Botox
LOSE THE LINES. FAST.
Botox is one of the most popular injectable treatments at Acqua Medspa.
BOTOX is an injectable that helps reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet, and is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures worldwide.
Dr. Carpin offers BOTOX for patients in Houston, League City & Clear Lake, TX and surrounding areas for the treatment of crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines. Additionally, advanced techniques have been used to smooth necklines, lift the corners of the mouth, as well as reduce the appearance of a gummy smile or jaw muscle hypertrophy.
WHAT IS BOTOX?
BOTOX is derived from the botulinum toxin type A, the bacteria that cause botulism. Scientists discovered that if a minuscule amount of the botulinum toxin was injected into a muscle, the muscle would relax and stop contracting for a period of time.
There are now several formulations of BOTOX, including Dysport and Xeomin, which have similar effects.
Initially, the FDA approved BOTOX for the treatment of involuntary eyelid spasms. Now, it is safely used for the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder, migraine headaches, overactive bladders, excessive underarm sweating, as well as for cosmetic uses.
BOTOX is injected into facial muscles to soften the muscle contraction, and effectively reduces wrinkles for up to four months.
WHAT DOES BOTOX TREAT?
BOTOX Cosmetic is used to treat wrinkles and folds in the skin that are a result of muscle contraction. These facial lines occur with normal facial movements and expressions such as smiling, frowning, and squinting. They are commonly seen in the forehead, between the eyes, and on the outside of the eyes. With continued use, your muscles start to create folds within the skin that appear every time you frown or smile. Over time, these lines may become deep set and more obvious. Botox can effectively treat the forehead, frown and smile lines, areas on the neck, and “smoker’s lines” above the lips. It can also be used to elevate the outside of the eyebrow.
BOTOX works on the upper third of the face on dynamic wrinkles. There is another type of wrinkle, the static wrinkle. These form due to sun damage, declining collagen production, personal habits, and simple aging. Unlike dynamic wrinkles, static wrinkles have nothing to do with muscle movements; they are visible at all times. So, if you want to remove static wrinkles, BOTOX is not the answer. Static wrinkles can be addressed with dermal fillers such as Juvederm.
It is FDA approved for cosmetic use on the upper third of the face. It erases crow’s feet, the lines between your brows, and lines on your forehead.
Advanced techniques have been used to smooth necklines, lift the corners of the mouth, as well as reduce the appearance of a gummy smile or jaw muscle hypertrophy. BOTOX can also give a subtle lift to the eyebrows.
HOW DOES BOTOX WORK?
Botox is composed of botulinum toxin A which can relax muscles and prevent them from contracting. The injections work by temporarily blocking the nerves that tell facial muscles to move. When the muscles don’t contract, wrinkles do not form.
The upper third of the face is full of expressions. Go ahead — make a frown, squint, show surprise, and you can feel the muscles around your eyes and on your forehead engage. Over time, as our skin thins and loses elasticity. With repeated muscle contraction, we begin to form permanent wrinkles on the surface skin, above the muscle. These muscle contractions create crow’s feet around our eyes, vertical lines between our brows (called the 11s), and lines on our forehead. These wrinkles are called “dynamic” wrinkles, as they are formed from muscles contracting.
When injected into a muscle below a wrinkle, say crow’s feet, the botulinum toxin blocks the nerve message from the muscle to the brain. Since the brain never receives the message to contract the muscle, the muscle stays relaxed. This keeps the crow’s feet from forming when the person smiles, frowns, or squints.
Your ACQUA Botox specialist will gently administer a series of injections directly into the facial muscles causing the wrinkles. The procedure takes just a few minutes to complete and there is minimal discomfort. Although most patients notice a difference in their skin after two or three days, it may take up to two weeks to see the full results of your treatment.
Dr. Carpin carefully examines your facial anatomy and offers a conservation approach to give you a natural look without being overly frozen or expressionless.
After treatment with BOTOX, your skin will appear smoother, with less wrinkles. You will look younger and refreshed for several months, at which point you can choose to undergo re-treatment to maintain your results. For optimal effects, we recommend having Botox treatments every 3-4 months. Over time, as you continue to receive BOTOX injections, your muscles will adapt to the treatment and may require fewer units to produce the desired effect.
HOW DO I KNOW IF BOTOX IS RIGHT FOR ME?
BOTOX is recommended for individuals who are exhibiting mild to moderate signs of facial aging due to normal facial movements and expressions. It can also be used by younger patients in their twenties, as a preventative measure to stop wrinkles before they have a chance to form.
As a minimally invasive treatment option, BOTOX is an excellent way to look more youthful and beautiful without making dramatic changes to your overall appearance. The results appear very natural. Patients who receive BOTOX must have realistic expectations and understand that their treatment is only temporary. To maintain the optimal appearance, follow-up injections will be necessary.
WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR BOTOX?
Healthy women and men, who are not taking blood thinners, pregnant or breastfeeding are great candidates. Patients should avoid aspirin or Motrin one week before injections to reduce bleeding. Patients with neuromuscular disorders are also poor candidates for the injection.
Many younger women and men seek BOTOX to help prevent the formation of wrinkles and maintain their youthful appearance. Older patients benefit from reducing the appearance of wrinkles as well.
PATIENT BEFORE AND AFTER
WHAT OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO SAY
“The staff there are super friendly and very knowledgeable. Angelica is very artistic in her work and made me feel comfortable the whole time. I highly recommend Aqua Med Spa for an overall great experience!”– Charity S.
Scheduling a consultation at Acqua MedSpa is the best way to find out whether you would benefit from BOTOX treatment. You will discuss the areas of concern and your injection specialist will determine the ideal treatment plan and the number of units recommended for a particular treatment zone. She will explain exactly what you can expect during your treatment and organize a customized regimen for you.
At Acqua MedSpa, our injectors have years of experience administering injectables and understand how to create beautiful, natural-looking results. Our goal is to enhance your beauty, not create an entirely new aesthetic. Your technician will place each injection with precision so that you receive a beautiful, subtle improvement.
WHAT IS A BOTOX SESSION LIKE?
BOTOX was the original “lunchtime procedure” because a session takes just 10-15 minutes, and the patient can go right back to work or whatever other activities they want afterwards. It is important to refrain from exercise or lying flat for four hours after the injection.
Dr. Carpin injects the neuromodulator with a very fine needle, and numbing cream or ice can by used to reduce discomfort. Most patients tolerate the procedure.
HOW LONG BEFORE I SEE RESULTS?
Unlike dermal fillers, BOTOX doesn’t work instantly. Once injected it usually takes about four days for the botulinum toxin to fully immobilize the targeted muscle.
WHAT AREAS OF MY FACE CAN BOTOX BE USED ON?
BOTOX injections can target wrinkles anywhere on your face. However, there are some treatment areas where patients see the best results. The most popular treatment areas for BOTOX include:
- Forehead lines
- Crow’s feet
- Glabellar lines (also known as “elevens” or frown lines)
- Marionette lines or lines around the corners of the mouth
- Perioral lines that appear with pursed lips
- Eyebrows
Well-placed BOTOX injections in the above treatment areas offer patients a natural-looking youthful effect.
CAN BOTOX BE USED FOR JAW SLIMMING?
While smoothing wrinkles is the most common use for BOTOX, it can also slim and contour the face. Patients seeking BOTOX for a slimmer jaw can receive injections in the masseter muscles located at the back of the jaw.
In a treatment known as masseter muscle reduction, Dr. Carpin will perform a series of BOTOX injections in the masseter muscles on each side of the jaw to help them relax.
Patients using BOTOX for jaw slimming may also see an improvement in the appearance of sagging jowls and find relief from frequent jaw clenching, which often causes pain, headaches, and general tension in the jaw and neck.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A BOTOX TREATMENT?
Before any medical treatment—even a safe, minimally-invasive one like BOTOX injections—patients should prepare by understanding the service and the expected results. A consultation is a great way to make sure that you are ready for BOTOX.
The most common side effect of BOTOX is some bruising. You can reduce your chances of bruising by avoiding smoking, alcohol, and certain medications that can thin your blood—such as aspirin, ginseng, and St. John’s wort—in the days leading up to a Botox treatment. We can provide complete instructions tailored to your situation.
Before your visit, wash your face thoroughly and relax! BOTOX treatments typically take no longer than 10 minutes. Then, you’ll be finished and ready to carry on with your day.
WILL BOTOX MAKE MY SKIN APPEAR SHINY?
The shiny appearance that is sometimes seen on celebrities or BOTOX devotees results from light bouncing off their skin uniformly. Most people’s skin doesn’t reflect light in that way since their skin isn’t perfectly smooth. Shiny skin is often a sign of overtreatment, caused by injections too close together or scheduled too frequently.
At Acqua Medspa, Dr. Carpin works with you to ensure your Botox treatments result in natural-looking youthfulness—not a shiny, frozen face.
WHAT IS THE RECOVERY AND AFTERCARE FOR A BOTOX TREATMENT?
Since BOTOX injections are minimally invasive, you can immediately resume most of your regular activities. For example, you can return to work or school after your treatment with no downtime. However, some things should be avoided.
If you’re eager to see results from your injections, you can gently exercise your face—as making facial expressions after your BOTOX treatment may allow your results to appear sooner.
To ensure that your BOTOX injections stay in the targeted area, you should:
- Remain upright for at least four hours
- Avoid rubbing or touching the treatment area(s) for at least 24 hours
- Refrain from exercising for 24 hours
- Refrain from alcohol for 24 hours before and after treatment
All of these precautions allow for optimal results after your injections.
HOW LONG WILL MY RESULTS LAST?
Its onset begins two to four days after the injection, but full muscle relaxation may take a week. The effect lasts about four months. In patients who are extremely athletic, they may see results lasting closer to three months. At that point, the body will begin to absorb it, and the muscle will begin contracting again, and the wrinkles will return. Another session with Dr. Carpin will maintain your results. Repeated use has also shown to improve the texture of skin over time.
WILL BOTOX MAKE MY FACE LOOK FROZEN?
Its onset begins two to four days after the injection, but full muscle relaxation may take a week. The effect lasts about four months. In patients who are extremely athletic, they may see results lasting closer to three months. At that point, the body will begin to absorb it, and the muscle will begin contracting again, and the wrinkles will return. Another session with Dr. Carpin will maintain your results. Repeated use has also shown to improve the texture of skin over time.
WILL BOTOX MAKE MY FACE LOOK FROZEN?
When injected in the correct amount by an experienced injector such as Dr. Carpin, your face will look natural, just not with all of the wrinkles and lines. The key is understanding facial anatomy and the proper amount of product to use. Dr. Carpin has extensive experience and training to ensure you’ll be happy with your results.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
BOTOX has been safely used worldwide, on millions of patients and is FDA approved for cosmetic treatments.
The main side effects are minor discomfort after injection, slight swelling or bruising or headache.
Improperly injected BOTOX could cause a temporary eyelid droopiness or blurry vision. That’s why it’s very important to have BOTOX injected by experts in facial anatomy who have extensive experience, such as Dr. Carpin.
It is important for patients to refrain from rubbing their injection sites for the first 24 hours after their injections. Rubbing the sites can cause the BOTOX to move to an unintended muscle.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY BOTOX IS UNEVEN, OR MY EYEBROWS ARE TOO ARCHED?
A quick touch up can help even up the results of BOTOX, perhaps if one brow is lifting higher. Often times patients have stronger contractions on one brow versus the other.
IS THERE ANY PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH BOTOX?
Most patients equate the injections with the tiny needle to that of a pinprick and small amount of burning from the medication. Numbing cream or ice can by used to reduce discomfort. Most patients tolerate the procedure very well.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTOX AND DERMAL FILLERS?
BOTOX is classified as a neuromodulator, not a dermal filler. This is because it works on the dynamic wrinkles formed by muscle contractions. It has no effect on wrinkles caused by skin damage, i.e. static wrinkles.
Dermal fillers, such as Juvederm and Restylane, simply return volume to an area with a wrinkle, crease, or that has lost volume (sunken cheeks, for instance). Dermal fillers are true to their name — when injected beneath a crease or area of volume loss, they fill in the space, pushing the skin back upward.
Dermal fillers can be used in conjunction with BOTOX to fill deep wrinkles in the forehead, that may not resolve with BOTOX alone.
CAN I COMBINE BOTOX WITH DERMAL FILLERS?
Because BOTOX and dermal fillers treat different kinds of wrinkles, they can be combined in a single session. For instance, we could use BOTOX to remove the vertical lines between your eyebrows (the 11s) and at the same time we could use Juvederm® Voluma to return volume to your cheeks.
SCHEDULE YOUR BOTOX CONSULTATION TODAY!
Please schedule a consultation with Dr. Carpin if you are interested in learning more about BOTOX. Dr. Carpin offers BOTOX Injections for patients in Houston, League City and Clear Lake, TX and surrounding areas, including Friendswood, Pasedena, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, and Galveston. Call (281) 333-4600 today for more information.
575 E Medical Center Blvd –