Botox Cosmetic Injections

While looking into the mirror have you notice new forehead frown lines or crows feet? Are you concerned by these early signs of aging? If so Botox ^TM may very well be what you need and have been awaiting.  Do not be surprised if some of your friends have already undergone Botox injections.  Over the last several years Botox treatments have become so popular in the United States that they are now the most commonly performed cosmetic, non-surgical, non-invasive procedure of any kind.  Botox provides an exciting avenue for facial rejuvenation by improvement and temporary softening or elimination of lines and wrinkles without a surgical procedure. When we frown, we gather tissue between the eyebrows into a fold.  In some of us, this muscle activity causes a chronic, ever deepening furrow that produces a frustrated, discouraged, or even an angry look on our face.

As a facial plastic surgeon Dr. Zemplenyi is very knowledgeable about facial muscular anatomy and is very experienced with Botox injections, as he has been using this substance since 1990's -- long before it was so popular as a cosmetic procedure.  As opposed to some offices, Dr. Zemplenyi carefully performs Botox treatments himself injecting it with tiny needles and usually with minimal discomfort. No anesthesia or recovery are needed. Patients lose no time from work or social activities. If any bruising occurs, it resolves quite quickly and may be easily covered up with make-up. Uncommon problems with Botox, if any, resolve shortly and spontaneously. Repetitive, regular treatment with Botox is recommended for the best effect, especially as some patients are eventually able to increase the intervals between the treatments when the forehead and other injected muscle groups become weaker.  At the Bel-Red Center our charges for Botox treatment are determined by the exact amount of units of Botox injected in contrast to the less precise method of treatment by zones or areas such as the forehead, crows feet, etc. 

Botox treatments are most useful in the upper one third of the face as they improve frown lines on the forehead as well as the crow’s feet. Small amounts of Botox injected into the muscles of the forehead and the crow's feet region result in a temporary block of nerve impulse transmission to the muscle thus weakening of these muscles. This muscular weakening significantly flattens the frown lines and creases. The effect lasts about three months, and re-injection at regular intervals is needed to maintain the desired effect.  In small quantities, Botox may also be used to soften the "smoker's lines" of the upper lip and the muscles of expression around the mouth. However, Dr. Zemplenyi often recommends and uses Cosmetic fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm in conjunction with Botox as these are more effective for treatment of folds formed on the cheeks or under the corners of the mouth. In larger quantities, Botox may also be used for the weakening of the strong platysmal "turkey neck" bands that occur with the aging of the neck. However, generally Dr. Zemplenyi recommends other surgical procedures such as a neck lift/facelift  for this application as this may represent a more cost-effective, long term solution in many patients. 

Dr. Zemplenyi successfully uses Botox in other applications. In many women Botox injections decrease on the frequency and intensity of tension headache, neck aches and migraine headaches, teeth grinding (bruxism) and other muscle spasms.  Botox injections may be used to decrease excessive underarm perspiration(axillary hyper-hydrosis).  New applications for Botox are being actively explored by Allergan and many investigators.

Relative resistance to Botox A treatments occurs in some patients requiring higher doses of Botox or a need to switch to an alternative substance such as Myoblock (botox B).