Tired of your frown lines or crows feet? Botox Cosmetic® and Dysport® are the answers to reducing dynamic wrinkles (caused by muscle movement over time). Less creasing of the skin allows new collagen replenishment, softening of lines, and allows others to see a more refreshed and rejuvenated you.

Wrinkles result from a combination of many factors. It’s not just about cellular changes, collagen depletion, or damage caused by free radicals. When you frown or concentrate, the muscles between your brows contract, causing your skin to furrow and fold. And when you squint, the muscles around your eyes contract and cause crow’s feet.

Dr. Thomas will inject Botox Cosmetic or Dysport into the muscles that cause frown lines and crow’s feet lines, temporarily reducing the activity of those muscles. The result is a reduction in the appearance of those lines.

Both products are purified proteins, or neurotoxin A. It is easy to think of them as first cousins, because they behave very similarly in the body. The main difference between the two products is that some people prefer one over the other. During your consultation, Dr. Thomas can discuss these differences more specifically to help you decide which one would be best for you.

Dr. Thomas uses tiny specialized needles for the injections which makes the process easy and comfortable. No anesthesia is required and there is no downtime expected afterwards. We may lightly ice certain areas before or after treatment after we assess your skin.

There’s no recovery time needed and you can go on with your day. It is recommended that you not lie down, go to sleep, or get a massage right after treatment as this might move the product the doctor just placed. This and other aftercare instructions will be explained after treatment.

The results of a Botox Cosmetic or Dysport treatment typically last between 3 to 4 months. By coming in for retreatment before the effects of the last treatment fully wear off, the muscles never get a chance to fully recover and the longevity of the effect can be enhanced. If you discontinue treatment after the effect wears off, the wrinkles that you were treating will look like they did before the procedure, and could even get worse since they are allowed to move again. Therefore it is best that you plan to make this part of your skin regime to get the best results.

Side effects and complications from the procedure are very uncommon. They include temporary decrease in brow height and rarely, eyelid droop (also called “Ptosis”). Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection, but these effects are extremely atypical. Dr. Thomas’s experience over the years has provided him with an expert eye and touch required to make the effects look natural and even.

We do not perform these injections on patients that are pregnant or breast feeding. Furthermore, we do not inject on patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, all of which would increase the risk of serious side effects.

BOTOX^® COSMETIC (onabotulinumtoxinA) IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

APPROVED USES

BOTOX^® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows and moderate to severe crow’s feet lines in adults.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BOTOX^® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX^® Cosmetic:

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months
• Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities

The dose of BOTOX^® Cosmetic is not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX^® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow’s feet lines or both at the same time.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Do not take BOTOX^® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX^® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc^® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport^® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin^® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and respiratory compromise (difficulty breathing) from typical doses of BOTOX^® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles, such as trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX^® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed (it is not known if BOTOX^®Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Using BOTOX^® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX^® Cosmetic in the past.

Especially tell your doctor if you: have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin, such as Myobloc^®, Dysport^®, or Xeomin^® in the past (be sure your doctor knows exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take anti-platelets (aspirin-like products) or anti-coagulants (blood thinners).

Other side effects of BOTOX^® Cosmetic include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes.