Botox is an interchangeable term for neurotoxin, neuromodulator, and botulinum toxin. Botox is made from a bacterium called clostridium botulinum type A. Two different types of Botox that we offer are Allergan Botox and Xeomin. They are both made up of a core neurotoxin, clostridium botulinum type A. Xeomin is produced by a different company called Merz but works exactly like Botox Allergan. It is often referred to as “pure tox” because it lacks accessory proteins unlike other forms of botulinum toxins, like Allergan Botox. Xeomin is a great place to start if you are new to Botox because it has a less “frozen” hold. If you have been around the block with Botox, you might prefer Allergan Botox. We can talk about both options with you!

Both are injected underneath the skin and target the muscles responsible for movement of various parts of the face such as the forehead, around the eyes, and around the mouth. It is the movement of the underlying muscle that causes wrinkles on the face. Repetitive contraction of these muscles on our face creates constant wrinkling and folding of the skin. Botox works by blocking the action of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for muscle contraction. In other words, it paralyzes the muscle. By relaxing selected muscles of the face, we can allow the skin to recover and regenerate.

Because of the intracellular mechanism of action, Botox may take up to 14 days to visibly notice. As the blocking effect of the Botox starts to wear off and the body regenerates new neurotransmitters causing muscle contraction, you will start to notice the wrinkles coming back anywhere between 2-6 months. On average, results last about 3 months. Therefore, it is not recommended to have Botox treatments more frequently than every 3 months.

We require a consultation with you prior to your first appointment, whether that be in person or virtual. At the consultation, we will ask you about your medical history, any allergies, list of medications (over the counter and prescribed), and any vitamins or supplements you take. We will work together to come up with an individualized treatment plan that is specific to the muscle movement of your face and what bothers you.

Prior to coming into the office, we will touch base about specific instructions leading up to your appointment. We will first have you sign consent for the treatment and take some baseline photos for before and after’s. We will instruct you to make various faces to ensure we can capture the movement of each muscle we are treating. Once the pictures are taken, we will clean your face without any type of infection. We will then mark your face while we instruct you to make certain facial expressions as this allows precision with placement of the Botox. This is when we really get to assess the muscle contraction in your face. Everyone is different, there is not one cookie cutter treatment that works for everyone! We will then add up the dose we are treating you with and start the treatment. Lastly, we will review post instructions and any other questions you have. You can expect that we will be checking in on you regularly! We will see you in two weeks for a follow up appointment!