BOTOX for Beginners

I bet you’ve thought about it, “What could Botox do for me?” What’s stopping you from giving it try? If you fear that you’ll end up looking “frozen” like some of those Hollywood celebrities who dead-pan it thru the red carpet or what your friends will think; don’t. Botox, when done correctly, gives you a natural, refreshed look that allows you to retain all of the personality your expressions give off, and the only thing your friends will notice is a younger looking you. If you’re saying to yourself, “I’m not THAT vain!” Think about Botox in a new light. It’s just like any other anti-aging treatment-except it works better.

Birth of Botox
Botulinium toxin, aka Botox, has been around as a medical treatment for a long time; though, its cosmetic use is a 21^st century phenomenon. It was first FDA Approved in 1989 for the treatment of eye, neck and throat spasms. I remember my first patient who benefited dramatically. She had intermittent throat spasms that strangled her voice. At times, she could not even make a sound. Her Ear Nose and Throat physician administered Botox to relax the muscles in her voice box allowing her to speak. It was life changing!

In the early 90’s, an observant Canadian ophthalmologist, Dr. Jean Carruthers, discovered the cosmetic value of Botox while treating a patient for debilitating eye twitches. After treating her patient with Botox to alleviate the spasms, she noticed that the treated side had little to no sign of the crow’s feet that were there before. Intrigued by the results, she sought the expertise of her husband, Dr. Alastair Carruthers, who happened to be a dermatologist. They both agreed Botox’s anti-aging side effect was worth looking into as a cosmetic treatment. They soon convinced their office manager, a woman with well-developed crow’s feet, to be their first guinea pig. The rest, as they say, is history. It took nearly a decade for the times to catch up with the Carruthers, but the FDA soon gave the nod to the cosmetic use of Botox in 2002.

Beware of Botox Knockoffs
To date, millions of men and women have benefited from the softening and relaxing effects on facial wrinkles that Botox has. It is important to note that the only FDA Approved Botox formulation for cosmetic use is Allergan’s BOTOX Cosmetic. BOTOX Cosmetic has an unparalleled safety record and has a record of reliable and consistent results when administered by a trained healthcare professional. Bootleg versions of the formulation have received a lot of negative media, but these are not the real thing. Though often offered at a reduced rate, they are very dangerous and can cause permanent or terminal damage. Overall, make sure your injector is a reputable medical professional who only uses authentic and legal Botox.

Botox Basics
Botox is really a simple drug when it comes to wrinkles. It will relax any muscle that you inject it with (using extremely tiny amounts with a very tiny needle). The key to getting natural-looking results lies with the person doing the injecting. The injector must know where the facial muscles are and what they do.  Random injections will yield random and sometimes unpleasant results.

Remember, only wrinkles that worsen with movement will relax and show improvements with Botox. If the wrinkle is there at rest, you need a filler. To find out which filler is right for you, read my article, The 4-1-1 on Facial Fillers. 

Botox as Your Real-Life “Photoshop” Trick
The great news is that a little Botox goes a long way. For a few hundred dollars, you can have a softer, more pleasant and less stressed look. You’ll still be able to express yourself naturally and beautifully; you’ll just have to do it looking a couple of years younger. I have yet to find a patient who does not respond to Botox and I have treated thousands! Try it out. If you don’t love it, no problem; it slowly disappears over a few months. 

I think you will love Botox!

About Dr. Susan Van Dyke
Susan Van Dyke, M.D. is a board certified dermatologist who has performed more than 10,000 non-invasive cosmetic procedures and has received the “Physician’s Recognition Award” from the American Medical Association each practicing year. She is a top consultant and national physician trainer for Medicis, Allergan and Lumenis; on the speakers’ bureaus for Clinique Medical and Obagi; a “Platinum Plus” BOTOX Cosmetic and Juvéderm Provider; and her practice is designated as a BOTOX Cosmetic National Training Center. Dr. Van Dyke has also lectured internationally for Thermage and is on the advisory board for Valeant Pharmaceuticals. For more information on Dr. Van Dyke and her practice, visit http://www.vandykelaser.com/.

Hours of operation for Van Dyke Laser & Skin are Tues.-Fri. from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sat. from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Consultations and appointments can be booked through 480.948.5045.

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