Seattle Botox® Injection Treatments

Eyes: Botox® - Wrinkles Treated Simply

Your Seattle Botox® Specialist

For ages surgeons have keenly desired to possess a simple means to obliterate wrinkles. There are many modalities in which wrinkles have been treated in the past with reasonable success. These modalities include chemical peels, laser facial resurfacing, and facelift surgery, etc.  Unfortunately these treatments require prolonged recovery periods and are essentially more effort than most active and busy individuals are willing to undergo. Many desire a more “quick fix” alternative without the risks of surgery. Over the recent years, the discovery and institution of a safe and simple wrinkle reduction therapy via Botox® injection has become extremely successful and exciting. Botulinum toxin injection has come to the forefront as a simple alternative to remove wrinkles and restore aesthetic facial youthfulness. Botox® injections do not make a permanent improvement, but offer a prolonged modest improvement on the war against wrinkles.

Effects of Botox® Injections

Botox® injections are effective on specific areas of the face where there is hyperdynamic and hyperactivity of facial musculature. Small thin lines are better treated than deep and more prominent wrinkles, although both are treated nonetheless. Commonly the glabellar furrow or horizontal lines between the eyes are quite effectively treated. Also the dynamic lines around the eyes (crow’s feet) are improved as well. Wrinkles around the upper lip and neck bands underneath the chin (platysmal bands) are also nicely treated with very reasonable success.

The Botox^® Procedure

Botox® injections are performed in the office with no anesthesia. A very small 30-gauge needle is used to make injections in the appropriate areas. The areas of concern are meticulously inspected and the underlying hyperdynamic muscles are treated individually. The muscle is the key element in development of facial lines and when the muscle is weakened, the wrinkles will disappear. In the area of the glabellar furrow or horizontal forehead lines, the procerus muscle and the corrugator supercilii musculature are all nicely treated. In the forehead area, the mimetic frontalis muscle is injected and with respect to the crow’s feet area, the outer portions of the orbicularis oculi muscle are injected. Wrinkle reduction to the forehead and crow’s feet area is seen after several days. Bruising is occasionally noted. Numbness is occasional and temporary if it occurs. Rarely positioning of the eyebrow or eyelids is altered with Botox® injection, but essentially with expert injection this consequence is generally avoided and will resolve in a few months time if it does develop.   

How Long Does Botox® Last?

Botulinum toxin injections are essentially temporary, but provide improvement for a several month period of time. The overall effect and desired result is usually obtained within approximately two to five days after the initial injection. The overall duration of the effect is approximately three to six months. Generally, three to four injections are needed per year depending on the desires of the individual. Botox® injections inactivate the muscle junction synapse, causing the muscle to become inactive. This specific inactivation is important for wrinkle reduction. As time passes, however, reinnervation (sprouting of nerves) will occur at the nerve/muscle junction, causing the return of muscle function and muscle hyperactivity, which leads to the return of wrinkles. Often times the period of time required between treatments diminishes after repeat injections. This is a wonderful consequence of successful repeated injections. There is a certain amount of “training” that occurs with Botox®, causing greater prolonged effect with each successive treatment.

Combining experience, service, and specialization is the essence of Dr. Santos’ practice. As a double board certified Facial Plastic and Head and Neck Surgeon, Dr. Santos is dedicated to applying state of the art techniques and technologies. His philosophy is that of commitment and excellence in surgical technique and artistry, as well as creating an environment where the best possible medical care is achieved for each individual.

Botox® - Before Treatment	Botox® - After Treatment

Also See: Blepharoplasty and Endoscopic Brow Lift

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