What is the Difference Between BOTOX ^® & Restylane ^®?

What is Restylane ^®?
Restylane ^® is a protein already present in the body. Injectable Restylane ^® is used to replace, or 'fill in' the volume one loses to the collagen layer of the skin naturally with aging. The most common areas treated with Restylane ^® are the frown lines between the eyes, the nasolabial folds (the depressions that run alongside the nose), and lip lines. The effect is smoothed facial wrinkles, facial scars, and skin depressions. This is not a permanent solution, however, as it only lasts six months to a year, and is then absorbed by the body naturally.

How long is recovery after injecting Restylane ^®?
After injection, some swelling is to be expected, but pain medication is not necessary. Patients can return to work and normal activities immediately.

What is BOTOX ^®?
BOTOX ^® is a purified protein derived from the bacterium, Clostridium Botulinum. BOTOX ^® relaxes targeted muscles, thereby eliminating the wrinkles that correspond to those muscle groups. It has been used for many years in treating patients with muscular diseases where the muscles are in spasm. For about 12 years, it has been used in cosmetic aesthetic enhancement to treat hyperfunctional facial lines, typically the Glabella (the vertical lines between your eyebrows), horizontal forehead wrinkles, and lines at the corners of your eyes (crow's feet).

How does BOTOX ^® work?
Cosmetic denervation with BOTOX ^® is a simple and safe procedure. BOTOX ® is injected into a targeted facial expression muscle, blocking impulses from the nerve to the muscle, thereby relaxing the muscle so it does not contract. This, in turn, causes the overlying skin to become smoother, with fewer lines and wrinkles. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled, while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression and sensation to be unaffected.

How is BOTOX ^® administered?
BOTOX ^® is injected into a targeted muscle using a very fine needle. Usually several injections are given per muscle.

How quickly will I see the results of BOTOX ^®?
The effect of your BOTOX ^® treatment will start immediately, but you should see optimal relaxing of the treated area within several days.

What are hyperfunctional facial lines?
These are expression lines such as frown lines, brow lines, crow's feet and bunny lines (vertical lines across the bridge of the nose) that become prominent with age, sun damage, and excessive facial muscle activity.

How long does BOTOX ^® last?
The effects usually last from 2 to 4 months. The treatment may be repeated as often as desired.

What are the side effects of BOTOX ^®?
The most common side effect of BOTOX ^® is slight bruising from the needle stick. In rare instances, an adjacent muscle may be affected, causing eyelid weakness for several weeks. No serious side effects have been reported in thousands of patients over a twelve-year period.

Are the injections painful?
The muscle injections are given with a tiny needle, so there is only minimal discomfort. Topical anesthetic creams can be applied to the skin prior to the injections.

What are hyperfunctional facial lines?
These are expression lines such as frown lines, brow lines, crow's feet and bunny lines (vertical lines across the bridge of the nose) that become prominent with age, sun damage, and excessive facial muscle activity.

Is there any special preparation prior to my injection?
You should stop all anti-inflammatory medications, including aspirin, for 2-3 days prior to the injection to minimize bruising.

Are BOTOX ^® treatments safe?
BOTOX ^® injections have been used safely and effectively for over twelve years to treat many ophthalmologic and neurological disorders. Each year, thousands of patients receive BOTOX ^® treatments for a variety of conditions, and it is quickly becoming a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging. In 2004, over 2 million people were injected with BOTOX ^®.  SKINTASTIC purchases BOTOX ^® fresh, from Allergan, the only FDA approved maker in the U.S.

What is the treatment like?
Cosmetic denervation with BOTOX ^® is a simple and safe procedure. Using a tiny micro-needle, a very small amount of BOTOX ^® is injected, very precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine, and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office. Some patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site, which can easily be covered with makeup.

What results can I expect?
If dynamic wrinkles make you look older than you are, cosmetic denervation can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin, since they are unrelated to facial muscle contractions. BOTOX ^® injections will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift or brow lift.  SKINTASTIC has various surgical and non-surgical treatment options available to treat sagging skin.

What are the limitations of BOTOX ® injections?
Unfortunately, BOTOX ® injections are a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from two to four months. You will need to have injections about three times a year. Early clinical studies indicate, however, that the duration of treatment benefits increases over time, so you may require injections less frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient to patient.

Is BOTOX ® used to treat other symptoms?
Yes. BOTOX ® has been used for over twelve years on thousands of patients to treat blepharospasm (uncontrolled eyelid muscle contractions, such as tics or abnormal blinking) associated with dystonia (a disorder associated with uncontrolled sustained muscle contractions and spasms).

How can I find out if I am a candidate for BOTOX ®?
If you would like to learn more about your cosmetic options, or find out if BOTOX ® treatments might work well for you, please call our office and schedule a complimentary consultation.

What is a BOTOX ^® Alternative?
There are many potions and lotions that claim that they are 'Better than BOTOX ^®', however, the Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into many of these so-called 'better than BOTOX ^®' companies' claims to determine whether their advertising is, in fact, true.  SKINTASTIC's BOTOX ^® is always fresh and purchased directly from the manufacturer, Allergan.  We have never had an issue regarding the purity or the consistency of the BOTOX ^® that we use to treat our clients.  Our Medical Director, Jeffrey Adelglass, M.D. cautions strongly against risking your face to a BOTOX ^® counterfeit, or to anyone who is not properly trained to administer a denervation agent like BOTOX ^®.