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Botox Cosmetic®
BOTOX Cosmetic® is a very popular treatment for wrinkles caused by repeated muscular movements. It has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in North America thanks to its excellent results, high rate of patient satisfaction and proven safety record. The most commonly treated areas include: - the lines around the eyes known as crow’s feet caused by squinting or smiling
- the horizontal lines across the forehead caused by raising the eyebrows
- the vertical lines between the eyebrows caused by frowning.
BOTOX Cosmetic® is the trade name of Botulinum Toxin Type A, a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which has been safely used by doctors to treat many conditions for over 20 years. The first cosmetic use was reported in the late 1980’s. - Understanding Wrinkles
- Where does BOTOX Cosmetic® fit in?
- What areas can be treated with BOTOX Cosmetic®?
- How does BOTOX Cosmetic® work?
- When does BOTOX Cosmetic® start to work? How long does it last?
- How is BOTOX Cosmetic® Treatment done and What Does it Feel Like?
- How Will I Look After My Treatment?
- How do I take care of the treated area after my BOTOX Cosmetic® Treatment?
- Will I look “frozen” or “expressionless”?
- Is Botox® Safe?
- Isn’t Botox® a Toxin or Poison?
- Are my wrinkles going to be worse when BOTOX® it wears off?
- Who should not have BOTOX® Treatments?
- What are the Side Effects of BOTOX Cosmetic®?
- How much does BOTOX Cosmetic® cost?
- Why Botox® with Dr. Bertucci?
1. Understanding Wrinkles
Frown lines and deep wrinkles such as those between the eyebrows can produce an angry or frustrated look on the face that may give an unpleasant appearance. The presence of these wrinkles can add years to our appearance, often making us look angry, tired or worried even when we are not. One way of classifying wrinkles is to think of them as either dynamic or static, as described below: - DYNAMIC wrinkles are visible only when you make an expression. They arise when muscles moving under the skin lead to a fold in the skin above. Also known as expression lines, typical dynamic wrinkles include vertical frown lines between the eyebrows, horizontal forehead lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. These are best treated with BOTOX Cosmetic®.
- STATIC wrinkles are seen at rest, when no facial expression is being made. Lines etched into the skin, even when not making a particular expression, are examples of static wrinkles. These fixed creases sometimes form by repeatedly making the same expression thousands of times, often over a period of years. Fillers such as Restylane are used to treat some static wrinkles, such as the groove that runs from each end of the nose to the corner of the mouth.
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2. Where does BOTOX Cosmetic® fit in?
BOTOX Cosmetic® is a remarkably safe and effective treatment which has revolutionized the treatment of facial wrinkles. BOTOX® diminishes facial expressions that make us look angry, frustrated or worried while maintaining normal desirable facial expressions. BOTOX® can help to prevent the unwanted display of negative feelings, and in this way may help some individuals to express themselves more accurately. Because not all facial wrinkles are related only to activity of underlying muscles, BOTOX Cosmetic® cannot treat all wrinkles. However, BOTOX Cosmetic® can be combined with other techniques such as fillers (e.g. Restylane), lasers and skin tightening procedures to give optimal results. An example of this would be the use of both BOTOX Cosmetic® and Restylane to treat very deep vertical wrinkles located between the eyebrows. back to top
3. What areas can be treated with BOTOX Cosmetic®?
The uses of BOTOX Cosmetic® continue to expand. The areas most commonly treated with BOTOX Cosmetic® include horizontal forehead lines, vertical frown lines between the eyebrows and crow’s feet. Lower facial uses include vertical wrinkles that develop around the mouth when the lips are purses, drooping corners of the mouth and neck bands. Dr. Bertucci also performs more advanced BOTOX Cosmetic® techniques including brow lift, reshaping of the eyes to give a more alert appearance, nasal bunny or squint lines, and a reduction in excessive show of the upper gums when smiling, amongst others. back to top
4. How does BOTOX Cosmetic® work?
BOTOX Cosmetic® works by relaxing the muscles underneath the skin to create a smooth and refreshed appearance. Because many wrinkles are caused by local muscle activity, BOTOX Cosmetic® is perfectly suited to treat these so-called dynamic wrinkles. By injecting tiny amounts of BOTOX® into a specific muscle, we are able to temporarily block the message from the nerve to the muscle that is needed to create the wrinkle. This leads to relaxation of the targeted muscle – the result is elimination of unwanted lines. Precise knowledge of facial anatomy allows Dr. Bertucci to precisely sculpt the face to achieve optimal results. The muscle relaxation typically lasts 3 to 4 months, with the treated muscles gradually returning to their original condition. BOTOX® does not affect the nerves responsible for sensation, so there is no numbness or change in sensation in the treated areas. back to top
5. When does BOTOX Cosmetic® start to work? How long does it last?
BOTOX Cosmetic® begins to work in about 3 to 7 days and it may take 10-14 days to see its full effect. The effect will fade gradually over 3 to 4 months, at which time the treated muscles gradually return to their original state. When the wrinkles begin to reappear, a simple repeat injection is all that is necessary to maintain the desired effect. Some individuals who have BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments regularly at 3-4 month intervals find that the effect lasts longer than 4 months. back to top
6. How is BOTOX Cosmetic® Treatment done and What Does it Feel Like?
BOTOX Cosmetic® treatment consists of injections into the affected muscles using a very tiny needle. Actual treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic® treatment takes only a few minutes and is performed personally by Dr. Bertucci. Most patients describe the feeling as the minor pinch of a needle and many say, “Is that all?” There is no “down time” or prolonged recovery with BOTOX Cosmetic®. back to top
7. How Will I Look After My Treatment?
Most individuals will look completely normal immediately after their BOTOX® treatment. Some patients may notice a mild amount of redness at the injection site, which typically resolves in a few hours. Bruising is very uncommon and may be easily covered with make up. Since there is no downtime, you can do BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments on your lunchtime – and no one will know you’ve had it done! BOTOX® does not affect the nerves responsible for sensation, so there is no numbness in the treated areas. back to top
8. How do I take care of the treated area after my BOTOX Cosmetic® Treatment?
Following your treatment, try to exercise your treated muscles for 1 hour. For example, if the vertical furrows between the eyebrows were treated, practice frowning and making the unwanted expression for one hour. Do not lie down for 4 hours after treatment. Do not rub or massage the treated areas for 4 hours after your treatment. This will help to avoid moving BOTOX into areas where it is not needed and will help to reduce the chance of side effects. Do NOT do strenuous exercise for 4 hours after treatment. Also avoid facials or saunas for 4 hours after your treatment. If you must apply make-up within 4 hours after your treatment, use very GENTLE touch to avoid rubbing the treated area. back to top
9. Will I look “frozen” or “expressionless”?
No. Most people simply want to look NATURAL, RELAXED and REFRESHED, without looking “done”. In Dr. Bertucci’s experienced hands, patients typically say that no one knows that they had anything done. Friends simply say that they look well rested and great! A precise knowledge of facial anatomy and years of experience allow Dr. Bertucci to give you the look you’re after – as natural as you want. Some individuals prefer not to have any wrinkles at all, while others only want partial reduction of their wrinkles. Recognizing that everyone wants a different look, Dr. Bertucci tailors his treatments to meet your unique individual needs. In Dr. Bertucci’s experienced hands – patients typically say that no one knows that they had anything done. Friends simply say that they look well rested and great! back to top
10. Is Botox® Safe?
Yes! BOTOX Cosmetic® is an approved prescription drug which has been used to treat patients with many conditions for over 20 years. In fact, it is used in children as young as 2 years old to treat cerebral palsy. It has been proven to be very safe through many years of extensive testing and research. When performed by a highly-trained and experienced physician such as Dr. Bertucci, there are no serious safety concerns with BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments. back to top
11. Isn’t Botox® a Toxin or Poison?
No, it is NOT a toxin or poison and it does NOT cause botulism. BOTOX® is a highly purified, natural protein manufactured by Allergan under the strictest quality control standards laboratory environment under strict guidelines. It is a government-approved prescription medication that is used in very tiny doses to very precisely relax muscles to which it is applied. Typical doses used for cosmetic purposes are less than 100 units. Doses more than 30 times this amount (approximately 3500 units) would be required to achieve toxicity. BOTOX® has been used for over 20 years to treat various muscle disorders including eye ticks and uncontrolled blinking and it has been shown to be safe in many published medical studies and articles. back to top
12. Are my wrinkles going to be worse when BOTOX® it wears off?
No! In fact, by relaxing the muscles that cause wrinkles, BOTOX Cosmetic® may actually slow the clock of aging and prevent wrinkle formation. When used regularly, BOTOX Cosmetic® may help your muscles learn to relax so that you don’t crease the skin. You can stop BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments at any time and be confident that you will gradually return to your pre-treatment appearance. Some individuals who have regular treatments for several years find that the clock slows down and they look a little better in the treated areas than when they originally started. back to top
13. Who should not have BOTOX® Treatments?
People who are pregnant, breast feeding, have rare neuromuscular disorders (e.g. Eaton-Lambert syndrome, myasthenia gravis or myopathy) or are allergic to albumin should generally not be treated with BOTOX®. back to top
14. What are the Side Effects of BOTOX Cosmetic®?
BOTOX Cosmetic® is a remarkably safe treatment with a proven track record. The vast majority of patients have no side effects whatsoever. Side effects are minimal and typically relate to the local injection. Soreness, although uncommon, may occur around the injection site. Occasional patients experience a small bruise. This can be hidden with cover up, and fades away in a few days. Headache is uncommon, but may occur. These effects are typically very short-lived. Approximately 1-2% of patients may develop a slight lowering or drooping of the eyelid or eyebrow, known as ptosis. This may or may not be evident, and it is always temporary. Remaining in the upright position and not manipulating the treated area for 4 hours following the treatment minimizes the chance of ptosis. BOTOX® does not affect the nerves responsible for sensation, so there is no numbness or change in sensation in the treated areas. back to top
15. How much does BOTOX Cosmetic® cost?
The cost depends on the amount of BOTOX Cosmetic® that you require. A proper consultation with our clinic is required in order to determine what is right for you. Generally, the price ranges from about $350 and up. BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments may be a tax-deductible medical expense (similar to dental and cosmetic surgery expenses), so make sure to keep your receipts. There are a few questions you should consider in addition to price: What kind of medical expert is doing the injecting? Has the medical expert got a lot of experience injecting BOTOX Cosmetic®? Is the doctor gentle and does he use the latest techniques to ensure a great result? Dr. Bertucci is a recognized expert BOTOX Cosmetic® injector. In addition, Dr Bertucci regularly attends advanced continuing education courses and he teaches other physicians the art and science of BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments. back to top
16. Why Botox® with Dr. Bertucci?
Dr. Bertucci is an Allergan Certified BOTOX® Injector, and he teaches other physicians the intricacies and nuances of BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments. Dr. Bertucci is an elite BOTOX® injector, having been one of the first in Canada to use it for cosmetic purposes in 1995. In addition to lecturing about BOTOX Cosmetic® and demonstrating advanced injection techniques, Dr. Bertucci was used as the injector in the BOTOX® Patient Education Video that is available Canada-wide. Dr. Bertucci has a wealth of experience in the field of cosmetic skin surgery, having treated thousands of patients who keep returning. All of Dr. Bertucci’s staff has enjoyed the benefits of BOTOX Cosmetic® treatments. back to top
Please call our office at 905/ 850 4415 if you have any questions and to arrange your prompt, confidential consultation, or to schedule your treatment. back to top
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