Info Plastic Surgery

Botox®

Tips and Traps

  • Do not believe anyone who tells you that after a few treatments, the effects of Botox® may be permanent. In fact, just the opposite is true: the more you get, the more Botox® you need to achieve the same effect.
  • Botox® is only effective for dynamic wrinkles. If you have fine wrinkles, consider micro peels or other chemical peels.
  • Ask your plastic surgeon how much saline he or she uses to dilute the vial of Botox® and how many units of Botox® will be injected in each area. Each vial contains 100 units of Botox® and should be diluted with no more than 4 cc of saline. Your surgeon should inject about 15 units (.6 cc) into the scowl lines or crow’s feet and 20 units (.8 cc) into your forehead or upper lip. If your surgeon dilutes the Botox® with more than 4 cc of saline, then you will be getting
    a smaller dose of Botox® which will be less effective and shorter lasting.
  • If your Botox® results were inadequate (they didn’t make your wrinkles go away), then wait at least 3-5 days before getting more Botox® in the same area. If you get more Botox® too soon, it may cause a problem with paralysis of the surrounding muscles as well.
  • If you have markedly droopy eyebrows with deep horizontal forehead creases, then Botox® may make your brow droop worse. You should consider a brow lift, which will improve your forehead creases AND lift your brows.
  • Because Botox® occasionally causes bruising (especially when injected for crow’s feet), do not have injection of Botox® for your crow’s feet immediately before an important event.
  • Satisfaction following Botox® injections is immense, as long as the recipients understand that benefits are temporary. Botox® injection is a powerful treatment because of its dramatic effect and immediate recovery.