rare instances, you may feel mild flu-like symptoms after treatment.

Consult with Dr. Marina

How Botox Affects the Face and Body

Neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin are used to relax the muscles of facial expression and soften the lines and wrinkles . I love using these products to treat the frown lines on the forehead and between and around the eyes . What many people do not know that we can use neuromodulators to shape and even out the brows and to make uneven eyes even.

A drooping brow could be a case of an over-Botoxed forehead. “The frontalis muscle in the forehead, whose job it is to raise the brow, is weakened when you over-inject it to smooth horizontal forehead lines,” said Marina Peredo of Skinfluence, a dermatology practice in Manhattan. “Then the brow drops.” When a patient comes in complaining about forehead lines but also has a low brow, Dr. Peredo asks her to squint, frown and raise her brows, all in an attempt to see how the muscles are functioning. “I tell them, ‘You can’t have both a smooth forehead and lifted brows,’” she said. “Ninety-nine percent of women prefer lines to heavy brows.” Dr. Peredo also said that in the right hands, neurotoxins can do a lot to reshape brows: “We can elevate the center of the brow to get more arch, lift the tail of the brow to give it more of a flare, and lift the medial section of the brow to open up the eyes.”

On the lower face we can inject it into the masseter muscle to feminize the face – make the female face less square shape more oval – hence more feminine. We can use neurotoxin to treat the gummy smile , pebbly chin , turned down corners of the mouth. I love using Botox to define the jawline and tighten the neck muscles – the Nefertiti Lift . For patients who sweat excessively we use Botox/neurotoxin for underarms and hands to minimize sweating .