Stop Dynamic Wrinkles and look Younger with BOTOX
Wrinkles come with age, but that doesn’t mean they need to give your age away. Dr. Jeffrey Maehara offers BOTOX cosmetic injections to clients at his offices in Honolulu, HI, and Waipahu, HI to help patients fight their wrinkles. Are you interested in looking younger by receiving BOTOX injections in Honolulu, HI? Contact our office or call us at (808) 955-3937, and our friendly staff will be ready to help you today.
What Is BOTOX?
BOTOX is a cosmetic injectable made from the botulinum toxin type A. While this is the same bacteria responsible for botulism, it is not harmful. Decades Ago, scientists discovered that a tiny inject tiny injection of the botulinum toxin type A into a muscle can temporarily stop that muscle from contracting.
Initially, BOTOX was used to stop problems such as involuntary eyelid spasms and excessive sweating for decades. However, in 2002, it became the rock star of the cosmetic world. That was the year the FDA approved the injectable for use in combating facial wrinkles. Now, BOTOX is far and away the most popular aesthetic procedure, surgical or non-surgical, the world over.
What Exactly Does BOTOX Do?
BOTOX works by blocking the messages sent by the nerves in the muscle to the brain. If the brain doesn’t receive the message to contract the muscle, the muscle won’t contract. This interference prevents wrinkles such as crow’s feet from forming above muscles.
Do BOTOX Injections Fix All Wrinkles?
There are two main types of wrinkles: Static and Dynamic.
“Static” wrinkles, such as laugh lines or lines under your eyes are on display at all times. They are simply the result of your skin becoming less elastic and the underlying support proteins decreasing as we age.
“Dynamic” wrinkles, including crow’s feet, the 11s, and most forehead lines, are the result of certain behaviors that utilize certain muscles. When we do things such as frowning or squinting these muscles contract, and the skin above them forms a wrinkle. BOTOX is king over the dynamic wrinkle.
BOTOX Treatment Areas
Because BOTOX only works on dynamic wrinkles, doctors don’t use it everywhere. It is very effective in removing
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Crow’s Feet
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Frown Lines
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The 11s (the vertical lines between the brows)
Think of using Botox for the upper third of the face.
Who Is a Good Candidate for BOTOX Injections?
As discussed above, BOTOX only works on dynamic wrinkles that form on the surface skin when the muscle beneath the skin contracts. These wrinkles form on the expressive area of the face, the upper third. Crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines are all dynamic wrinkles. If you make a frown, you can feel the muscles around your eyes, between your brows, and on your forehead engage. Over time, and as your skin thins and loses elasticity, wrinkles form when you make these expressions.
So, if you want to erase your crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines, getting BOTOX injections in Honolulu, HI from Dr. Maehara is the perfect option for you.
However, if you want to erase creases and lines on the mid to lower face, the static wrinkles described above, BOTOX is not the right tool. These lines, such as smile lines and marionette lines, are the domain of dermal fillers.
BOTOX Vs. Other Cosmetic Injections
When you’re fighting a wrinkle, there are two ways an injectable can work. The first is to prevent the muscles that cause wrinkles from contracting. Without the contraction, the wrinkle either doesn’t form at all or is markedly reduced. This is how BOTOX does its magic.
However, Most “Dermal fillers” fill the wrinkle from beneath, pushing up the skin to smooth the skin’s surface. Some fillers also encourage the production of collagen (the skin’s natural support protein) to increase the firmness of the skin over a longer period.
Unlike fillers, which “fill” in the wrinkle, BOTOX results are not instant. Instead, the injection must go to work blocking the muscle contraction. This usually takes from one to three days to fully take hold.
How Many BOTOX Sessions Do I Need?
Botox only requires a single injection session with Dr. Maehara, and these take just 15 minutes or so. Then, in about four days, BOTOX will fully relax the injected muscles and erase the wrinkles.
How Long After My BOTOX Injections Will I See Results?
Unlike dermal fillers, which instantly fill in the depressed area and push the skin back up, BOTOX doesn’t provide immediate results. It typically takes about four days for the botulinum toxin in BOTOX to fully relax the injected muscles. This prevents the wrinkles from forming for about four months.
How Long Do The Results Of BOTOX Last?
Sessions usually only take around 10 minutes. Your doctor injects BOTOX with a tiny needle. Most people say, due to the small needle employed, BOTOX injections feel like a light pinch. If desired, treatment areas can be iced beforehand to reduce any discomfort, but that’s not usually necessary.
BOTOX keeps your frown lines and crow’s feet at bay for up to four months. After that time, the body absorbs the now-harmless ingredients, and the muscles begin contracting again. To maintain your results, follow-up sessions with the Maehara team at our office in Honolulu, HI, or Waipahu, HI should be scheduled.
Are Botox Injections Painful?
Dr. Maehara injects BOTOX with a very tiny needle. Most patients have no trouble tolerating this, equating the injections to the feeling of a pinprick. However, if you desire, we can apply topical numbing medication prior to your BOTOX injections. This simply adds some extra time to your appointment to allow for the numbing cream to fully take effect.
Are Botox Injections Covered By Insurance?
When Dr. Maehara injects BOTOX for aesthetic purposes, these are deemed elective treatments and insurance companies do not cover them. When BOTOX is used for other purposes, such as treating involuntary eyelid spasms, it can be covered, but those are medically necessary.
How Much Does BOTOX Cost?
BOTOX is priced by the vial. How much you need can vary depending on the area you are treating. Dr. Maehara will be able to give you an idea of how much BOTOX he thinks you will likely need, and how much it will cost.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of BOTOX?
BOTOX was first approved by the FDA for aesthetic use on the upper third of the face in 2002. Every year since then BOTOX injections have been the most popular cosmetic procedure, surgical and non-surgical, across the world. That enduring popularity shows the safety and effectiveness of BOTOX. BOTOX has been injected millions of times around the globe with minimal side effects. The main side effects are possible swelling and a slight redness around the injection sites. This usually lasts just a day or two.
The main possible side effect has to do with the skill of the injector. If BOTOX is injected into the wrong muscle, it can create unwanted issues such as a droopy eyelid. That’s where the expertise and training of Dr. Maehara comes into play. As a board-certified ophthalmologist, he has extensive knowledge of facial anatomy. This is important with BOTOX injections, and that’s why you don’t want your dentist injecting BOTOX. Dr. Maehara also has extensive training and experience using BOTOX. This ensures BOTOX will deliver the wrinkle erasing results you seek.
Schedule a Botox Consultation
To learn more about BOTOX, please contact us today at 808.955.3937 to schedule a consultation.