Botox is a prescription drug made from the Clostridium Botulinum bacterium that is used to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, botulinum toxin injections are the most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure available. In fact, last year, Americans underwent more than seven million Botox treatments.
What Does Botox Treat?
Botox injections are primarily used to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles by blocking signals from your nerves to your muscles, preventing them from contracting. This causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. Botox is most useful in treating:
- Frown lines between your eyebrows
- Crow’s feet, which are the lines that extend from the corners of your eyes
- Forehead furrows
How Is Botox Performed?
Administering Botox injections takes just a few minutes and doesn’t require anesthesia. A numbing medication or cream can be applied to the skin beforehand, if you’re worried about discomfort. Dr. Herrera will use a thin needle to inject a small dose of Botox into your skin or specific muscles. Results usually take 4 to 7 days to appear and can last anywhere from 3 to 12 months. Maintenance injections are needed if you wish to continue treatment beyond the initial dose. Some temporary bruising at the injection site is common but beyond that, side effects are rare.
The Differences Between Botox and Dysport
While Botox and Dysport both use the same medication, the size of the molecules in the injections is significantly different. Dysport injections use smaller molecules of botulinum toxin type A than Botox. There are far more similarities between the products than there are unique traits; however, a few aspects worth mentioning include:
- Dysport spreads through your cells easier and therefore affects a larger area than Botox. This can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the treatment area.
- Botox may last slightly longer than Dysport in most patients. Dr. Herrera must typically administer (Botox or Dysport) 2 to 4 times per year, but some patients’ results last up to 12 months.
- Dysport works slightly faster than Botox. Dysport’s onset takes 2 to 5 days while Botox takes 4 to 7 days to set in.
From evaluation to treatment, Lake Jackson ENT & Med Spa is by your side. Schedule your appointment easily with our online scheduler today.