Safety of Botox
Botox is one of the most deeply studied drugs in its class, having been the subject of more than 500 peer-reviewed publications. In fact, one study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that when cosmetic injectables are administered by certified professionals, the incidence of adverse effects was less than 1%. The number is actually closer to 0.24%, meaning that of every 1,000 patients, just 2 or 3 experienced any adverse side effects.
It has received more than 10 FDA approvals, a clear sign that the medical community accepts it as safe for administration. Botox is used for more than just cosmetic purposes, too. It’s been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic migraines, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, and even crossed-eyes. As a neuromodulator, Botox gets the job done safely and effectively.
Medical professionals are even exploring the use of Botox as a treatment for depression, further proving that it is one of the most versatile and trusted drugs in the field of medicine. One clinical trial treated separate groups of severe depression patients with Botox and a placebo. After six weeks, the difference in depression levels between the groups was statistically significant, and the researchers concluded that “Botox is effective for treatments of patients with major depression and it has a high safety.”
Botox Side Effects
Every medical procedure comes with some risk, and our professional staff will take every precaution to ensure that the chances of side effects are as low as possible. Serious complications from Botox are extremely rare and can typically be prevented with appropriate before and after care. We’ve performed countless Botox treatments, and you can rest assured that when you’re in the care of Dr. Newman and his team, you’re in the care of some of the best cosmetic surgery professionals specializing in botox in Beverly Hills.
Bruising and Bleeding
Bruising and bleeding are the most common side effects, but these are often the result of failing to refrain from blood-thinning medications prior to injection. They are a minor risk with any injectable treatment, and typically clear up in a matter of days.
Allergic Reaction
While allergy to Botox can lead to itching, dizziness, and breathing difficulty, it is extremely rare. Furthermore, Botox allergies are usually predictable based on prior medical history, which we will go over with you thoroughly prior to your procedure.
Drooping Eyelid and Other Facial Imbalances
You may have heard horror stories of botched Botox injections that lead to strange facial deformities, such frozen faces, awkward smiles, and eyelids that droop uncontrollably. These horror stories arise when the Botox is relocated to an unintended location in your face muscles.
While these are an extremely rare risk of Botox, they are typically caused by patient error in aftercare. We’ll review proper aftercare with you thoroughly, but one thing we stress is that you should not rub your face and must remain upright for at least an hour after your injection. This ensures that the injected Botox will settle in the correct place.
Such botched injections are also seen when untrained or unprofessional injectors perform the task. This is why it’s important for you to only seek Botox treatment from a licensed, qualified expert. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in Dr. Newman and his staff.
Is Botox for Me?
Botox is a safe and effective treatment for anyone who is generally in good physical and mental health. If you are wondering whether or not a Botox injection is a procedure you would benefit from, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want to look and feel younger?
- Would I like to see less wrinkles and crow’s feet when I look in the mirror?
- Does sagging skin reduce my youthful appearance?
- Do signs of aging make me feel less confident than I want to feel?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, than you are the perfect candidate for Botox injections. Dr. Newman and staff would love to help you look and feel younger again by eliminating the common signs of aging like wrinkled and sagging skin. Contact our office today to learn more about how Botox can help you regain your youth.
Conditions Treatable with Botox
If your aging skin has got you down, Botox will perk you back up again. A smooth, youthful face is just an injection away. Don’t cringe at your crow’s feet in the mirror ever again. Imagine what it will be like to run your fingers across your cheeks and feel the youthful silkiness instead of the wrinkles of age.
Here are the most common conditions that we treat with Botox.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a natural result of aging. As you get older, your skin loses its flexibility and fails to stretch back easily into place. Grooves caused by regular facial movement, therefore, become permanent in the form of wrinkles. Exposure to UV light, as well as drinking and smoking, can also contribute to wrinkling. Collectively, these activities reduce collagen, dry out the skin, and limit blood flow.
Botox reverses these effects by encouraging the muscles in the skin to relax and loosen, thereby allowing the surface layer of skin to achieve a smoother look.
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet are some of the first wrinkles to take shape on your face. These bothersome (and visually unattractive) lines that extend from your eyes are caused by all the same factors as traditional wrinkles. Although, excessive squinting can also play a role in the development of crow’s feet.
When Botox is injected near the eyes, it relaxes the nearby muscles and causes the wrinkles that cause your crow’s feet to gradually relax and smooth out.
Frown Lines
Years of tension and stress can eventually transform our face itself to communicate these emotions in the form of wrinkles on the forehead or between the eyebrows. These frown lines can make us look tense even as we smile, and they become particularly pronounced when we actually do frown.
Botox for frown lines smooths out these unwelcome wrinkles at the top of our face that contribute to an overall grumpy, worried, or stressed look.
Aging Skin
When Botox was first introduced two decades ago, it was primarily seen as an age reverser. It treated “lines”, and helped patients achieve youthfulness by eliminating wrinkles. While this is still a very viable use, medical science has revealed that Botox is also effective at preventing the signs of aging before they start. Effectively, it can protect your skin from wrinkles before they even start.
Sagging Skin
The face contains two types of muscles: depressors, which pull skin downward, and elevators, which pull skin upwards. As we age our skin gets loose and begins to sag. By injecting Botox in the depressors, the elevators will have less resistance, and thus be able to stretch and lift the face muscles, eliminating sagging skin.
Excessive Sweating
While sweating is the body’s natural method of cooling itself down, some people just sweat more than is necessary or desirable. For them, Botox can provide much needed relief to this condition that is often very embarrassing.
As a neuromodulator, Botox can do more than just block chemical signals that lead to wrinkles. It can also stop nerves from sending messages that activate sweat glands. Particularly in the hands, feet, and armpits, Botox injections can significantly reduce the amount of sweating.
Schedule Your Botox Injection Today
Every day, our bodies get a little bit older. But that doesn’t mean we have to look and feel older. Thanks to modern cosmetic medicine, Botox injections can significantly reduce the physical signs of aging.
If crow’s feet stare back at you in the mirror every morning and sagging skin has ruined your self-esteem, you don’t have to throw in the towel and surrender your beautiful skin to age. Dr. Newman and his team have spent years helping people just like you correct wrinkles, reverse aging, and achieve smoother, younger skin.
Get in touch with our Los Angeles office today to learn more about how Botox may be the solution to all of your wrinkle woes, and the key to a fresh face.
FAQ
What is Botox?
A drug prepared from the bacterial toxin botulin, used medically and cosmetically to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by immobilizing the underlying muscles.
When can I see results?
Results typically start to become evident 7-10days after the injections but can take up to 2 weeks.
How long does Botox last?
While not permanent, initial results typically last about 3 months. After regular treatments, the results can last longer (6-9 months).
Does Beverly Hills botox hurt?
Although the procedure is not pain-free, most patients tolerate it with minimal discomfort. You will feel a small pinch with the injection that only lasts a few seconds.
Can I lie down afterwards?
NO. It is very important to stay in an upright, vertical position for at least 1 hour after receiving Botox. Avoid lying down and leaning over as this can affect the results.
Is there downtime?
Typically there is little to no downtime. You may have some small red bumps around the injection site for 15 minutes after the injection. Some patients may have mild bruising that typically subsides in 2-3 days.
Where can I get Beverly Hills Botox?
The most common areas treated are the forehead, frown lines, crow’s feet (around the lateral eyes), bunny lines (around the nose) and the neck.
Do I need to do anything to prepare?
As with any injections, we recommend for you to discontinue all blood thinners 1 week before injections to minimize the risk of bruising. Common blood thinners include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, vit C, CoQ10, fish oils, omega, etc. If you are unsure if a medication is a blood thinner please call our office.
For more information on getting botox in Beverly Hills