| Dr. Terry J. Perkins is a plastic surgeon double-board certified by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the AAOHNS (facial plastic surgery). Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Botox.
Q. What is Botox?
A. Botox and Dysport, both of which are FDA-approved for cosmetic use of frown lines, are both natural, purified proteins used to treat overactive muscles and sweat glands. Botox and Dysport treat overactive muscles by blocking the signals that tell those muscles to contract. Botox or Dysport is usually injected between the eyebrows (the glabellar region), and have been used "off label" in other areas such as the lines across the forehead and around the outside of the eyes ("crows feet"). Both Botox and Dysport can also be used as a highly effective treatment for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
Q. Who is the ideal candidate for BOTOX?
A. The ideal candidate for Botox is someone, man or woman, who is looking for a more natural, relaxed look. Most clients have frowns and/or forehead lines that are visible much of the time (regardless of what expression they are making) and often they say that when Botox / Dysport sets in, it makes them look "friendly" and approachable instead of looking angry or irritated.
Q. What is the recovery period for BOTOX?
A. There is no downtime when receiving Botox or Dysport injections. Some people may have minor bruising after the injections. Typically it takes 4 to 7 days for Botox to set in after treatment, while the uptake of Dysport is faster, about 1 to 3 days.
Q. How long do the results of BOTOX last?
A. For wrinkle treatments, the effects of Botox and Dysport typically last 3-4 months. However, with repeated treatments, the effects may last up to 6 months. When treating excessive sweating, results normally last 6 or more months.
Q. How much does BOTOX cost?
A. Price varies as the number of units for an effective treatment differs from person to person. Botox and Dysport are both injected with a small needle in tiny amounts to specific areas. They are sold to clients by the unit. However, it is important to note that the two are measured differently (much like yards vs. meters). This difference is accounted for in the pricing.
Q. How safe is Botox?
A. Botox is such a safe, quick (the procedure usually takes only 10-15 minutes), easy, effective, and relatively affordable wrinkle treatment, it is now easily the most popular medical cosmetic procedure in the country! As long as you receive true Botox (made exclusively by Allergan Inc) or Dysport (made by Ipsen Group, distributed in the U.S. by Medicis Inc) and have it administered by a well-trained clinician, then it is safe. Though Dysport is a relatively new treatment in the U.S. (it was FDA approved in May 2009), given its success in Europe over the last 20 years, it will likely be as popular as Botox within a short period of time.
Q. How many treatments will be needed for botox?
A. Typically one treatment, which takes about 15 to 30 minutes, will last 3 to 4 months.
If you are referring to approximately how many "units" of Botox or Dysport you may need per treatment, here is a more detailed explanation:
The number of units necessary for an effective treatment varies, both by the individual and the area treated. Men usually need a few more units than women to achieve the same effect. At Evolutions, it is common to use 20-24 units of Botox (60-72 units of Dysport) for the glabellar region (the frown lines), 10-14 units of Botox (30-42 units of Dysport) for the forehead, and 10-14 units of Botox (30-42 units of Dysport) for the peri-orbital area ("crow’s feet"). If you have had a Botox® or Dysport treatment in any of these areas and have received significantly more units, you may have received more Botox® or Dysport than is necessary for an effective treatment.
Q. How to contact Dr. Perkins if we have further questions?
A. For a cosmetic surgery consultation, contact Dr. Perkins at 805.563.0000. For an appointment or consultation at Evolutions Medical Spa, call 805.687.0212. Both businesses have informational websites that describe procedures and also show before-and-after pictures. Cosmetic Surgery Center’s website address is: http://www.cosmeticsurgerysb.com/ and Evolutions Medical Spa’s website address is: http://www.evolutionsmedicalspa.com/. We also have blogs that provide information, advice, tips and promotions. The blog for Dr. Perkins is http://terryperkinsmd.blogspot.com/ and the Evolutions blog can be found at http://evolutionsmedicalspa.blogspot.com/. Follow Evolutions on Twitter http://twitter.com/evolutions_spa and become a fan on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/evolutionsmedicalspa! |
