Botox

How does Botox work?

Botox, Dysport®, and Xeomin® each use a purified and diluted form of the botulinum toxin, to force contracted muscles to relax. First used as a medical treatment for some eye disorders, Botox was approved for cosmetic use in the early 2000s, and nearly 11 million vials of Botox have been sold in the United States.

As your skin gets older, the supporting matrix of collagen and elastin starts to lose its youthful nature, losing moisture and becoming less elastic. No longer able to hold its own shape, your skin contours around the underlying muscles, particularly in places where these muscles form expressions. When a muscle permanently contracts, the skin above it adopts that shape. When the muscle causes frown or laugh lines, the resulting appearance is like that of a permanent mood.

An injection of Botox paralyzes the contracted muscle, forcing it to relax, and with it goes the skin and the semi-permanent expression. Frown lines and crow’s feet smooth out as the muscle responds to the injection. Effects start in about 24 to 48 hours, and treatments last about four months.

How are Dysport and Xeomin different than Botox?

While all three products use the botulinum toxin as an active ingredient, each is a unique formulation. Therefore, Dysport and Xeomin are not generic versions of Botox, but separate treatments with their own characteristics and dosages. Dr. Matsuda, Dr. Sheu, and Dr. Jim On choose the most appropriate product based on your needs and their experience.

Can Botox injections help jaw pain or reduce the jawline?

Matsuda Dermatology uses Botox to successfully reduce the jaw pain, soreness, and tension from TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint pain), or TMD (temporo-mandibular disorder). Patients who experience discomfort when chewing, or jaw clenching at night, find significant reduction in symptoms with Botox injections into the masseter muscle and surrounding area. The injections reduce the degree of tightness, and therefore relieve the symptoms a few days after treatment. Relief lasts between four and six months.

Botox injections into the masseter (jaw) muscle also help reduce the appearance of a square jawline. In some people, the jaw muscle is more pronounced, either due to genetics or the development of a prominent jaw muscle from chewing. For patients who prefer a less prominent jawline, Botox injections into the masseter muscle help relax, and ultimately shrink the jawline, giving the face a more oval, slimming appearance. This procedure is considered a safe alternative to surgery for facial slimming.

What can I expect from a Botox treatment?

Though your consultation may take additional time, the actual injections of Botox or other product typically take no more than 10 minutes. Treating crow’s feet is usually done with three injections beside each eye, while frown lines generally receive five injections.

The injections are made with a fine needle, so there is a slight pinching sensation. Dr. Matsuda, Dr. Sheu, or Dr. Jim On may use a topical anesthetic, if needed. There’s no recovery time after treatment, so you can continue with normal daily activities immediately. Side effects are rare, but may include minor irritation around the injection sites that subsides in 24 hours.