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The effects of a Botox procedure are not immediately apparent – results start to appear two to four days after treatment and continue to develop for a week or two afterward. There is no hard-and-fast rule – Botox simply affects people differently, and naturally, the quantity of Botox administered is also a factor.

Experienced practitioners are typically conservative in the choice of how much Botox to administer – it’s easy to reapply small quantities afterward if needed, but if the initial dose is too large you may have no choice but to wait for the effects to gradually fade away. The effects of a Botox treatment typically lasts anywhere from three to five months, so you could have a long wait.

Planning on a Touch-Up

Touch-ups are also often needed to maintain perfectly symmetrical results – it can be difficult to predict exactly the effect of a Botox injection, so practitioners will often plan on applying additional small doses of Botox after the primary treatment, to correct for small differences in muscle behavior, and to adjust for any unbalanced or unnatural looking results.

Using Other Procedures to Augment Botox

It’s also possible to combine the use of Botox with other non-invasive or minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. Dermal filler products can be used alongside Botox, to supply additional bulk beneath the skin, or to contour and enhance facial features. If you choose a practitioner who’s experienced in both procedures they will be able to help you achieve results beyond what is possible using only Botox or dermal fillers.

When is it Time to Repeat the Procedure?

When you see the effects of your Botox start to diminish, typically by the slow reappearance of fine lines and wrinkles, or by your skin starting to loosen up and look less smooth, it will be time to make another appointment to have your Botox re-applied. Here too it’s difficult to predict the delay between treatments – your experience and results will provide the best guide here. Four months is often given as the best estimate for how long Botox will last, but this depends very much on each person and their expectations.

How to Maximize the Period Between Touch-Ups

You can do several things to help prolong the effects of your Botox and delay having to re-apply it. We recommend avoiding sun exposure – direct as well as indirect and applying sunscreen as part of your daily regimen. Regular use of moisturizers can help to keep your skin looking youthful, and delay the need for Botox to be applied. A healthy and well-balanced diet, keeping active, and trying to reduce stress can all contribute to a healthier complexion.

Your Laser Skin Care

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in performing both Botox and dermal fillers procedures. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Botox has proven to be a very effective and popular way to reduce or even eliminate many facial lines and wrinkles. The effects of each Botox treatment are temporary, typically lasting between three and six months, and so Botox procedures have to be periodically repeated to stop lines and wrinkles from eventually reappearing. As a consequence, many have wondered if the long-term use of Botox has negative consequences.

It’s important to understand that the primary objective of using Botox is not to eliminate facial lines, but to block the facial muscles that are the cause of these lines. Botox doesn’t directly affect muscles, but it does block the nerve impulses that cause muscles to activate. A consequence of this is that Botox can only affect facial lines that are the direct result of one or more facial muscles activating. If you have facial lines that are present regardless of how your facial muscles are working, then Botox typically gives only very minimal results.

Over-enthusiastic long-term application of Botox can indeed be associated with several side effects. One effect which may be viewed as a positive is that your skin will retain its smooth appearance even after Botox applications have stopped. Negative side-effects of prolonged over-use of Botox may include muscle weakness as the facial muscles involved with Botox application slowly lose their ability to function normally. This might be regarded as a positive if these same muscles result in the development of prominent lines and wrinkles.

Judicious and careful application of Botox (in the hands of a medically trained and experienced practitioner) will minimize the possibility of developing these side effects. In particular, it’s important not to try to eliminate every single fine line – doing so can not only result in strikingly unnatural-looking results but also greatly increase the chance of long-term muscle weakness developing.

Aside from over-use, long-term use of Botox does not appear to be associated with other negative side effects. It’s certainly very highly recommended to choose a medically trained and certified practitioner who will be able to analyze your medical history and any medical conditions that you suffer from, both in order to verify that you don’t suffer from any conditions that might reduce the effectiveness of Botox, and also to carefully tailor the Botox dose and techniques to your particular needs.

Some express concerns that stopping Botox after using it for several years can trigger other problems. We don’t believe this to be the case, in particular not only will your face not look older if you choose to stop Botox applications but many of the benefits resulting from long-term Botox use can be expected to remain even after stopping.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in performing Botox procedures. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Botox and facial fillers are both applied via injection, but the two minimally invasive cosmetic procedures differ in all other respects. The essential difference is that Botox can be used to indirectly reduce lines and wrinkles by blocking nerve signals to the muscles that actually cause the lines and wrinkles. Dermal fillers, however, are used to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles by adding extra volume and structure beneath the skin.

Botox is primarily known as an indirect muscle paralyzer. It accomplishes this by blocking nerve impulses along the nerves that normally control the muscles. Muscles can only contract or relax, but in doing so they can cause visible lines to become apparent in the overlying skin. Over the course of time, these lines can become more and more developed, to the point where they remain visible even when the underlying muscle is not activated. Depending on where the lines are located, and on cosmetic preferences, these lines might be regarded as attractive, or (more likely) undesirable. Botox can only be used to address lines and wrinkles directly associated with muscular contractions, and even then its effectiveness can depend on how developed these lines have become. Botox will have no, or only limited success when used on very deep and developed lines, or on wrinkles that are not directly due to muscle activity.

Botox injections typically last between four and five months, although there is some variation between individuals. There is no FDA-approved antidote in case of excessive Botox use, although research into possible candidates continues.

Botox also has some non-cosmetic uses, including reducing teeth grinding caused by oversized jaw muscles, and reducing excessive sweating when applied to the armpits.

Facial filler products can address two primary types of problems. They can be used to fill in loose or wrinkled skin by adding more volume directly beneath. They can also be used to address the more significant loss of volumes, such as hollow cheeks or sunken eyes. There are very many different formulations of facial filler products, each adapted to the specific need being addressed. Some fillers have very smooth textures and can be used to enhance lip definition. Others form a much thicker texture after being injected and are able to provide some support as well as adding additional volume.

Facial filler products primarily use hyaluronic acid as their primary ingredient. Hyaluronic acid is able to bind moisture and is found naturally in the body, where it’s an important component in our joints, skin, and eyes. It performs the same function when injected as a facial filler, where it helps retain moisture and add bulk, to the treated area.

Facial fillers, depending on the type and location of use, can provide benefits from anywhere between five months to two years. It’s also possible to correct for over-use of hyaluronic acid fillers after the fact, by injecting another product that is able to dissolve the filler, if necessary.

Botox can be used proactively, to prevent the formation of some lines before they become over-developed. Botox is very effective when used on lines linked to changing facial expressions, such as laughing or frowning. Facial filler products are effective when used on lines that are always present, regardless of the underlying muscles.

It’s quite possible to combine the use of both procedures, using each to address the problems they’re best adapted to. Your practitioner should be able to advise you on the best combination for your particular needs.

To maximize the benefits of either procedure and to minimize the chance of developing side effects, it’s extremely important to choose a medically-trained and experienced practitioner. Both Botox and facial fillers can produce effective, natural-looking results, but they can also, in the hands of an insufficiently qualified practitioner, produce the exact opposite effect.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in performing both Botox and facial filler procedures. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

As Botox is administered using needles, it’s not unusual that the first question potential patients ask is how painful will it be? As “no pain, no gain” is not the answer they’re typically looking for; we gathered some relevant information.

Botox needles are very small – as a result, many patients report feeling no pain at all. That’s not guaranteed, however, and some patients do indeed experience some discomfort. Typically patients report that they experience a mild sensation. The Botox solution itself doesn’t sting when it’s injected.

Your practitioner may cool the area being treated to reduce any painful sensations. They may also use a topical anesthetic cream to reduce discomfort further.

Choosing an experienced practitioner is also extremely important. Inexperienced or unqualified practitioners are far more likely to cause pain, as well as create inferior results.

Some patients are indeed nervous about needles, and it’s not unusual to find people who might have benefited from Botox but who waited for extended periods before finally deciding to try it. In almost all cases, these patients report that the procedure was far less painful than they anticipated.

It’s unfortunate that delaying starting Botox can allow facial lines to develop to the point that Botox can only reduce but not eliminate them. Using Botox before deep lines have a chance to develop can be more effective than trying to remove lines after they’re present.

If you have any trepidation about having Botox, don’t be afraid to discuss this with your practitioner. They should be able to reassure you and perhaps take extra precautions to minimize any chance of discomfort. It’s fairly common for potential patients to be nervous about injections, and your practitioner should be willing to take the time to answer all your questions, including ways to reduce any pre-treatment anxiety.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in performing Botox procedures. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Botox and microneedling are both popular and effective cosmetic procedures. Although both are capable of producing impressive results and are sometimes regarded as similar in their ability to combat the effects of aging on the complexion, they are very different procedures, each having its own distinctive advantages.

Botox involves injecting carefully controlled amounts of the Botox toxin to block the ability of selected nerves to cause adjacent muscles to contract. By restricting the movement of facial muscles that cause lines or wrinkles to appear and deepen, the overall effect is to smooth the skin. Overuse of Botox can prevent your face from showing a full range of expressions and emotions, and so it must be carefully and skillfully applied to avoid unnatural-looking results.

Botox is also only effective when used to reduce the visibility of lines and wrinkles caused when facial muscles are activated. Any lines or wrinkles that are not directly associated with muscular movement cannot be effectively treated by Botox.

Microneedling involves the carefully controlled use of an array of hundreds of very fine, very short needles to puncture the surface of the skin; the resulting microscopic pin-pricks stimulate the body to create tiny new blood vessels and boost the production of elastin and collagen, improving the skin’s overall condition, texture, and resiliency.

Microneedling can be used to treat facial lines, skin blemishes, scars, and enlarged pores. Microneedling can safely be used without running the risk of creating abnormal-looking results.

While Botox is an effective way to hide many of the effects of aging, it’s a temporary solution, and will eventually have to be reapplied. Microneedling does not merely address the symptoms of aging, but it can help stimulate the natural mechanisms used by the body to regenerate healthy skin tissue. As such it can provide longer-lasting improvements, without the risks associated with over-use of Botox.

Botox is particularly effective when used to treat unwanted lines caused by squinting, frowning, or laughing; microneedling is effective on a wide range of skin problems, including fine lines, scars, large pores, uneven pigmentation, and dull or uneven texture.

The results of Botox appear rapidly after treatment, while microneedling results develop slowly, as the skin heals after each procedure, and long-term improvements develop slowly.

It’s possible to combine both procedures, using Botox to provide larger-scale improvements, and microneedling to address skin texture problems, and to stimulate deeper skin regeneration. Despite this most practitioners avoid performing both procedures at the same time – Botox should be applied to healthy skin, while microneedling creates microscopic wounds that take time to heal.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in performing both Botox and microneedling procedures. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Bunny lines are the fine lines that can show up on both sides of your nose when you wrinkle it – typically when you’re laughing or smiling. While many people find them perfectly normal and acceptable, others find them a source of distress. Bunny lines may not be visible when your face has a neutral expression, they may however start to become a permanent feature, especially as you age.

The muscles that cause bunny lines to appear are also involved when you flare your nostrils. People who have very expressive faces and who find themselves exercising their facial muscles often may be more prone to developing deeper lines on their faces, and over time these may become a permanent part of their appearance. Again, many people find such lines a normal part of the aging process, and may well find them attractive. If you’re not one of these people, Botox can provide a way to reduce or eliminate the problem.

Botox injections are able to temporarily limit or even prevent specific facial muscles from activating – carefully applied they have the ability to stop muscle movements that cause or exacerbate specific lines on your face from appearing. Depending on how much these lines have developed, Botox may be able to prevent the lines from being visible, or it may help to reduce the severity of the lines.

Careful application of Botox can greatly reduce the appearance of bunny lines, while not preventing your face from showing its full spectrum of expressions. The lines on top of your nose are not strictly speaking bunny lines, but can also be treated the same way.

Your practitioner should not focus solely on eliminating all traces of lines and wrinkles, but should instead aim to improve your appearance, while still allowing your face to look natural, and able to show a range of emotions. A wrinkle-free face that is unable to move risks creating a very unnatural look, something that a professional practitioner will strive to avoid.

In extreme cases over-use of Botox between the eyebrows can even cause bunny lines to develop around the nose – this is caused by muscles surrounding the nose overcompensating for the immobilized muscles higher up when you frown, for example. In such situations, bunny lines can serve as an indication that you’ve had Botox elsewhere on your face, something that most people would find quite unfortunate.

Long-term use of Botox over many years also risks this muscular overcompensation – your best way of avoiding any unnatural-looking results from Botox is to carefully research the skill, medical training, and experience of practitioners before deciding on the person you will entrust with modifying your facial appearance. While a Botox treatment is not permanent, you may have to wait many months for the results of badly-applied Botox to subside.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in applying Botox. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures, and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.

Botox is mainly used to reduce the visibility of facial wrinkles – it’s used to relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles, anywhere from the forehead down to the neck. Botox is most often used to reduce lines on the forehead, as well as lines caused by frowning between the eyebrows. Botox can also be used to manage several age-related symptoms that can cause eyes to look tired and prematurely aged.

Botox can be used judiciously to tighten sagging skin around the eyes by relaxing adjacent muscles. Skillfully used this can help to rejuvenate your appearance. Botox can also be used in cases where the eyebrow muscles cause the eyebrows to sag over the eyes. This can allow your eyes to open more fully, which also contributes to a fresher-looking appearance.

Botox may help combat droopy eyelids, but only in cases where the problem is due to drooping eyebrows.  Drooping eyelids are generally caused by damage to the muscles or nerves that normally keep the eyelids open – Botox works by blocking nerve signals and relaxing tensed muscles, which are typically not the cause of drooping eyelids.

Botox will not help reduce these problems directly, but in many cases, an overall improvement in appearance can be achieved by smoothing wrinkled skin around the eyes. In situations like this Botox is often used in combination with dermal filler products.

Botox is often the best solution to address cases where eyelids or eyebrows are not perfectly symmetrical on both sides – a fairly common occurrence.

Application of Botox anywhere around the eyes should only be performed by a highly skilled and medically trained practitioner. Correct use of Botox in this area requires very careful analysis of the problem being addressed, and of the safest and most effective way to achieve the desired result. Unskilled use of Botox around the eyes can even cause drooping eyelids – the exact opposite of the desired effect.

In many cases, the safest solution may be to use a different type of procedure entirely. Safety is not the only consideration – the goal of any cosmetic procedure is to achieve natural-looking results, and you risk the opposite if you choose your practitioner incautiously.

Your Laser Skin Care practitioners are medically qualified and highly experienced in applying Botox. We can provide expert advice on the best techniques to address your particular concerns and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about our procedures. We also have extensive experience with a wide variety of non-invasive cosmetic procedures and can help you choose the safest, most effective, and most cost-effective way to achieve your cosmetic goals. Call us at (323) 525-1516 to schedule a free consultation, or visit us online for more information.