Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world today, with over 4 million treatments done last year because of its ability to make a person look refreshed, revitalized, and younger.
This non-invasive therapy works wonderfully if your goal is a younger, more relaxed appearance. Our dermatologists perform this procedure frequently for many residents in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Maryland, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Botox has been used safely and successfully in medicine for more than a decade and was FDA approved for wrinkle therapy in 2002.
How does Botox work?
Botox is injected by a dermatologist into the muscles beneath the skin to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Botox works by weakening the muscle into which it is injected. A Botox-weakened muscle leaves the skin smoother and less prone to wrinkling. The lines that result from frequent muscle contractions gradually fade, and in some cases, disappear.
What can Botox do for me?
A treatment by a Botox doctor may help reduce the appearance of the following facial features:
• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Horizontal forehead creases
• Crow’s feet around the eyes
• Lines on the upper lip caused by pursing the lips
How quickly does it work?
Following treatment, you will see start seeing results in 3-5 days, with peak results in 7-10 days.
How long does it last?
This cosmetic treatment lasts for 3-5 months, then slowly wears off allowing the affected muscles to regain their ability to contract fully. Botox injections can be periodically repeated as the muscle function returns.
What happens during the procedure?
Our Botox doctors use a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of Botox into the muscles. Specific muscles are selected for treatment of a specific area. The number of injections needed depends on many factors, including the extent of the area being treated.
The Botox injections take about 10 to 15 minutes. You may experience mild pain with the injections, but most of our patients in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Maryland, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina find the discomfort tolerable.
Before receiving Botox
Before scheduling Botox injections, you will need to meet with one of our derm doctors to discuss whether Botox will provide the treatment results you are expecting. This discussion generally includes:
Cost. Though relatively inexpensive, Botox injections are not usually covered by insurance.
Expectations. Our Botox doctors can provide you with reasonable expectations according to your skin condition. Results vary depending on the area being treated, your age, and use of other cosmetic treatments.
Other medications. You may need to stop using certain medications before receiving a Botox treatment, such as blood-thinning medications, (aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin). We advise you to talk with your family doctor before stopping these medications, as it may be best to continue these medications in people who have had blood clots, stroke, heart attack, angina or transient ischemic attacks. Also, please let your derm doctor know if you’ve received any other Botox product before, recently received antibiotics by injection, or are taking muscle relaxants, allergy or cold medicines, or sleep medicine.
After your treatment
Botox treatments require little downtime, although you may experience bruising or other minor local side effects from the injection. Expect to resume your normal daily activities right after the procedure. Take care, though, not to rub or massage the treated areas. This can cause the toxin to migrate to a different area.
If you have a skin condition in need of evaluation and treatment, please contact our dermatology clinic at (757) 481-1666. We serve Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore of Virginia and Maryland, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our dermatologists are here to help you.