The holidays are quickly approaching and although we will be social-distanced and masked for many holiday events, your upper face will still be on display. One procedure that can improve your holiday appearance is Botox. Botox is a safe cosmetic procedure with amazing results when done in a doctor’s office by an experienced cosmetic physician.
Dr. Nicole Norris of Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, Illinois agreed to share her expertise about cosmetic with us and answer some of our burning questions.
What is Botox? “It is a brand-name of botulinum toxin A. It is a liquid that is injected into a muscle that causes that muscle to not contract completely for approximately three months. In cosmetic medicine, this FDA-approved medication is commonly used to weaken the muscles of expression. Botox is commonly used to treat facial lines caused by smiling, frowning and looking surprised. In my practice the areas of the face most often treated with Botox include the forehead, area between the eyes, the crow’s feet, the eyebrow for lifting, lines above the lip, the lip (lip flip), the gummy smile and the muscles of the jaw to make the female face less square. Botox makes my patients very happy for many reasons!”
Are there any side effects of having injected? “Since I use the smallest needles possible to inject Botox, there is a very small risk of bruising. If your cosmetic doctor is trained appropriately on facial anatomy and botulinum toxin A intricacies, there are no major side effects to expect. I like to tell my patients that in my hands Botox is safer than a flu shot and much less painful!”
Are there other brands of Botox that can be used and how are they different? “Botox was the first botulinum toxin A to be FDA-approved for cosmetic use in 2002. Besides, we also use a lot of Dysport (FDA-approved for cosmetic use in 2009) in my office because it is a little stronger than Botox and often lasts a little longer. Whether it is Dysport or another brand of botulinum toxin that you have injected in your expression lines, the medication will kick in completely in about 2 weeks, have its strongest effect at 1 month and then gradually go away over 2-4 months depending on the person. The longer that you keep your muscles of expression from strongly contracting, the more your expression lines smooth out, and eventually go away. In my 20-30-year-old patients, fine lines resolve more quickly and in fact Botox prevents them from forming expression lines. I have always been a fan of preventative medicine!”
What would you tell your patient if they are concerned about looking frozen after a Botox treatment? “I am often conservative with my Botox or Dysport dose for a new patient. I have them come back to my office two weeks later for a follow-up visit because I can always put in more medication, but once injected, I cannot take it away. No one wants to look frozen, but everyone wants to get rid of as many expression lines as possible. It is a delicate balance to create a refreshed wrinkle-free look that does not look overdone. This is where the art and science of cosmetic medicine meet! Anyone can inject Botox, but not everyone makes it look natural.”
If you are interested in having Botox or Dysport before the holidays, Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa is offering a fabulous promotion for patients new to Botox or Dysport. If you come for Botox or Dysport in November 2020 and buy one area of treatment (crow’s feet, frown lines, or forehead lines), you will receive a second area 50% off! If you are a new patient, your $50 Dysport Consultation fee will go toward your procedure this month. Call 815-780-8264 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Norris or visit NicoleNorrisMD.com to learn more.
