Answers from the Doctors Facial Plastic Surgery Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Dermatology Issues

Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures ...

1 What does BOTOX® Cosmetic do and what is it for?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a chemical that binds to the nerve ending at the muscle and prevents stimulation of the muscle, thereby effectively paralyzing it. The effect is temporary and only in the immediate area of the injection.  BOTOX® Cosmetic is effective for wrinkles and creases that are due to muscle action and is approved by the FDA for treatment of wrinkles around the eye region. It is used for other areas as well - the bands of the neck, wrinkles of the lips, sagging of the brow and others. It generally only lasts about 3-4 months for most people.

2 Do BOTOX® Cosmetic injections hurt?

The needle used to inject BOTOX® Cosmetic is very small and most patients only describe a mild stinging sensation - much less than the typical “shot” one receives at the dentist’s office.

3 Are there risks to BOTOX® Cosmetic injections?

While there are risks associated with any medical procedure, the risks with BOTOX® Cosmetic are considered to be small and temporary. The most common is bruising due to incidental penetration of a small blood vessel during injection. This is uncommon and will fade in 7- 10 days. Temporary paralysis of unintended muscles may result in temporary drooping of the eyelid or change in the shape of the smile, but this is uncommon. The dose used for these purposes is very small and there is no risk of generalized paralysis as seen with botulism poisoning.

4 I have bags and dark circles under my eyes, what can be done about these?

This is a very common complaint and has several causes. Some people have dark pigment of the skin of the lower eyelid. This is very difficult to treat, but the best approach is the use of chemical peels and bleaching creams. There are no over-the- counter “eye creams” that are truly effective for this. For some people, the cause is fat protruding from the lower eyelid and this is best dealt with by surgery of the lower lid to correct this problem. Some people have a depression or groove that runs through the area between the eyelid and the nose- this is called a “tear-trough” and is best corrected by filling it in with either fat or an implant during eyelid surgey, or injecting

Restylane™ in the office.