Sep
Fighting fine lines and wrinkles is often the goal of many adult men and women in their 30s and later. Fortunately, our team at Essential Dermatology in Natick, Marlborough, and Needham, Massachusetts, is excited to provide solutions for patients to consider. This includes popular Botox injections, a treatment for lines and folds on the face. Let’s look at some frequently asked questions about Botox injection treatment at our office.
At Essential Dermatology, Drs. Krathen and Gupta, Brooke Simas, PA-C, and Alyssa Corley, PA-C describe Botox treatment as a minimally invasive procedure utilizing botulinum toxin injections to temporarily relax facial muscles, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Botox is typically used to treat crow’s feet, forehead folds and lines, and frown lines that develop between the eyebrows in adult men and women.
Botox is a specific brand name for botulinum toxin type A, a popular neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It works by blocking nerve signals that go to the injected muscles of the face, causing them to relax and smoothing out wrinkles in the skin. Botox has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use for many years and is a popular anti-aging treatment for both men and women looking to achieve a more youthful appearance.
The effects of Botox typically last about three to four months, but this varies depending on various individual factors, including metabolism and muscle strength. Repeat injections are often needed to maintain the desired results. Some patients find that with regular treatments, the length of time between injections increases.
As with any medical procedure, there are potential side effects associated with Botox treatment. These may include:
Discuss any concerns with your dermatologists at Essential Dermatology before undergoing treatment. Drs. Krathen and Gupta can provide you with more information and help you determine if Botox is the right option for you.
First, our dermatological team assesses your facial muscles and determines where to inject the Botox. The areas might be marked with a pen as a guide. Then, using an extremely fine needle, very small amounts of Botox medication are injected into the targeted muscles. The procedure usually takes less than 15 minutes and is relatively painless. After the injections, you may experience some mild discomfort or redness at the injection sites, though this should subside quickly.
No downtime is required after a Botox treatment session. You can resume your regular daily activities immediately afterward. However, we recommend avoiding strenuous exercise and rubbing the treated area for the first 24 hours to allow the Botox to fully settle into your muscles.
If you reside in the areas of Natick, Marlborough, and Needham, Massachusetts, and want to speak to our team of professionals about your options for anti-aging treatments, we invite you to ask us about Botox and other cosmetic injectables available at Essential Dermatology. Call (508) 545-9611 to schedule a visit today.
Dr. Michael Krathen is a board-certified dermatologist with over a decade of medical training and experience. He studied biology and Spanish, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed medical school. His training included a medical internship at the Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and a dermatology residency at the combined Boston University/Tufts Residency Program.
Author of various medical journal articles, Dr. Krathen taught at Stanford University School of Medicine and the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain.