Facial Injections: Info, Prices, Photos, Reviews, Q&A

Botox works by paralyzing the muscles beneath the skin which cause dynamic wrinkling (usually of the forehead).

It is highly effective which explains why everyone is doing it. The downside is that the treatment only lasts 2-6 months. (Lawrence Kass, MD, Saint Petersburg Oculoplastic Surgeon)

Botox works by inhibiting the impulse going from the nerve to the muscle, which triggers the contraction of the muscle. As such, Botox works best for “dynamic” wrinkles, whic are wrinkles caused by repeated movement of the muscles.

This would include the frown lines between the eyebrows (known as the glabella), the crows feet (also know as the periorbital wrinkles) and the horizontal forehead lines. In my opinion Botox doesn’t work as well on the lower part of the face, such as the lines around the mouth.

In these areas a better alternative with less risk of suboptimal result would be soft tissue fillers, such as Juvederm or Restylane.

These fillers are also useful in Botox-treated areas for any wrinkles that are improved but not completely resolved after Botox treatment. (Andrew Kaufman, MD, Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon)

Botox works by inhibiting the muscle from contracting.

Generally speaking, only a minimal amount of Botox is really required on the forehead and rather an appropriate treatment of the brow wil result in the desired improvement. (Theodore Diktaban, MD, FACS, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)

Botox for the forehead

Botox works by weakening the function of muscles so they cannot flex and fold the skin to give the appearance of wrinkles. If the wrinkles are there only when moving the forehead muscles, then Botox is an option, But you need to understand the potential negative effects.

If you weaken the muscles that cause the wrinkling, these are the same muscles that lift your eyebrows, so in weakening the muscle to avoid the forehead issue, you might allow the eyebrows to drop and make you look more tired.

Along with that, if the wrinkles are there at rest, the Botox will work only to stabilize the wrinkles and not reduce wrinkles that exist due to loss of collagen and elastin in your skin. (Julio Garcia, MD, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)

Botox relaxes muscles that cause wrinkles

Botox reduces or blocks underlying facial muscle movement that primarily causes some facial wrinkles. Although facial / neck wrinkles are caused by many factors; some wrinkles, called “dynamic wrinkles” are primarily due to constant, repetitive muscular contraction over the years.

Forehead, glabella (between the eyebrows) and crow’s feet wrinkles / lines are the dynamic wrinkles that respond well to relaxation of the underlying muscles with Botox. Other wrinkles do, as well. The Botox effect gradually wears off over 3-6 months in most patients, is safe, effective and very popular.

Bruising may occur – avoid medications (aspirin, Advil) for 1 week prior treatment to minimize bruising risk. Otherwise, the procedure is a no downtime procedure that can be done during your lunchtime break, if desired. (Robert Strimling, MD, Las Vegas Dermatologist)

How does botox work for wrinkles

Wrinkles are caused by muscle movement, sun damage (Sun aging) and chronologic aging.

Fine wrinkles (mostly from sun aging) can be treated with chemical peels and laser resurfacing

Deeper wrinkles on the forehead,around the eyes and in other areas (mostly due to muscle movement) can be treated with Botulinum Toxin (Botox or Dysport)

Botulinum toxin blocks the communication between the nerve endings and the muscles responsible for the deep wrinkles, thus causing a temporary paralysis of said muscles.

With an almost 20 year record of safety, Botox has become the most frequently performed cosmetic procedure by Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons. (Eugene Mandrea, MD, Chicago Dermatologist)

Botox for lines on the forehead

Botox and Dysport (botulinum neurotoxin type A) are by far the best and most effective way of treating forehead wrinkles. They reduce wrinkles by the temporary and reversible paralysis of treated muscles. Many wrinkles are caused by contractions of facial muscles under the skin.

These types of lines can give a person an angry, tired or sad appearance, even when they are not feeling that way. Botulinum neurotoxin type A has been used fr the past 20 years in medical and cosmetic dermatology for the treatment of facial wrinkles and has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures.

It is a quick and very effective treatment and leads to a high degree of patient satisfaction. (Mitchell Schwartz, MD, South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon)

I love explaining how Botox works! Botox works at the neuromuscular junction – normally your muscles get a signal from the nerve via neurotranmitter to contract. Botox binds and blocks the neurotransmitter thus, the muscle doesn’t contract.

I tell patients that wrinkles are like folding a piece of paper. If the paper doesn’t fold, you don’t make a line. I’ve personally been using Botox for years and my forehead lines are gone. (Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD, FACS, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

Botox for forehead wrinkles

Botox works my interfering with muscle contraction. The muscle doesn’t move and the wrinkle above it gets smoother. when you go get your Botox, make sure they are well trained and know what they are doing.

They should ask you questions about your medical history,drugs you are taking, etc. they should also do a physical exam. This is especially important on the forehead, where if you are one of those people that the eyebrows descend when you are relaxed, if you over treat the muscles with Botox your eyebrows may descend.

You may not like it. Best to go a little conservative the first time. (Jeffrey J. Roth, MD, FACS, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)

Botox® relaxes muscles

Lines are improved with relaxation of the muscles which cause those lines. Be careful in the forehead. The muscles that cause transverse lines are the same muscles that lift up your eyebrows. When you relax those muscles, your brows may come down more than you like.

Talk to your doc. (Mario Loomis, MD, Middletown Plastic Surgeon)

Botox really does reduce forehead lines

Muscles create and deepen forehead lines. Botox stops the muscles from doing that. Have your doctor start with a low dose if it is your first time. You can always get more added in 2 weeks. (Daniel J. Ladd Jr., DO, Austin Dermatologist)

Botox works well for forehead wrinkles, although you have to be careful

Both Botox and Dysport temporarily relax muscles and are great for wrinkles between the eyebrows and on the forehead. When treating the forehead you want to be careful to not use too much because while your forehead will be smooth, your eyebrows may feel heavy or droop a little.

In our office we generally use about 4-6 units for the forehead. Placing Botox in the forehead is like adding salt to a dish, it’s always easier to add a little more, and you can’t take it away once you’ve added too much. (David C. Mabrie, MD, Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Botox works for forehead lines, but beware of the eyebrow

Botox relaxes the forehead muscle and can reduce the forehead wrinkles. Although not rarely the forehead muscle contracts to lift up a sunken eyebrow.

If the forehead muscle is relaxed the eyebrows will sink even further down.

Your experienced cosmetic dermatologist will know about this. (Robert Kasten, MD, Mainz Dermatologic Surgeon)

Botox is excellent treatment for forehead wrinkles in properly selected patient

I would agree that Botox is a great treatment for your forehead lines. Care must be taken by an experienced injector to not inject excessive amount of Botox or inject too close to the brow to prevent drooping of the eyebrow or eyelid.

I would also recommend avoiding Dysport in the brow as it tends to diffuse and cause wider muscle weakness in the forehead than Botox. (Stephen Weber, MD, FACS, Denver Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Forehead and frown lines an excellent use for Botox

Frown lines are typically the vertical furrow between the eyebrows, and patients often tell me that people see them as being angry all of the time even though they aren’t. These lines and the horizontal lines in the forehead are caused by hyperactive muscles of expression, and so they respond very well to Botox since it works by relaxing the muscle.

Foreheads have to be done with finesse to avoid undesired change in the shape of the eyebrow. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Botox work on the forehead

Simply put, Botox is a neurotoxin that relaxes the muscles in the forehead and brow. It blocks the pathway for proper muscle contraction, thereby smoothing wrinkles. Botox is used in areas where muscle contraction causes wrinkles to form, such as the forehead and brow area between the eyes.

When the muscles no longer contract the lines and wrinkles become less visible or disappear altogether. (Harold J. Kaplan, MD, Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Botox for forehead lines and wrinkles

1. Avoid aspirin 2 weeks prior and NSAIDS 10 days prior to treatment. Contemplate arinica montana pre and post injection.
2. Consultation: History taken, Brief physical exam of wrinkles completed and performed. Consent reviewed and signed.
3. Some physicians use topical anesthetics while others don’t. Some use ice and some don’t.
4. Frown lines require 5-7 injections with 16-24 units. Forehead lines require anywhere from 4-20 with 8-20 units depending on lines and distribution.
5. Post injection restrictions vary: some ice and recommend elevation. Limited physical exertion may be advised with no excercise for 4-6 hours. Avoidance of the recumbent position for 406 hours. Repeated use of the injected muscles is commonly recommeded. Do not rub or massage injected areas.
6. Botox will take effect in 3-5 days (some claim 24hrs) and last 3-5 months.
7. If this is your first injection, you may experience forhead heaviness and swelling.
8. Injection swelling resolves within 2-3 hours. Bruising, if it occurs tends to last 5 days. (Otto Joseph Placik, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

Botox and the Upper 1/3 of the Face

The upper 1/3 of the face (i.e. forehead, area between the brows, and crow’s feet) is where neuromodulators such as Botox do very well. Botox improves “dynamic” wrinkles by temporarily weakening the underlying muscles that are responsible.

Botox is very effective for dynamic forehead wrinkles. (Anand G. Shah, MD, San Antonio Facial Plastic Surgeon)