Since we missed last year’s busy social calendar full of parties and get togethers thanks to COVID, this year we’re all in! Even dinner at the in-laws sounds great!
When you’re booking your calendar for this holiday season, why not leave your crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines off the guest list? You can do that by coming in and having Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery provide Botox or Jeuveau injections. Many people opt to have Botox injected at their neighborhood nail salon or even their dentist. But that’s a risky proposition, particularly right before an important social event, as when Botox is injected into the wrong muscle it can cause issues such as a droopy eyelid. Not exactly the look to go with that new dress you bought for your office party.
That’s why you should only trust Botox injections to an expert in facial anatomy. Both Dr. Mark Beaty is a Board-Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and Dr. Laura Beaty is a family physician trained to inject by the best. They have intimate knowledge of facial anatomy and understand where, and just as important, where not to place Botox/Jeuveau to achieve the desired effect relaxing the correct muscles.
In case you’re new to Botox or Jeuveau, a little primer wouldn’t hurt.
What is Botox?
Botox consists primarily of the botulinum toxin type A, the same bacteria that can cause botulism. That sounds scary, but the botulinum toxin can actually be found throughout the natural world, even in the soil you’ll find in a nearby wooded area. Back in the 1950s, scientists researching the botulinum toxin found that when it was injected in minute amounts into a muscle it stopped the muscle from contracting for a period of time. Botox was born from that research.
How does Botox work?
Botox works by blocking the acetylcholine (a nerve messenger) in the muscles from relaying messages to the brain. By blocking the message to contract a muscle, the brain never initiates the contraction, and the muscle remains at rest. You can see how this would be valuable in treating conditions with involuntary muscle contractions. In fact, Botox’s first FDA approval in 1989 was for treating involuntary eyelid spasms.
What about wrinkles?
But Botox became a world-famous brand name in 2002 when the FDA approved it for treatment of frown lines (glabellar lines) and forehead lines. It added approval for treating crow’s feet in 2013, although Botox had long been used off-label to treat these wrinkles outside the eyes. All three of these wrinkles form when we contract certain muscles on the upper third of our faces to form expressions, such as frowning. When Botox is injected into the muscle that forms one of these wrinkles, the muscle stays relaxed and the wrinkle on the skin surface doesn’t form or is dramatically lessened in appearance.
Now that we just are coming out of the food coma of Thanksgiving, this is a great time to come in and have our practice relax those wrinkles and lines with Botox or Jeuveau. That way, you’ll look great for your holiday parties and get-togethers. But do remember that Botox and Jeuveau take about four days to fully take effect and block the muscle contractions, so be sure to allow time before your first party.
Call us at (770) 753-0053 to schedule your Botox or Jeuveau session.
