Fine lines and wrinkles can develop around your mouth, eyes, and forehead due to a combination of factors related to skin elasticity or thickness, aging and damage, as well as from repetitive facial muscle contractions, like smiling, frowning or squinting.
To combat crow's feet, frown lines, and other facial wrinkles, One Agora Integrative Health offers injections of botulinum toxin type A, a neurological depressant that works to block nerve impulses that control facial muscles, temporarily paralyzing muscles as a result. The reduced movement and increased muscle relaxation help treat those hard-to-treat moderate to severe lines between the eyebrows, known as glabellar lines.
In 2002, the FDA approved Botox for cosmetic use, to treat frown lines, forehead lines, and crow's feet in adults, and it's been growing in popularity and developing new applications ever since.
Find out what Botox Injections could do for you. To learn more about Botox or any of the latest aesthetic treatments for skin rejuvenation and other applications, contact us online or call ☎ (952) 234-5898 to schedule your initial consultation.
Botox is an injectable medication used today to treat many conditions, from aging and sun exposure to TMJ and migraines. Botox is a neuromodulator created from the Clostridium botulinum toxin type A –called Botox, for short. No matter which company manufactures it, people still call it Botox – similar to how we call tissues Kleenex even if they're not Kleenex brand.
Botox has been around awhile now, and its brand has become a household name. Most people are familiar with the term Botox, but don't really understand its history or exactly what it does. It's most well-known for treating wrinkles.
First discovered in 1920 by a German doctor, an American ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Scott is credited with developing Botox for medical use to treat eye conditions like crossed eyes and eye twitching. The original drug was called Oculinum and approved for therapeutic use in 1989.
It was acquired by Allergan and developed under the Botox Cosmetics division of the company. The name Botox stuck. Abbvie acquired Allergan and Botox Cosmetics in 2020, but the Botulinum toxin injection – commonly known as Botox - is now manufactured and distributed by multiple producers. It's become a staple in the aesthetics industry.
Botox can be injected into various areas of the body to block nerve endings from absorbing certain molecules. It works by binding to the nerve terminals and preventing the release of acetylcholine. This action effectively stops muscle activity – relaxing muscles, improving blood flow, and temporarily preventing muscles from moving. Basically, neuromodulators like Botox block the nerve impulses that cause facial muscle contractions, relaxing these muscles.
Botox also acts on brain cells that transmit pain and interferes with processes that control pain and inflammation.
Botox is prescribed for a wide variety of aesthetic and therapeutic uses, for both cosmetic and medical conditions, including:
Many people are surprised to learn that Botox can be used to address medical conditions like overactive bladder, neck contracture, migraines or TMJ. Botox for TMJ, for instance, is typically recommended as a complementary treatment along with other TMJ treatments. Botox relaxes jaw muscles, making it an effective adjunct therapy for patients suffering from TMJ disorder symptoms. But Botox is so effective for TMJ, it can be used as a standalone treatment, depending on your symptoms. Because Botox helps relax tense jaw muscles and also acts on brain cells that transmit pain signals, it is incredibly effective at alleviating TMJ jaw pain.
Botox is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatment that utilizes very small needles. The benefits of treatment with Botox include:
At One Agora Integrative Health, we offer both Botox® and Dysport® brands of botulinum toxin type A injections. The effects of both Botox® and Dysport® are temporary. It typically takes 2-14 days to see the results and results last 3-4 months.
Despite their similarities, there are important differences between Botox® and Dysport®, most of which pertain to their dosage. Dysport® is more diluted than Botox® and tends to diffuse more quickly. It contains smaller molecules which means that it can treat larger muscle areas but may require more units than Botox®. On the other hand, Botox's® low diffusion rate makes it very effective in treating smaller areas that require more precision.
Facial injections are less invasive than cosmetic surgery, but they are still not without risk. Botox Injections have an excellent safety profile, but if you have certain allergies (e.g., to stainless steel), have hemostatic (bleeding) dysfunction, anemia, cancer, or blood clotting disorders, all Injections may be contraindicated. If you have sores, irritated skin in the treatment area, or open wounds, treatment will be delayed until these skin issues are resolved. Also, if you are pregnant or nursing or taking certain medications, we will also need to delay treatment.
We will discuss all of your safety concerns at our first session, after looking at your medical history and any specific risk factors in your case, before proceeding with treatment.
The amount of Botox you'll need depends on many different factors that can range from the particular condition being addressed to other factors ranging from your gender to the strength of your facial muscles. At One Agora Integrative Health, we prepare a personalized Botox treatment plan just for you. At your first consultation, we will assess your needs and answer your questions.
Treatments generally require about half an hour, but your initial consultation may take longer as we will require extra time to complete your medical history.
Before your first treatment session, we need to take a medical history and review any medications, supplements or herbal medications you're taking, as well as assess any particular medical needs you may have.
Your Botox injections will be administered in our office. At One Agora Integrative Health, we offer traditional injection techniques that deliver the solution directly into the muscle. During your session, the selected injection site will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, then a small needle will be used to inject Botox into your treatment area. The process can be repeated if you have multiple areas that need to be treated.
At least one (1) week before your Botox injection, avoid the following to minimize bruising and bleeding during and after your procedure:
No anesthesia is necessary prior to Botox treatments, nor do you require aftercare. There is no downtime, and you can return to normal daily activities immediately after treatment.
It is recommended that you avoid laying down or engaging in excessive physical activity for a few hours after treatment. It is also recommended that you avoid rubbing or massaging the area treated for at least four hours after Botox injections - and do not apply makeup.
The longevity of your effects and the number of treatments needed will depend on the specific condition being addressed and how long you've had the condition. Maintenance treatments are required to continue the results of Botox injections. With each subsequent injection, Botox trains your muscles to relax. Over time, Botox injections may also slim muscles too. Injections in your jaw, for instance, will eventually create a more narrow lower face and sleeker jaw appearance over time.
Most people experience little to no discomfort.
We have many patients who experience no side effects at all. You may see some swelling, soreness or redness at the injection site, but these effects are only temporary. Botox Injections have minimal side effects, in general. The most common side effects are temporary redness, swelling, bruising, and headaches, all of which resolve within hours or days at most.
You may see a difference immediately after treatment or in the first one to four days - with results optimizing within 14 days continuing to improve for even longer. Recurring injections will be needed to provide continued results. Results, of course, can vary among individuals.
A single injection can bring results that last 3–4 months, but results can vary from 2–6 months, depending on the type of treatment and the area treated, as well as other mediating factors like metabolism, dosage, muscle learning over time and whether or not it's your first treatment.
At your initial consultation, we will take a full medical history and evaluate the other treatment options you've tried. Our physicians determine together with you if you would be a good candidate for Botox treatment.
For more questions about Botox Injections, speak with our experts today to see if this is the best treatment option for you. Call us at (952) 234-5898.
Begin your Botox treatment today! Call ☎ (952) 234-5898 or contact us online for your first session.
One Agora Integrative Health Clinic
9220 James Ave S.
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone:
(952) 234-5898
