In order for muscles to contract nerves release a chemical messenger, acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter), at the junction where the nerve endings meet muscle cells. Acetylcholine travels from the nerve to the muscle and causes the muscle cells to contract or shorten. Botulinum toxin (Botox) is absorbed by nerves near the site of injection. Once inside the nerves Botox inhibits the proteins (SNARE) that release the acetylcholine thus preventing the nerve from causing the muscle to contract. This is an irreversible process. Botox wears off when the nerves create new nerve endings to once again induce muscle contraction.

A unit of Botox is a measure of biologic activity, based on scientific investigations. Botox is purchased as a powder in 100 unit vials. The amount (or the dose) of Botox you receive is determined by 2 things; how much fluid (normal saline) is used to mix the Botox and how much of this fluid you receive. For optimal results it is recommended that a 100 unit vial of powdered Botox is mixed with 1 milliliter of fluid. Some practitioners use more than 1 millimeter of fluid which may contribute to the variability in results that some clients experience.

While the average treatment time is just a few minutes, I typically schedule 30 mins for every appointment. This extra time allows us to chat about your medical and cosmetic history and allows me to fully understand what your expectations are. This also provides a time buffer at the beginning and end of your appointment to ensure privacy and discretion.

Botox is delivered through a very thin 31-gauge needle (less than ¼ of a millimeter) into the muscle that is being treated. Some people experience no pain at all, some experience a very short small pinch.

This is highly variable and based in part on how deep your wrinkles are, how your body responds to the treatment and whether you’ve received treatment before. For example, the amount of Botox needed to treat your worry lines could range from 5 to 20 units and a unit of Botox may range from $8 to $20 per unit. As you can see this creates some uncertainty in what your treatment might cost. At Skin Secrets we take out all the guess work and surprise as our pricing is based on an area of treatment, such as your worry lines, with a 2 month guarantee!

Immediately after the treatment you may see small bumps, similar to mosquito bites, at the sites of injection. These small bumps generally disappear in just a few minutes. It will likely take 2 to 4 days before the treatment becomes noticeable and up to 1 week before you see the full effect.
When the treatment is in full effect the visible results will be smoother skin and the reduction of wrinkles. As we discussed previously, it is important to remember that the results are only temporary (normally 3 months but will vary from patient to patient) and additional treatments will be necessary to maintain achieved results.

The side effects and complications associated with Botox injections are relatively rare if you receive your treatment from a trained and experienced practitioner but may include pain at the injection site, infection, inflammation, swelling, redness, bleeding and bruising. Although unlikely, some people may develop an allergic reaction to Botox with symptoms such as itching, wheezing, asthma, a rash, red welts, dizziness or faintness. Additional side effects may include nausea, headaches, muscle asymmetry (eg eyebrow ptosis) or double vision.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list and while side effects can occur in anyone, regardless of age or other health risks, Botox treatment remains relatively safe. When side effects do occur, these usually resolve in a short period of time. Most importantly, the risk of side effects is dramatically reduced when the treatment is performed by a qualified expert and in fact, most doctors admit they rarely see adverse effects other than some slight bruising and swelling.

From a cosmetic perspective there are 2 types of wrinkles, dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles are the creases you see in the mirror when you are using your muscles while frowning or squinting your eyes. These are the wrinkles that we can readily treat with Botox. Static wrinkles are the creases you see in the mirror even when your not actively frowning or squinting. These are more difficult, but not impossible to treat with Botox, however are probably better treated with dermal fillers. On a positive note, dermal fillers generally last much longer than Botox and treatments may only be necessary every 12-24 months. The regular and early use of Botox can prevent the development of static wrinkles.

There is essentially no downtime after your treatment. The most common side effect is bruising at the site of injection. A small bruise may last 1 to 2 days while a large bruise might last as long as a week. The most serious side effects occur when the dermal filler is inadvertently injected into a blood vessel which may result in skin necrosis, skin scarring or in the worst case scenario, blindness.

While this sounds awful, the chances of developing one of these complications is very rare and can be further reduced by avoiding high-risk areas such as between the eyes, ensuring your practitioner is well-trained and is using safe techniques, and recognizing complications early so that they can be treated and mitigated.

Dermal fillers work very quickly and the results of your treatment will be obvious right away. Depending on the type of dermal filler used, there may be some further plumping over the next few weeks as the hyaluronic acid attracts water into the area of treatment.

Dermal fillers typically last 6 to 24 months depending on the type of dermal filler used and the area that is treated. Your expected results will be discussed at the time of your consultation.

This is highly variable based on the area of treatment and the type and volume of dermal filler required. An estimate of cost will be discussed at the time of consultation.