As we age collagen begins to break down in the skin. The repetitive motions of the upper face such as squinting, raising the eyebrows or furrowing the brow cause creases in the skin. With time these creases become visible even at rest when there is no motion. At Kessel Dermatology, servicing the Hamilton Square, Trenton, and Mercer County areas in New Jersey, our award-winning providers use Botox® to treat these fine lines.

BOTOX® Cosmetic by AbbVie

Soften Expression Lines While Maintaining Natural Movement

Repetitive movements of the upper face—such as squinting, raising the eyebrows, and furrowing the brow—repeatedly crease the overlying skin. As we age and the skin loses some of its collagen and elasticity, these expression lines can become visible even when the face is at rest.

Common areas include forehead lines, frown lines between the eyebrows (the “11s”), and crow's feet around the eyes.

BOTOX® Cosmetic can soften these lines by temporarily reducing the muscle movement that contributes to them.

What Is BOTOX Cosmetic?

BOTOX Cosmetic is a neuromodulator that has been FDA approved for cosmetic use since 2002. Its active ingredient is onabotulinumtoxinA.

BOTOX Cosmetic is FDA approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines, crow's feet, and forehead lines in adults.

How Does BOTOX Work?

BOTOX temporarily inhibits the nerve signal that tells a targeted muscle to contract. This allows the muscle to relax and reduces the repetitive movement that creases the overlying skin.

The dose used affects both the degree of muscle relaxation and how long the effect lasts. Treatment is therefore customized according to your anatomy, muscle strength, and desired result.

What Areas Can Be Treated With BOTOX?

BOTOX can be used to address a variety of facial concerns, including:

• Crow's feet
• Frown lines
• Forehead wrinkles
• Brow position
• Gummy smile
• Downturned corners of the mouth
• Dimpled chin
• Under-eye “jelly roll”
• Jawline
• Platysmal bands of the neck

Some of these uses are considered off-label. Your anatomy and treatment goals will determine whether BOTOX is appropriate for a particular area.

Things to Know About BOTOX

BOTOX Treats Muscle Movement, Not the Wrinkle Itself

BOTOX works on the muscles beneath the skin. By reducing repetitive muscle movement, the overlying skin is given an opportunity to smooth.

Wrinkles generally soften over time rather than disappearing immediately. Deeply etched lines may not resolve completely but can become less noticeable.

Results Take About Two Weeks

The effect on the treated muscles develops gradually and typically reaches full strength at approximately two weeks.

A dose adjustment can be performed at that point if there is still considerable unwanted muscle movement.

New patients typically receive a follow-up call to assess their dosing. If two weeks have passed and you haven't heard from us, please call the office.

Results Typically Last Three to Four Months

For most patients, the effect on muscle movement lasts approximately three to four months, although duration varies depending on dosing, treatment area, and individual response.

The muscle does not suddenly begin moving again when BOTOX wears off. Movement returns gradually as the effect diminishes.

This also means that some movement may return before the BOTOX has completely worn off.

Dosing Matters

Appropriate dosing has been established through clinical studies and generally produces predictable muscle relaxation for an expected period of time.

Using too little product may result in inadequate correction or shorter duration. However, more product isn't always better.

In certain patients, particularly when treating the forehead, conservative dosing may be necessary because of individual anatomy and the way the forehead muscles help support the eyebrows. Some muscle movement may therefore return earlier than three months, and that can be expected.

More Frequent Treatment Isn't Necessarily Better

We generally avoid retreating the same muscle groups at intervals shorter than three months unless there is a specific clinical reason.

Unnecessarily frequent exposure or excessive dosing may increase the risk of developing neutralizing antibodies, which can reduce response to botulinum toxin over time.

Our goal is not to eliminate every bit of facial movement. Treatment is based on your anatomy, appropriate dosing, and what is medically and aesthetically in your best interest.

Why Does Injector Experience Matter?

BOTOX treatment is not simply a matter of placing a predetermined number of units into standard locations.

Facial anatomy, muscle strength, muscle recruitment patterns, eyebrow position, facial proportions, dosing, and injection placement all influence the result.

Our aesthetic medicine expert, Savy Guthrie, MPAS, PA-C, has over 20 years of dermatology experience and performing cosmetic injectable treatments. f

Treatment is customized to your individual anatomy and aesthetic goals, with an emphasis on balanced, natural-looking results.

Is BOTOX Right for You?

Whether you're beginning to notice expression lines or have deeper lines that are visible at rest, your treatment plan should be based on your individual anatomy, muscle movement, and goals.

Schedule an aesthetic consultation at Kessel Dermatology to determine whether BOTOX Cosmetic is appropriate for you.

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