Botox is used to reduce muscle activity that causes fine lines and wrinkles in the face. Botox is FDA approved for treating the frontalis muscle, which produces lines in the forehead, the glabellar lines, which are the vertical lines found  between the eyebrows, and orbicularis oculi muscle that produces lines commonly referred to as crow’s feet. Botox has also been shown to effectively reduce clenching and grinding associated with deterioration of the TMJ, fractures of the teeth, and headaches. Clenching and grinding often lead to muscle pain related to headaches. Botox has been shown to reduce not only clenching and grinding but the headaches often associated with this.

Botox can also be used to reduce the appearance of a gummy smile. Showing excessive gingival tissue, commonly called a “gummy smile”, occurs when the upper gums show when smiling. Most procedures to change this are surgical and invasive. Botox relaxes the muscles on the face to allow the lips to cover much of the gums, thus creating an appealing smile. Botox is often easier and less expensive than surgery.

Dermal fillers can add volume, restore lost volume, smooth lines, soften creases, and enhance facial contours in areas such as your nasolabial folds that are sometimes called the smile lines that occur with aging.

To maintain the effects of Botox, treatment is recommended approximately every 12 to16 weeks. To maintain the effects of dermal fillers, once a year is usually sufficient. In many cases, even less maintenance will be needed.

Post Op Instructions

Botox takes approximately 4 hours to bind the to neuromuscular junction. For this reason, for the first 4 hours after you have Botox treatment:

• Do not touch the treated area
• Do not rub or massage the area
• Do not exercise
• Do not expose yourself to excessive heat