Are you troubles with worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, or crow's feet? Many people solve these problems with Botox Cosmetic & Dysport. These changes of age are called dynamic wrinkles because they are cause by contractions of the muscles of the face. Botox & Dysport relax these facial muscles to smooth the skin and reduce the wrinkles. 

Used for nearly 20 years, Botox is a safe and effective way to reduce facial wrinkles. Very small injections are made in facial muscles to reduce lines between the brows, forehead, and crow’s feet. Through these injections a “chemical brow lift” is possible, delaying the need for surgery. Other areas that may be injected include the nose, lip area, the chin, the jaw area and neck. The treatments are individualized after an assessment of facial muscles. The amount of medication required is individually determined and the patient is charged only for the number of units required. The treatment generally lasts three to four months, but over time, less medication is needed, and the durations of effect can increase. Recently the FDA approved, Dysport as an additional injection for the treatment of wrinkles caused by muscle contraction. One advantage of Dysport is that the relaxation of the muscle occurs faster than with the Botox.

What Does Botox® & Dysport Treat?
Botox® and Dysport treats dynamic wrinkles, those little annoying facial lines we call frown lines, worry lines, laugh lines and crow's feet. Botox® & Dysport work by blocking the chemicals that normally signal these muscle groups to contract. When these muscles don’t contract, they relax and your dynamic wrinkles fade and smooth out. Botox® & Dysport smoothes, flattens, and relaxes:

• Horizontal creases on the forehead
• Vertical creases between the eyes (the glabella area)
• Wrinkles on the temple side of the eyes, the "crow's feet"
• Wrinkles on the sides of the nose, "bunny lines"
• Wrinkles on the upper lip, pursed lips
• Vertical cords on the neck, platysma muscle defects

Botox® & Dysport  are also used in a variety of medical conditions, including treatment of migraine and tension headaches, chronic muscular pain, abnormal facial movements, tremors, and excessive sweating of the palms, soles of the feet and underarms. Although effective, most of these treatments are “off label” treatments, i.e. they are not FDA approved indications and thus are not normally covered by insurance.

What Are Botox® & Dysport Treatments Like?
Botox® & Dysport treatments are quick, simple, safe and with minimal pain - most patients call them a slight crunch sensation. Botox® & Dysport treatments generally take about 15 to 30 minutes and are performed in our office by Dr. John Serrao. Using a tiny micro-needle, Dr. Serrao injects a minute amount of Botox® or Dysport very precisely into several locations on the face. With a Botox® or Dysport treatment, no sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume most non-strenuous activities immediately. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office. Results from Botox® normally appear in five to seven days after the procedure and generally last around three months. Dysport results can appear within 24 hours and generally last three to four months.

How Does Botox® & Dysport Work?
A small number of tiny intramuscular injections block the body's natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) that stimulate the muscles to contract and create the appearance of lines due to overactive facial muscles. They take several days to relax the muscles and the effects of treatment typically lasts 3-4 months.  Even though these muscles have been treated and are relaxed, they still can contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected

Does It Hurt and What Can Go Wrong?
There can be some mild discomfort during a Botox® or Dysport treatment that some describe as feeling like mild bug bites or a crunch sensation. Generally the procedure is performed without any anesthesia. Some people may experience mild, short-term bruising at the injection site which covers easily with make-up. Ice packs after treatment can help minimize bruising. Some people may notice a mild headache, which can be simply treated with Tylenol. In rare cases (1-2%), the Botox & Dysport injection can spread beyond the desired area causing a drooping of the lid or brow. It is important to note that there have been no reports of permanent side effects with Botox Cosmetic or Dysport for facial wrinkles.

What should I expect from Botox® or Dysport treatment?
After checking your medical history to establish that you are a good candidate for Botox® treatment, we can discuss and determine which areas of your face may benefit from Botox®. Most procedures take place in our office and last 15 to 30 minutes. Immediately after the procedure you should stay upright for three to four hours and avoid rubbing the injection sites to prevent the Botox® from moving to other muscles in the face

After treatment, you can continue with all of your activities the day following the injection. The degree of improvement varies from person to person, and the maximum results are seen five to seven days after treatment. The results normally last for around three months. With subsequent treatments, the results tend to last longer. The treatment will need to be repeated to maintain the result.

What are the pre & post instructions for Botox & Dysport?
Pre-treatment recommendations: Avoid use of any medications, including OTC remedies or supplements that contribute to thinning of the blood preferably for 2 weeks prior to your procedure. Examples of these products are aspirin, NSAID’s (ibuprofen, naprosyn, etc.), Vitamin E, St. John’s Wort, Bilberry, Dong Quai, Feverfew, Fish Oil, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, and Red Clover. If you have any questions contact the office for clarification or consult with your pharmacist.
Post-treatment recommendations: Keep your head above your heart for a minimum of 12 hours or until the following morning; sleeping on two pillows is recommended. Be careful about bending over; it is important to bend at the knees and keep your head up. Refrain from exercise or any activity that increases your heart rate or blood pressure.

For more information about Botox® & Dysport treatments,
we encourage you to call to schedule an in-office consultation at 407-896-3772