botox

What is Botox?
Botox is the brand name for botulinium toxin type A, natures mostly potent blocker of nerve impulses. A registered trademark of the Allergan Corporation, botox is costly because it is tedious to manufacture and because no genetic substitute is available.

How does Botox work?
Botox partially blocks the nerve impulses to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. This causes the muscles that are related to expression to relax. After the solution takes effect the overlying skin will be smooth and unwrinkled while your untreated facial muscles will still function normally.

How is Botox treatment performed?
This is a simple and safe procedure. We use a tiny needle to cause minimal sensation and discomfort and to also allow greater precision in delivery of Botox to the specified facial area. Most patients remark that there is minimal discomfort comparing the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or anesthetic is required, and you can resume most normal activities immediately. Botox generally takes 2-4 days to take effect reflecting the time necessary to disrupt the synaptic process.

What areas can be treated?
Botox injections are primarily used in the upper third of the face. Forehead lines between the eyebrows, and lines around the eyes ("crow's feet") respond favorably to Botox. Frown lines (below the mouth) and chin creases may also be improved with a Botox injection, but response here varies among individuals.

Am I a candidate for Botox?
Most patients are candidates for this procedure if they have dynamic wrinkles and lines. Contraindications generally are minimal therefore making this a suitable treatment for most patients. Patients that are pregnant or have neurological problems are not candidates, but as with all cosmetic procedures check with your physician first.

How long does Botox last?
Botox injections are temporary. On average the effect lasts 3-5 months with individual variations. Early clinical studies have indicated that the duration of treatment benefits are increased over time so that you could require injections less frequently in the future.

Is Botox used to treat other conditions?
Over the past two decades the clinical applications for Botox have been numerous. Botox found applicability in the treatment of strabismus, blepharoplasm, hemifacial spasm, spasmodic dysphonia, oromandibular dystonia and cervical dystonia. These are all medical conditions and non-cosmetic in nature.

Are there any side effects to Botox?
Temporary bruising of the injection site is the most common side effect. This is indicative of each patient and their normal response to any tissue change. In some cases, Botox can migrate to the wrong muscle causing drooping of the eyelid or unevenness of the brows. With skilled technique and knowledge of the the face and underlying muscles the chances of this are reduced to about 1%. Because the effects of Botox are completely reversible, any side effects are temporary.

What results can I expect?
Most patients desire a more youthful appearance. Some prefer to look less "angry", while others are concerned about preventative therapy. Whatever the reason, the outcomes are the same. Wrinkles that are controlled by muscle movement are decreased and smoothed. Wrinkles that are from sun exposure or not muscle related will not be affected by Botox. Botox will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift or browlift.

Botox Therapeutic for Excessive Sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Sweat glands that are located in the underarms, palms, soles or other body sites require a nerve impulse for activation. Without this nerve stimulation, the sweat glands are not able to secrete sweat. Botox strips the nerve impulse from reaching the sweat gland, effectively stripping sweat production. The results are apparent in
2 - 14 days and usually last 6 - 12 months. When the sweating returns, re-treatment is necessary.

The procedure involves injecting small quantities of Botox into the affected areas. The area is anesthetized with a topical anesthetic 30 minutes before the procedure so that the injections are virtually painless. Botox has been used for various applications for over 25 years and is completely safe and effective.

Most extended health plans will cover the cost of Botox Therapeutic for the treatment of Hyperhidrosis. After the initial consultation, Dr. Pascoe will provide you with a letter for your insurance company.

Rid yourself of the burden and embarrassment of excess sweating using a proven, save and effective technique.

Botox for Treatment of Migraines and Headaches
Muscles that are located in the neck and head require a nerve impulse in order to become tense or knotted. Without this nerve stimulation, the muscles are not able to tense up causing a headache or migraine.

Botox Therapeutic is injected into the affected muscles and blocks the nerve impulse from reaching the muscles. This blockade permits the relaxation of the muscles injected and diminishes the transmission of pain signals.

Patients will notice an improvement in the frequency and severity of headaches and migraines over a 3 to 5 month period, after which time the treatment can be repeated if needed. It is unknown at this time if the benefits are cumulative with time. Onset of results is typically achieved within two weeks. Patients may choose to discontinue use of other prophylactic headache medications. Forehead frown lines and worry lines may disappear as a result of treatment.

Who can benefit from treatment with Botox?
migraine patients
patients suffering from tension-type headaches
patients suffering from cervico-genic headaches
patients with post traumatic headaches

Are there any risks?
there is a risk that the treatment will be ineffective.
temporary bruising may occur at the site of injection.
the muscles that are responsible for raising the eyebrows, and the   muscles that elevate and shrug the shoulders may be temporarily   affected, but this is not a major concern.
repeated exposure to Botox does not cause long term problems, and the effects of the medication reverse with time.

Most extended health plans will cover the cost of Botox Therapeutic for the treatment of headaches and migraines. After the initial consultation, Dr. Pascoe will provide you with a letter for your insurance company.