BOTOX

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW MUCH DOWNTIME COMES WITH THE PROCEDURE?

None. Patients return to everyday life immediately after leaving our office.

WHAT ARE THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT NEUROTOXINS?

Botox and Dysport are identical in function and endurance. They have a protein coat that comes off gradually once inside the muscles, exposing the active ingredient botulinum toxin. Xeomin however does not have a protein coat, hence iits effects can be immediate. When PurTox becomes available, it too will have an identical function to that of Botox and Dysport.

WHEN DO YOU NEED TO RETURN FOR ANOTHER SESSION OF BOTOX?

Usually in three-to-four month intervals is the best to avoid returning to your wrinkle base line.

HOW SOON CAN RESULTS BE NOTICED?

Results appear slowly over the next week. By two weeks, the relaxation of the muscles of the face, or other treatment area, will peak.

PROCEDURE TIME? WILL ANESTHESIA BE USED?

The procedure will last somewhere between 15 and 20 minutes. There is no standard anesthetic used, just cold therapy with ice.

WHAT ARE THE KEY BENEFITS OF A BOTOX TREATMENT?

This is a single, safe procedure that enhances and lifts skin of the face, where the initial aging signs are seen. The goal is to beautify, augment, enhance definition, shape, volume and size of the areas around the eyes, nose, cheeks and/or chin.

IS THERE A FOURTH WRINKLE REDUCTION NEUROTOXIN SOON TO COME TO THE USA?

Yes, PurTox (will be distributed by Johnson and Johnson but not FDA approved yet).

ARE THERE ANY KNOWN SIDE EFFECTS?

Side effects are rare, but according to the medical literature, they included difficulty of swallowing, speech or breathing. Rarely headaches, dry mouth, bruising, swelling, temporary discomfort can also occur.

ARE BOTOX INJECTIONS PAINFUL?

No, the expert hands in our practice use tiny injection needles that are virtually pain free.

HOW MUCH BOTOX DO YOU NEED?

Since this procedure is technique dependant our experts at the Liposuction and Cosmetic Surgery Institute of Chicago achieve pleasant, natural and lasting facial rejuvenation with minimal number of units. A treatment that is too aggressive injection may lead to undesirable effects.

SOME PATIENTS WANT PERMANENT WRINKLE REMOVAL. CAN THAT BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH BOTOX?

Yes. While one treatment will not permanently remove wrinkles, we offer special annual Botox and filler packages that will keep your wrinkles out of sight permanently using a series of injections over the course of the year.

HOW LONG DO RESULTS OF BOTOX, DYSPORT OR XEOMIN LAST?

Usually after three-and-a-half months the strength of the facial muscle start to return and by four months the face muscles have returned to normal function.

SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT FROZEN, EXPRESSIONLESS FACE AFTER TREATMENT?

Yes, you should be. However, at the Liposuction and Cosmetic Surgery Institute we prefer a natural, relaxed and rested look over a frozen gaze look. Our goal is to make you look younger.

WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE THE TREATMENT?

Wash your face thoroughly to remove all makeup. All patients must not be breastfeeding or pregnant. All patients who have any infections or herpes cold sores also should not be injected.

WHAT DOES BOTOX COST?

About $12 a unit. Occasionally we have event specials for our VIP patients. To become a VIP patient, simply text LIPODOC to the number 36000 and confirm that you would like to become a VIP.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A BOTOX INJECTION?

Avoid touching, scratching or harshly rubbing the injected area to prevent migration. Avoid makeup for a few days to prevent contamination and infection. Avoid sun or vigorous exercise for a few days. Avoid staring at the mirror making faces. This one is important: Avoid the critique of your friends. This was your decision alone, and it should not be affected by the attitude of outsiders. Relaxation is best after treatment.

WHY BOTOX AND FILLERS SHOULD NOT BE INJECTED IN HAIR SALONS, NAIL SALONS OR BEAUTY SPAS?

Botox is a very delicate and precise injection, but in the hands of non-experts or untrained or improperly medical practitioners (ie. dentists, nurses, aestheticians) who do not have the expertise nor the experience in dealing with any adverse effects, the outcome can be disheartening. Our personal advice is make sure you avoid non-cosmetic practitioners and Botox parties in a non-medical site like spas. Worse yet is hair salons, where sterility of the environment cannot be guaranteed. It is best to trust the Botox experts of the Liposuction and cosmetic surgery Institute in Chicago.

WHEN DO I NEED WRINKLE FILLERS LIKE RESTYLANE AND JUVEDERM IN ADDITION TO BOTOX?

Often relaxing the underlying muscles solves the problem, but in many occasions, especially in men, the wrinkles are permanently ingrained deep in the skin creating an indentation. These creases create a furrow, which must be addressed by a soft filler. These are commonly hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. Radiesse, a calcium based filler, can also be used.

DO MEN GET WRINKLES AS MUCH AS WOMEN?

Actually, men get very deep wrinkles as a result of having heavier and stronger facial muscles. This leads to stronger sustained facial contractions and eventually deeply ingrained wrinkles. Many of our male patients are neurotoxin patients.

WHAT COMPRISES BOTOX?

BOTOX is a prescriptive injectible called onabotulinumtoxinA. In the world of medicine, we simply call it a neurotoxin.

WHAT IS A COSMETIC NEUROTOXIN?

BOTOX is a prescriptive injectables that relax muscles of face or body.

WHERE CAN BOTOX BE INJECTED TO REDUCE WRINKLES?

Botox can be painlessly injected into the following areas of the face and body:

• Forehead
• Frown lines, known as the glabella
• Chin
• Smile lines
• Sagging corners of the lipos
• Around the eyes
• Sagging eyebrow tail
• Sagging tip of the nose
• Vertical neck bands
• Horizontal neck fold lines
• Wrinkled decolletage
• Protruding jaw muscles
• Protruding salivary parotid and other glands

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE HAVE MORE WRINKLES THAN OTHERS?

All humans have wrinkles, but those with lighter colored eyes, lighter colored skin, those who smoke and those whom are exposed to damaging sunrays without sun protection are at higher risk of developing early and intense wrinkles. Genetic propensity for wrinkles can also play a factor.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTOX AND OTHER NEUROTOXINS?

Botox, along with other neurotoxins such as Dysport and Xeomin, are all derived from Botulinum A, but they are manufactured slightly different by different manufacturers.

Allergan manufactures and distributes Botox. Ipsen Biopharm manufactures Dysport in Europe. Galderma distributes Dysport in the United States. Xeomin is made and distributed by Merz in Germany.

HOW AND WHY DO WE GET FACIAL WRINKLES?

Our facial wrinkles are the result of many years of constant folding of our skin, caused by the contraction of the underlying numerous facial muscles during facial expression. During frowning, pouting, smiling, sneezing, yawning or gasping, and just about every other facial movement, causes the facial skin to fold thousands of times a day. In early stages of our lives, the wrinkles appear when we contract our facial skin when we frown or smile. These are referred to as ‘dynamic wrinkles.’ With passage of time the constant muscle contractions permanently stamps wrinkling in our face, and we begin to see the wrinkles even at rest. The aging process, combined with increased sun exposure, leads to appearance of ‘permanent wrinkles at rest.’