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Botox®

What is Botox®?

Botox® or botulinum toxin is a patented neuromodulator that is injected into the muscles of the face and neck.  Botox® is used to soften and minimize lines and wrinkles and is especially effective on active wrinkles (lines present with facial expression) but can soften the passive wrinkles (etched lines that are present at rest). Botox® is typically used to treat:
  • Forehead lines
  • Frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines)  “the 11’s”
  • Crow’s feet (lines around the corner’s of the eyes)
  • Chin pebbling
  • Bunny lines (sides of the nose)
  • Large horizontal neck muscles (platysmal bands)
  • Lines around the lips

Can I Get Botox® Treatments?

There are some situations where people should not undergo Botox® cosmetic treatments.  These include:
  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Allergy to botulinum toxin or benzyl alcohol
  • Neuromuscular disease (such as myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Parkinson’s and other)
  • Aminoglycoside antibiotic medication use (streptomycin, neomycin,  gentamycin)

What Can I Expect During Botox® Treatment?

Botox® is safe and effective especially when injected by a board-certified dermatologist. The injections are done by a very small needle and delivered under the skin.  There is minimal discomfort and the whole procedure typically takes a few minutes.  There is little or no downtime after the procedure.

The results are usually seen in about 3-7 days but may take up to a few weeks to see the full benefit.   Fine lines will soften earlier but deeper “etched” lines will take longer to improve.  These deeper lines may soften but not completely resolve.  The results from Botox may last up to 3 months.  You will need to have repeated injections to maintain the benefits.  However, many people find the results last longer if they have regular and ongoing treatments.

Common side effects include tenderness and transient bruising (typically resolves in a few days to a week).  Occasionally headaches may occur and will resolve in a few hours.  Temporary drooping of the eyebrows or eyelids occurs in about 1% of people.  This typically resolves in about 2-3 weeks.  If there is eyelid drooping, consult your dermatologist as there are eye drops that can help this.   Very rare side effects include temporary blurry vision, reduced blinking, allergic reactions or antibody development (which decreases the duration of results for future injections).

Botox® treatments can be customized to your preferences to achieve a youthful and natural appearance.  Because these treatments are used for cosmetic purposes, they are not covered by insurance.  To learn more about treatments and pricing, schedule an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist at Iowa Dermatology Consultants today.

Additional Botox® Resources

Links to Additional Information:

American Academy of Dermatology Botox® Videos:

Why Iowa Dermatology Consultants?

Iowa Dermatology Consultants believes undergoing a cosmetic procedure is not just about your appearance and convenience. It is about your health and safety.  A board-certified dermatologist has the medical training and experience required to keep skin healthy and youthful-looking. They work with patients forming an active partnership in treatment to help you look and feel your best.

At Iowa Dermatology Consultants, all of our physicians are board-certified dermatologists. This means that Dr. Snider, Dr. Smith,  and Dr. Myers have the education, expertise and experience to safely and effectively reduce the signs of aging. Together they have almost 50 years of combined experience in medical and cosmetic dermatology practice.  This includes over 16,000 hours of patient care training to ensure that a board certified dermatologist can expertly diagnosis and treat over 3000 dermatologic conditions.

Because your results depend largely on the skill and experience of the person performing the procedure, it is important to select a board-certified dermatologist like those at Iowa Dermatology Consultants.