What is Botox?
Neuromodulators are wrinkle-relaxing injections of botulinum toxin, commercially known as Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin. They can reduce the appearance of facial creases and wrinkles by relaxing specific muscles.
Dr. Zand uses them to soften frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet. She can also use neuromodulators to help with chronic migraines, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), uncontrolled blinking, and excessive sweating in the palms or underarms.
How is a Botox treatment performed?
First, Dr. Zand asks you to make exaggerated facial movements so she can identify the areas that treatment would most improve. She takes extra measures to avoid the muscles necessary for natural expressions so that you won't look “frozen.”
Dr. Zand uses the tiniest needles possible, so the treatment is mostly painless, similar to acupuncture. No anesthetic is required, and the procedure only takes a few minutes. However, Dr. Zand also offers numbing cream in case you feel nervous.
You will notice a change about three days after treatment, and it takes about two weeks to see maximum results. Potential side effects include temporary bruising and a slight headache after treatment, but that’s rare.
How long does Botox last?
The effects of Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin last about four months. After repeated treatments, your muscles are trained to relax, and your wrinkles remain less severe. Thus, less medicine is needed to achieve the same result over time.
Is Botox right for me?
Botox does not help to fill in existing wrinkles that have already formed; instead, it prevents your muscles from continuing to make those lines. As a result, it’s unlikely that wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity would achieve complete resolution with neuromodulators alone (luckily, Dr. Zand can combine it with fillers to correct deep-set wrinkles).
Neuromodulators are the best treatment available to soften the wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. The earlier you start — ideally mid-30s and early-40s — the easier it is to maintain beautiful and natural results.
If you feel nervous about injecting a “toxin” into your skin, take comfort in the fact that researchers haven't discovered any long-term side effects in the 25 years since doctors first started using Botox.
The most prominent “side effect” Dr. Zand sees is that her patients fall in love with the result and get hooked on Botox. “I wish I had started sooner,” is the typical reaction she hears from initially-nervous patients.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, suffer from a neurological disorder, or are allergic to albumin, Dr. Zand doesn't recommend getting Botox.
Combining Botox with aesthetic filler treatments and a healthy lifestyle can have your skin feeling 10 years younger in no time. Call Dr. Zand or schedule an appointment online to discuss your cosmetic treatment options and age gracefully.
What do I need to do before my appointment?
Click here for Dr. Zand's instructions as you prepare for your cosmetic procedure.
We can’t wait to see you at our stunning waterfront office in southern Marin.
How can I learn more about Botox?
Check out our Botox blog HERE.
