BOTOX® Injections by a Dermatologist - Petaluma & Sonoma County

Botox - Treatment of Frown Lines & Crow's Feet

Frowns and Crow's Feet The lines we know as frown lines and crow's feet are lines of facial expression. They are created by the action of very specific facial muscles which are easily identified and treated by the technique of Botox injection. The muscles creating the frown lines are the corrugator muscles and the procerus muscle located above the eyebrows and in the middle of the bridge of the nose. The orbicularis oculi muscles create the crow's feet. As the use of Botox becomes more widespread, the potential uses keep increasing. Currently we are finding it to be a very useful non-surgical approach to elevate a sagging or drooping eyebrow, or to correct facial asymmetry after nerve damage from trauma or Bell's palsy. It is also being used successfully in the treatment of migraine headache in some patients and it is being used to reduce excess perspiration (hyperhidrosis) of the palms and under-arm areas. Botox Botox, more properly known as Botulinum Toxin A, is a material derived from certain bacteria, which has the ability to paralyze muscles. While this material can be dangerous if one eats it in Grandma's spoiled green beans, it has been found to be a simple and extremely safe way to treat overactive muscles of facial expression. Very tiny amounts of Botox can be injected directly into the muscles we wish to treat without fear of affecting other muscles and with very little chance of an unhappy result. Allergic reactions to Botox are extremely rare.

Technique First, the muscles to be treated are identified by observing the patient making different facial expressions. The Botox, which comes frozen and dried, is reconstituted and diluted to a very specific strength. Then small amounts of this material are injected directly into the muscles to be treated. Some slight stinging and discomfort may be noted at this time. Onset of Action There is no immediate response to the Botox injection. It takes several days for the muscles to be affected, at which time, one will notice the gradual loss of ability to frown or to create the lines affected by the treated muscles. Duration of Action An initial injection of Botox can be expected to last three or four months. Subsequent injections tend to last longer, sometimes up to one year. We recommend treatment every three months for the first year, then repeat treatment as needed. Side Effects The most common complication of Botox therapy is a droopy eyelid or eyebrow. This seems to occur because some of the material injected finds its way into those muscles unknowingly. The problem usually goes away in two or three weeks and may be expedited by oral Calcium tablets.

Frowns and Crow's Feet
The lines we know as frown lines and crow's feet are lines of facial expression. They are created by the action of very specific facial muscles which are easily identified and treated by the technique of Botox injection. The muscles creating the frown lines are the corrugator muscles and the procerus muscle located above the eyebrows and in the middle of the bridge of the nose. The orbicularis oculi muscles create the crow's feet.

As the use of Botox becomes more widespread, the potential uses keep increasing. Currently we are finding it to be a very useful non-surgical approach to elevate a sagging or drooping eyebrow, or to correct facial asymmetry after nerve damage from trauma or Bell's palsy.

It is also being used successfully in the treatment of migraine headache in some patients and it is being used to reduce excess perspiration (hyperhidrosis) of the palms and under-arm areas.

Botox
Botox, more properly known as Botulinum Toxin A, is a material derived from certain bacteria, which has the ability to paralyze muscles. While this material can be dangerous if one eats it in Grandma's spoiled green beans, it has been found to be a simple and extremely safe way to treat overactive muscles of facial expression. Very tiny amounts of Botox can be injected directly into the muscles we wish to treat without fear of affecting other muscles and with very little chance of an unhappy result. Allergic reactions to Botox are extremely rare.

Technique
First, the muscles to be treated are identified by observing the patient making different facial expressions. The Botox, which comes frozen and dried, is reconstituted and diluted to a very specific strength. Then small amounts of this material are injected directly into the muscles to be treated. Some slight stinging and discomfort may be noted at this time.

Onset of Action
There is no immediate response to the Botox injection. It takes several days for the muscles to be affected, at which time, one will notice the gradual loss of ability to frown or to create the lines affected by the treated muscles.

Duration of Action
An initial injection of Botox can be expected to last three or four months. Subsequent injections tend to last longer, sometimes up to one year. We recommend treatment every three months for the first year, then repeat treatment as needed.

Side Effects
The most common complication of Botox therapy is a droopy eyelid or eyebrow. This seems to occur because some of the material injected finds its way into those muscles unknowingly. The problem usually goes away in two or three weeks and may be expedited by oral Calcium tablets.

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North Bay Dermatology

Botox - Treatment of Frown Lines & Crow's Feet