Find out more about BOTOX® wrinkle treatment from your Portland, Oregon-area BOTOX® physician, Dr. Peter Goodkin.
Peter Goodkin M.D.
9775 SE Sunnyside Road #500
Clackamas, Oregon 97015
P / 503-654-7546
F / 503-786-3542
Expressive faces develop lines, folds and wrinkles by frequent contraction of underlying facial muscles. These are called dynamic wrinkles and are different than the lines and folds caused by sun damage or the ones induced by losing bone and tissue volume with age.
These folds and wrinkles can make you appear angry or upset or they may just show your age. You may not be angry or upset. Maybe you’re just concentrating or thinking but people often interpret those folds as showing negative emotions. Maybe the smile lines are just too deep and crow’s feet cast a harsh shadow.
We can smooth those dynamic lines and folds with products that temporarily weaken the underlying muscles. Until recently, we had only a single product FDA approved for this use. Now Dysport® Cosmetic and Myobloc® are in use.
These products block the electrical impulses from the tiny nerves that normally stimulate those muscles to contract, thereby intentionally weakening the muscle. This intervention requires the tiniest amount of botulinum toxin. The facial surface over the muscle then becomes smoother, ironing out many wrinkles. Other facial muscles not treated continue to act normally, leaving a normal but more relaxed facial expression. You do not have a frozen, unmovable face, as joked about in the media! You just don’t look angry or upset anymore.
Glabellar frown lines, the deep ones between the eyebrows, are the most common treatment site. Frequently, at the same session, crow’s feet and the long lines spanning across the forehead are softened. A temporary brow lift can be achieved. “Bunny lines” on the nose and flaring nostrils can be toned down. The eyelids of some people become narrow slits when they smile. One can achieve a wider-eyed smile. Some show too much gum when they smile. This also can be reversed. The depressors at the corners of the mouth can be weakened, preventing those corners from being pulled down. These agents also improve the treatment of fillers used to treat wrinkles around the mouth (“lipstick lines”).
Botox® Cosmetic has been used safely in millions of people. It's certainly one of the most popular wrinkle treatment procedures in Oregon, as well as throughout the United States and indeed the world. Dr. Peter Goodkin has been using BOTOX® Cosmetic injections safely and effectively for more than 14 years.
Most people don’t have any side effects from cosmetic use of the products. As with any injection, there can be a bruise at the injection site. Avoiding aspirin, vitamin E and other blood thinners before the procedure can decrease chances of a bruise. There can be a temporary flu-like reaction, a headache or a temporary eyelid or eyebrow droop.
In high doses, doses substantially higher than normally used to treat wrinkles, the toxin can be absorbed and weaken muscles elsewhere in the body. This has mostly occurred in the treatment of muscle spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. Although extremely unlikely you should report to your doctor any unexpected loss of strength or muscle weakness, hoarseness or trouble talking, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, double vision, or blurred vision.
Botox® is FDA approved to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). It is used off label sometimes to treat neck wrinkles, migraine headaches or even enlarged facial muscles. Many of the common cosmetic uses of Botox® Cosmetic are also considered “off label”.
These toxins treat the dynamic lines and folds, the ones that are accentuated by facial expressions. Unless used early on, they may not totally eliminate the wrinkles of facial expression that are present at rest, when you’re not moving your face. These residual wrinkles and folds are best treated with a filler injection.
Most people don’t have any side effects from cosmetic use of the products. As with any injection, there can be a bruise at the injection site. Avoiding aspirin, vitamin E and other blood thinners before the procedure can decrease chances of a bruise. There can be a temporary flu-like reaction, a headache or a temporary eyelid or eyebrow droop. This latter is quite rare.
The products begin to work at different times. Botox® Cosmetic starts to work in about three days. Dysport® Cosmetic starts a little sooner. The full effect is usually appreciated within one week. Treatments are usually repeated every three months initially. Later, most people find the treatments last longer, maybe four, five or even six months.
You could be just a few days away from smoother, more youthful skin. Contact our Clackamas office near Portland, Oregon, about BOTOX® Cosmetic — they can help to restore the smooth, unlined face you remember having.