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BOTOX® Cosmetic

Dr. Yee's practice has relocated out of California. In the future, patients who require a copy of their medical records may initiate the process of obtaining them by emailing their request to [email protected] or by mail to PO Box 650, Windsor, CA 95492.

Home/Cosmetic Surgery/Non-Surgical/BOTOX® Cosmetic

What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

“BOTOX Cosmetic” (botulinum toxin type A) is a popular medicine that is injected (without requiring surgery or anesthesia) to temporarily reduce or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles on the face. BOTOX Cosmetic is purified from bacteria and blocks the signaling between nerves and muscles where it is injected, weakening or paralyzing the muscles. The relaxation of the muscle diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and muscle hyperactivity, and can be used to:

As a craniofacial surgeon, Dr. Yee is particularly qualified to create a facial anti-aging plan customized to your age and anatomy, incorporating BOTOX Cosmetic, fillers, and potentially surgery. There are 43 muscles in the face and surgeons who understand how the muscles interact and at what depth, along with the all the other changes in skin, bone and soft tissue with age, are best equipped to administer BOTOX injections.

Please note: BOTOX Cosmetic is FDA approved for treating frown lines and crow’s feet; all other uses are considered “off label.”

Benefits of BOTOX® Cosmetic

Dr. Yee aims for a natural, refreshed look, so full paralysis is not the goal. In your consultation, she will evaluate your face and how it moves to assess where BOTOX Cosmetic will be the most effective in anti-aging and cosmetic effect. The goal is to reduce sagging, lessen fine lines, and weaken hyperactive muscles where appropriate. She can also work with you on “preventative BOTOX injections”, where limiting muscle movement in certain areas can help prevent wrinkle formation.

Candidates for BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX Cosmetic works best on wrinkles that occur with facial movements; wrinkles that are etched into the skin at rest cannot be completely treated with BOTOX injections. In these situations, Dr. Yee generally recommends tandem treatment with dermal fillers to help fill in the wrinkle, and sometimes skin treatments such as peels or lasers when wrinkles are related to sun damage rather than muscle activity.

The BOTOX® Cosmetic Procedure

Injections of BOTOX Cosmetic are performed with very thin needles into specific muscles to weaken the ones responsible for wrinkles, and preserving your natural facial expressions. It typically takes less than 15 minutes.

Recovery After BOTOX® Cosmetic

No anesthesia is required, so there is no down time or recovery time for BOTOX injections. Some patients have temporary redness at the injection sites but usually by the time you drive home (or back to work!) these are gone. For the first day after treatment, we recommend avoiding massage of the treated areas to prevent the medication from moving out of the muscles targeted by Dr. Yee, as in rare instances it can result in temporary facial weakness or drooping in an unintended adjacent area.

Please note, BOTOX Cosmetic does not take effect right away, and it can take up to a week for full effects to be seen. If it is your first time trying BOTOX injections, Dr. Yee usually starts with a lower dose and schedules a follow-up visit in 1-2 weeks, to see how you’re doing and to add more if necessary.

If you’re interested in trying BOTOX Cosmetic with Dr. Yee, please call or contact our practice online to schedule a consultation; BOTOX injections can be administered the same day.