So Long, Wrinkles
If the development of wrinkles and fine lines is changing your perception of your face, Botox and Dysport can minimize some of the newest age-related occurrences. At Self Care LA in Santa Monica, California, aesthetic injector Bharat Kothakota, MD, MPH, injects Botox and fillers with a careful hand and artistic eye. To find out if Botox or Dysport can help you reach your cosmetic goals, call Self Care LA or book an appointment online today.
Rejuvenate Your Skin
Botox is an FDA-approved treatment most commonly used to treat the forehead, crow's feet, and frown lines. At Self Care LA, we commonly use Botox to treat other areas, such as the wrinkles around the mouth (smokers’ lines), the wrinkles around the nose (bunny lines), and the dimpling of the chin and the neck bands. Incredibly popular treatments are the ‘brow lift’ and the ‘lip flip.’ Our highly trained medical professionals can walk you through this process. We also use Botox to treat your Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. Not only can it reduce your headaches and grinding, but it also has the nice effect of slimming down your facial profile. In addition, Botox injections can also treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Botox is an injectable toxin that is injected directly into the affected area. It is a botulinum toxin that is used to relax muscles. Botox is designed to cause a transient nerve signal interruption between muscles. We have used Botox for years to treat ‘dynamic’ wrinkles caused by repetitive muscle movements. Botox can smooth the fine lines and creases in the upper third of your face, like frown lines, crow’s feet, and furrows between your brow. At Self Care LA, our trained medical team will determine if you are a candidate for Botox
About the Procedure
Once one of our medical providers assesses you to make sure you are a candidate for Botox, photos are taken (the Before), and a plan is formulated in terms of where to inject and how much to inject. If it is your first time, we err on the conservative side and inject less. We want you to understand how it feels, and can always inject more during future sessions. Next, we clean your face using SkinCeuticals products to minimize the risk of infection. The injection process itself is fairly quick, it usually takes only a few minutes. After injecting, we clean your face again and massage the injection sites down, so you can continue on with your day.
The Right Choice
Botox is typically used on the upper part of the face, while fillers are used in the lower half of the face. Botox relaxes the muscles, while filler increases the volume of the face, builds structure, adds definition, and can lessen some deeper wrinkles.
A Fast Recovery
Recovery time for Botox is relatively quick. It is best not to lie down for the first four hours after the procedure to allow the Botox to settle and not migrate or pool in one side of your face. The majority of our Santa Monica Botox patients see the results within a week. It is recommended to wait at least two weeks to evaluate how Botox works. For new clients, it’s encouraged to come back in two weeks so we can see how the Botox looks and make adjustments accordingly.
Results
It is easy to maintain your results; on average, Botox lasts between 4 and 6 months.The key with Botox is to be consistent in order to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can still vary from patient to patient based on a multitude of factors, including age and metabolism.
Fast and Effective Consultation
When you arrive at our boutique med spa, we will ask you about your medical history and what your aesthetic goals are. We will create a personalized treatment plan for you and help you decide the best plan to achieve your desired look. During your initial consultation, we will answer any questions about the procedure(s), explain the differences in treatment for different areas of the face, and work with you on a treatment plan that helps you achieve your goals.
Botox is FDA-approved, so it is considered safe in the dosages we use for treating fine lines and wrinkles. There is a minimal risk profile associated with Botox when patients are deemed appropriate candidates. Main side effects include temporary bruising at the injection site and possible eyelid drooping (ptosis) if injected too low on the forehead. Our experienced medical staff at Self Care LA can help determine if Botox is the right treatment for your needs.
Botox prices vary quite a bit between different providers and in different markets. At Self Care LA, we consider ourselves to be ‘market competitive’ with a price of $12/unit of Botox. For the experience of our medical providers and the quality of your outcome, it is a fair value.
On average, it takes about 20-24 units to effectively treat someone’s forehead; however, this can vary from patient to patient. Often for a new patient, we like to inject a half-dose of Botox so that the patient can understand what Botox feels like. It is very easy to give someone more botox; you can never take away ‘too much’ Botox. Once we know how a patient reacts to botox, we can easily change the injection pattern and increase the dosage to provide optimal results.
There are no studies that demonstrate the safety of Botox in pregnant and breastfeeding patients. As a purely elective procedure, we suggest you wait until you are no longer pregnant and/or breastfeeding before we consider treating you with Botox.
One of the benefits of Botox is that there is hardly any downtime! We use a very small needle, and our skilled medical team makes the process seamless and painless. When you leave, there may be some small bumps on your face that should be gone within the hour. While bruising is possible, it can be easily treated by icing. Following injections with Botox Santa Monica patients will need to avoid working out (sweating), using any makeup and from lying down for the next three to four hours. The next day you can get back to your normal activities!
Literature suggests that about 80% of patients see results within the first week. From personal experience, people start seeing results within the first three to four days.
This is a fairly common misconception. Nothing suggests that stopping Botox or taking a break from Botox will make you look older. You are merely allowing your ‘natural age’ to present itself, which may differ from when you first started using Botox.
While Botox by Allergan is probably the most recognizable botulinum toxin A product, there are alternatives on the market. We also carry and use Dysport (Galderma) quite regularly, while it is also Botulinum toxin A, it has a slightly different formulation. Dysport is also FDA-approved to treat the same fine lines and wrinkles. Outside of Botox by Allergan, we also see incredible results with Dysport.
Schedule your appointment at Self Care LA today!
Ready to offer your skin a second chance? Our aesthetic specialists have years of experience delivering stunning outcomes. Schedule your consultation in Santa Monica today. We can’t wait to treat you to the self-care you deserve.
1426 Montana Avenue, Suite 2, Santa Monica, CA 90403