Botox Cosmetic
What is BOTOX®
Botox is the #1 brand of muscle relaxant used for cosmetic or aesthetic purpose. Botox has been used for medical purposes since 1977. It was first FDA approved for cosmetic use to improve the appearance of the vertical lines between your eyes in 2002, then the crow’s feet in 2013 and finally the horizontal lines across the forehead in 2017.
How does BOTOX® work?
When injected appropriately Botox causes the muscles, that are around your eyes when you smile, frown or raise your brows to relax. This helps prevent the wrinkles from forming or worsening due to those expressions. Even if the wrinkles are already present when you are not making an expression, Botox is able to reduce the mechanical stress on your skin allowing your skin to heal those lines naturally. When injected appropriately and when the patients follow the recommended treatment regiment, even the lines that persist may fade away. Patients who have lines that look extreme when making an expression can have a softer appearance and prevent lines from forming.
Why choose AlluraDerm MD Med Spa for BOTOX?
Best Botox Injectors: Dr. Lam is the #1 provider of BOTOX® in the state of New Mexico for 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the TOP 50 in the U.S.A. He is the TOP injector in the state. No other physician or non-physician injector in New Mexico has ever reached that status or anywhere close to that level. Dr. Lam is a master injector, a trainer for Botox and Juvederm family of fillers and on an advisory board for the makers of Botox. Dr. Mancha has been preforming BOTOX® longer than most provider in New Mexico.
Most trustworthy: Every Botox and filler treatment is provided EXCLUSIVELY by Dr. Lam or Dr. Mancha. Even though we are never the cheapest, we perform far more Botox and Juvederm collection of fillers than anyone in the state because our results speak for themselves. When it comes to BOTOX® wrinkle treatment, Dr. Nicholas Lam and Dr. Victor Mancha are two of the most sought-after providers in the Southwest.
Most genuine: Our ranking of TOP 50 is given by the makers of BOTOX based on the volume of Botox used every year. With over 50,000 injectors in the U.S.A. Dr. Lam is in the TOP 0.1% in the nation. Because Botox is performed every hour of everyday at AlluraDerm, the Botox used is always fresh, genuine and precise. Despite this, Dr. Lam and Dr. Mancha will be the first to tell you if BOTOX is not right for you.
The results speak for themselves. To determine if you are a good candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic, give us a call to schedule your complimentary consultation. During this consultation, our skin care specialists will learn about your medical history and personal appearance goals; this enables them to recommend the best treatments and procedures to safely and effectively meet your goals. Request a complimentary consultation online, or call AlluraDerm MD Med Spa at (505) 658-2576
AlluraDerm MD Med Spa in the media for BOTOX
Where can BOTOX® help?
Botox cosmetics is FDA approved to improve the appearance of the lines between your eyes when you frown, the lines radiating from the corners of your eyes when you smile and the horizontal lines on your forehead when you raise your forehead. Other common areas are not FDA approved but are often performed include reshaping the brows, under eye wrinkles, bunny lines, gummy smiles, vertical lip lines, lip flips, chin dimpling, frowning mouth, jaw contouring and vertical neck bands.
Why use BOTOX?
Botox is the most used cosmetic muscle relaxer in the U.S.A. It has been reported that more than 75% of cosmetic muscle relaxer users use Botox. Botox is also the first brand that is FDA approved for cosmetic used and has the most FDA approved indications. Although some suggest that there are Botox alternatives such as Dysport (Galderma), Xeomin (Merz) and Jeuveau (Evolus). They are not the same product and do not have the same results. Also, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau were FDA approved later and has less FDA approved areas than Botox. Together, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau make up approximately 25% of the cosmetic muscle relaxer users.
How safe is Botox? What are the side effects of BOTOX?
Botox is a medical injection procedure. Although Botox is generally safe, it is not for everyone. The providers at AlluraDerm are able to determine who is a candidate for treatment and provide one on one consultations to determine if Botox is right for every patient we see. Also, since everyone has different anatomy, Botox may not be a suitable solution for everyone or every area of concern. Even though we perform more Botox cosmetics than anyone in the state, we have turned patients away for medical safety reasons.
Botox cosmetic injections are usually safe with little side effects which are short lived. For example, there may be injection site swelling, mild tenderness, injection spot redness and itching. These typically do not last more than a few hours. Bruising is not common but can usually be covered by makeup and resolves in days. Rarely, some may experience flu like symptoms.
In the nation, the complication rate of headache is 9%, eye lid drooping is 3%, eye brow drooping is 2% and eye lids swelling is 1%. Because of our proprietary injection techniques, the complication rate is significantly less than the national average.
Severe and dangerous complications including difficulty breathing and cardiac arrest have been reported in the product information. Although these are rare and have never occurred in our practice since 2007. Dr. Lam is a trained anesthesiologist with the skills and equipment to handle such a situation if it ever arises. However, as the #1 injector of Botox in the state, his knowledge and skill set would circumnavigate such an event from ever occurring.
BOTOX® FAQ — AlluraDerm MD Med Spa
When it comes to erasing your lines and wrinkles, nobody loves you like AlluraDerm MD Med Spa.
The Truth About BOTOX® Treatments — Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve been considering BOTOX® injections, you’ve probably heard many facts and myths about this popular wrinkle treatment. We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently-asked-questions about BOTOX® treatments, answering questions like whether it is safe and how it compares to other wrinkle treatments.
Q: “Is BOTOX® safe? My aunt says it’s botulism.” — S.J.
A: “BOTOX® is an amazingly safe wrinkle treatment. It’s precise, predictable, and people love it — and you can tell your aunt it’s definitely NOT botulism. It’s a natural biologic, a highly purified protein that, when administered, stops the signal that normally tells muscles to contract — so they stay relaxed. However, just like every medical procedure, the injector is the key to safety and results. At AlluraDerm, Dr. Lam is the #1 injector in the New Mexico and he was an anesthesiologist who was training residents in one of the largest anesthesiology training programs in the country. You are in the best of hands!” Contact us for a consultation.
Q: “Is BOTOX® proven? I’ve already wasted hundreds of dollars on the false promises of wrinkle creams.” — A.H.
A: “Unlike those wrinkle creams you tried, BOTOX® keeps its promises and really does work like a Magic Eraser on lines and wrinkles. BOTOX® injections have been used worldwide for more than 20 years. And in our many years of medical practice, we have yet to experience anything as effective and consistent in erasing frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet.” Contact us for a consultation.
Q: “Are BOTOX® injections affordable? I hate my crow’s feet, but I read an online ad for skin cream that said I’d have to mortgage my house to afford it.” — T.U.
A: “BOTOX® is a surprisingly affordable wrinkle treatment. You can easily soften those crow’s feet you hate for up to 4 months for less than $1 a day! Our typical patients are treated in all of the three areas (i.e. crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles) about ever 3–4 months for less than $4.50 a day. Coffee or wrinkles? You choose!” Contact us for a consultation.
Q: “What are BOTOX® parties? How come their BOTOX is so cheap.” — A.G.
A: “Botox has many “me-too” brands that are cheaper than Botox. Botox can also be bought in unofficial market which may or may not be legitimate Botox. Official Botox must be delivered to an official Botox account. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell if a Botox is genuine or diluted which will reduce cost. It is best practice to go to a reputable injector since there will be no issues with the product, sterility and technique. Your face deserves the best! Contact us for a consultation.
What Causes Wrinkles between my eyes?
The vertical lines between your brows — the 11s — are caused by contractions of your glabella muscles. While cellular changes, depletion of collagen, hormone loss, and free radical damage cause your skin to age and wrinkle, the lingering contractions of your glabella muscles (caused by decades of squinting, concentrating, and frowning) are the major contributor to those stubborn lines between your eyes.
Over the years, wrinkling and crinkling can take its toll on your face, leaving permanent marks that make you look older than you are. Fortunately, modern technology has enabled doctors to be able to erase years from your face with little to no downtime. One of the most effective treatments for deep frown lines and crows feet is BOTOX®.
BOTOX® and Botulism?
Botox is a highly purified form of protein, botulinium Type A. The protein is produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum and stabilized by a small amount human albumin (protein) and frozen. The Botox protein has a bigger 100kd subunit that is important for bringing the smaller 50kd subunit into the nerve. This smaller subunit stops the neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) packets that are floating in your nerves from docking (SNAP-25 of the SNARE complex) and releasing the neurotransmitter to the muscle. Since the message to contract a muscle is not transmitted, the muscle does not contract and the mechanical stress on the skin is reduced. Since the skin has a capacity to regenerate depending on the health of the skin, healing of the wrinkle or potential wrinkle can occur.
Clostridium Botulinum is found naturally in many places and normally do not cause anyone to become sick. However, under certain conditions e.g. when there is low oxygen, sugar, acid and salt, the bacteria spores can produce a large amount of toxins that can make people sick. This extremely rare sickness is collectively known as Botulism. The CDC recognizes 5 types of Botulism:
Food: Eating homemade foods that have been contaminated with botulinum toxin especially improperly preserved, fermented or canned food.
Wound: Cuts in the skin and contaminated with the spores of the bacteria and poor wound healing resulting in conditions that the toxin.
Infant Intestinal: Spores get into infant’s intestine and produce toxin
Adult Intestinal: Spores get into adult’s intestine and produce toxin
Iatrogenic: Botulinum protein injected therapeutically for medical or cosmetic conditions. The majority of these cases are off label or non-FDA use of the Botox type injection for cerebral palsy children.
What is the difference between BOTOX and Juvederm or Restylane?
Botox cosmetic is a protein that is injected to reduce muscle movement which will help heal the existing wrinkles caused by muscle movement and prevent wrinkles from forming. Typical areas include the vertical lines between your eyes when you furrow your brows or frown, crow’s feet radiating from the corners of your eyes when you smile and horizontal lines on your forehead when you raise your eyebrows.
Juvederm and Restylane are not muscle relaxants although they have been used to treat lines and wrinkles in the same area as Botox or more commonly in other areas. Juvederm is the market leader for skin fillers in the U.S.A. Although Restylane came into the market before Juvederm, it has trailed in popularity because of the superior results that Juvederm collection of fillers have achieved. Both fillers are made from hyaluronic acid which is a sugar molecule in your body. Juvederm collection of fillers is excellent for filling in volume loss to restore volume, create contours and lift, soften folds. Other hyaluronic acid-based fillers include Belotero and Versa. They typically do not last as long and do not have the same outcome as the Juvederm collection of fillers.
Fillers (hyaluronic acid and non-hyaluronic acid based) including Juvederm and Restylane, Sculptra, Radiesse and fat were used in the past to treat the lines between the eyes even though it was not FDA approved for that area. Unfortunately, in 2015 a collective report of 98 cases of reported irreversible blindness occurred worldwide when fillers were used especially when injected in the glabella (lines between the eyes) and nose. Although this has never happened at AlluraDerm MD Med Spa, as emerging Key Opinion Leaders in aesthetics, we have adopted not to inject fillers to treat areas where Botox treatments are safe and effective, such as the glabella area.
Non-Hyaluronic acid based fillers like Scupltra, Artefill, Bellafill, Radiesse do not have any non-surgical mechanism to dissolve or remove the filler if it causes a problem such as a compression or blockage of blood vessels or lymphatics or nerves; or if it is not aesthetically pleasing. They are proinflammatory and as such have a higher propensity to create lumps and nodules that may not be aesthetically pleasing. As such, we do not utilize them.
However, Juvederm collection of fillers are safe and excellent deep folds or smile lines known as the nasolabial folds, frown shadows or frown lines by the mouth known as the marionette lines and creating lift and contours of the cheek and restoration or enhancement of the lips. Click here to find out more about Juvederm Collection of Fillers >>> (hyperlink to Juvederm page)
What is BOTOX® FDA approved for?
Botox is a protein produced by Clostridium botulinum that relaxes muscles. It is very safe and was initially used for medical reasons before cosmetic use.
In 1970s, it was used to treat cross eyes by injected Botox into the muscles outside the eyeball inside the eye socket. In 1980s, it was used to treat eyelids spasm or blepharospasm and in 1990s, it was used to treat severe neck and shoulder contractions known as cervical dystonia. By 2002, Botox cosmetic was FDA approved for the glabella area to treat the frown lines between the eyes. By 2004, it was approved to treat a medical condition called axilla hyperhidrosis or excessively sweaty underarms. In 2010, it was FDA approved to treat chronic migraine refractory to conventional medications. In 2013, Botox is FDA approved to treat crows feet (wrinkles radiating from the corners of the eyes upon smiling). In the same year, it was FDA approved to treat incontinence due to bladder muscle spasms. In 2016 it was FDA approved to treat upper and lower limb spasticity in adults and in 2017 it was FDA approved to treat the horizontal lines on the forehead.
Can BOTOX be used to treat sweaty underarms or hyperhidrosis?
Yes, Botox has been approved to treat excessive underarms sweating since 2004. As such we have been helping our patients every summer since 2007. Fortunately for hyperhidrosis, the treatment can last as long as 6 months. Other areas of excessive sweating like hands and feet are not FDA approved for BOTOX treatments and we do not perform them.
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