BOTOX® Cosmetic

Soften Dynamic Lines and Wrinkles with this Popular Cosmetic Treatment in Tucson and Oro Valley

INJECTABLES
Treatment For

Frown lines near the forehead and around the eyes.

Want to get a friendlier, more youthful, and refreshed appearance with little to no prep or down time? BOTOX® is a Tucson-area go-to treatment for wrinkles, whether they have developed due to a lifetime of active facial expressions or the stress of the pandemic of 2020 and 2021. These lines can have the effect of making anyone look unapproachable or unhappy, which is why many people turn to the injectable treatment to rejuvenate their appearance.

Millions of women and men around the world choose BOTOX® to address moderate to severe facial lines, specifically targeting furrows on the forehead, lines between the eyebrows, and crow's feet next to the eyes. BOTOX® has become the best-known cosmetic treatment in the world, with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons consistently reporting that it is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States. If you have questions like “How long will BOTOX® last?” or “How much will BOTOX® cost?” our team at Ironwood Dermatology can explain everything you need to know.

Nerves signal muscles to contract, thereby wrinkling the skin's surface.
Typically, nerves send signals to muscles to contract, which then wrinkle the surface of the skin - resulting in the formation of "dynamic wrinkles".
BOTOX blocks these nerve signals, preventing wrinkle-forming contractions.
When BOTOX® is injected into these muscles, the nerve signals that command them to contract are blocked, thus softening these wrinkles.
Want to Learn More?

Request your consultation for BOTOX® in Tucson and Oro Valley, AZ. Call Ironwood Dermatology at 520.618.1630, or submit a contact form to get in touch with us.

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How Do Wrinkles Form?

When our skin is young and healthy, it has a tight, “rubber band-like quality” and can easily snap back into place after it is pinched or pulled out of shape. Whenever we use our face to communicate emotions by making facial expressions or when talking or eating, the facial skin is being moved by the underlying muscles. This includes facial movements like blinking, frowning, squinting, and raising our brows each day. Wrinkles eventually begin to form in the areas where these muscles are constantly contracting. The resulting lines are called dynamic wrinkles or expression wrinkles.

Our skin also becomes thinner and weaker over time due to a combination of damage from external stressors (like ultraviolet radiation) and intrinsic aging. This leads to collagen deficiency, which makes wrinkles develop more easily and appear more pronounced. Ultimately, grooves worn into older skin by active muscles become visible even when the muscles are at rest.

How Does BOTOX® Work?

Manufacturer Allergan is the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic. The first question many patients considering this treatment have is: “What is BOTOX® made of?” Simply put, BOTOX® is an injectable introduced directly into the skin in a liquid form for the purpose of minimizing facial wrinkles and addressing other signs of aging. The key ingredient it contains is botulinum toxin type A, a protein produced by bacteria found in certain natural environments.

This protein is very good at preventing muscle contractions by interfering with signals sent through the nervous system. When the brain sends signals to muscles to get them to contract— and cause wrinkles to appear on the surface of the skin—BOTOX® stops the message from arriving, keeping the muscles at rest and softening the lines formed by otherwise constant movement. The overlying skin lies smoother, creating a more youthful and unlined look.

What Does BOTOX® Address?

BOTOX® is mainly used on the upper areas of the face, particularly on the eyes and forehead where there is a lot of muscle activity and the skin is thinner. BOTOX® is FDA approved specifically for minimizing moderate to severe lines and wrinkles including crow’s feet (tiny lines around the corners of the eyes), forehead lines (lines that run horizontally on the forehead), and glabellar lines (vertical frown lines or “11s” between the eyebrows).

Am I a Good Candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic in Tucson and Oro Valley?

Virtually anyone would be a good candidate for BOTOX® as long as they are physically healthy and don’t have underlying health conditions that would keep them from getting the injectable. In order to determine that BOTOX® is the best course of action for each patient, our cosmetic injector first conducts an examination of the patient’s skin, obtains a medical history prior, and discusses general and specific cosmetic goals.

Ideal BOTOX® candidates are women and men over the age of 18 who see unwanted moderate to severe frown lines near the forehead and eyes and want to correct them, while maintaining realistic expectations. Many patients favor this injectable because they want a quick and convenient treatment that requires no downtime, and they understand that the convenience of the treatment means results are temporary.

Women who are pregnant or nursing and patients with neuromuscular diseases are not ideal candidates for BOTOX® and should discuss alternative options during their consultation. Some people who have weakness in the facial muscles, drooping eyelids, pronounced facial scars, active skin disorders, or very thick facial skin may also not be considered good BOTOX® candidates.

What Can I Expect During a BOTOX® Treatment in Tucson?

One of the chief reasons behind this cosmetic treatment's popularity is the fact that BOTOX® allows patients the freedom and privacy to go to an appointment and return to work, socializing, and running errands right away, without any downtime. The lengthiest part of the process is the discussion with a cosmetic injector prior to treatment.

During this consultation, the cosmetic injector examines the patient's skin and discusses the patient's concerns, and the cosmetic injector and patient come to an agreement about the best course of treatment. For patients interested in a single BOTOX® treatment, the appointment will last about half an hour, and the injection process itself requires only about 10 minutes. At the beginning of the appointment, the injector may apply a topical numbing cream to the areas being addressed.

BOTOX Cosmetic BOTOX Cosmetic

Depending on the area being treated and severity of the lines being addressed, the number of injections can vary. Crow's feet, for example, require the cosmetic injector to administer three injections into the muscles near the right eye, with another three for the left side. Forehead frown lines typically require more injections. Prior to getting started, the BOTOX® injector will walk you through the process, including the exact number of injections you can expect.

BOTOX® injections are almost completely painless. Many patients compare the physical sensation of the injection to a mild pinching feeling. Anyone concerned with how they might react to the needles can discuss this during their consultation, when we can come up with a solution to make the process as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Do You Have Questions?

Schedule a consultation for BOTOX® Cosmetic in Tucson and Oro Valley, AZ, with Ironwood Dermatology by calling our office at 520.618.1630 or submit a contact form to get in touch with us.

book a consultation

BOTOX® Results and Recovery

BOTOX® results typically take three to five days to appear after a treatment session. Following the treatment, patients return to their normal routine with limited restrictions on activity. The recovery necessary after the procedure is minimal, but patients can improve the quality of the results and diminish side effects by avoiding blood thinning or anti-inflammatory medications for at least two weeks before their treatment. Smoking and intense physical exercise should also be avoided right after the treatment. For the first 24 hours, BOTOX® recipients should try to avoid rubbing or placing too much pressure on the injections sites.

It’s common for patients to experience some minor, temporary bruising, swelling, and discomfort in the treatment area for a few days.

Results can last three to five months, after which muscle action gradually returns—and many patients schedule additional treatment sessions to maintain their smoother skin. Studies indicate that the effects of BOTOX® are cumulative to a certain degree, meaning that patients who get additional treatments tend to see better results over time as the muscles are being “trained” to relax.

Are There Risks Associated With BOTOX® Cosmetic?

Patients searching for “What are the bad side effects of BOTOX®?” can rest assured that the safety of this product has been thoroughly researched and tested, as well as addressed and verified in hundreds of peer-reviewed articles in journals for the scientific and medical community. BOTOX® is approved for use in 78 countries. In the United States alone, the FDA has given it the green light for three separate cosmetic applications and numerous medical applications, including reducing the severity of migraines and addressing the excessive sweating of hyperhidrosis sufferers.

As the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States, BOTOX® has a solid track record of high rates of patient satisfaction and safety. However, like any other medication and cosmetic treatment, BOTOX® does have some risks. A small percentage of BOTOX® patients experience dry mouth, a headache, double vision, or minor pain at the injection site. However, these symptoms are typically short-lived, lasting a few hours to a few days.

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Our patient before and after photos are a true representation of the quality of care and natural results we strive for here at Ironwood Dermatology.

*Result may vary from person to person

Why Should You Choose Ironwood Dermatology for BOTOX® Cosmetic Injections in Tucson?

While BOTOX® is among the most common cosmetic procedures offered in the United States, we encourage our patients to discuss any concerns or symptoms at all phases prior to, during, and following their procedure. It is important that patients seek treatment from a trained and licensed medical professional in order to minimize any risks and ensure the best possible results.

Also note that it is important to choose a dermatology office for BOTOX® injections, since many healthcare providers who are not skin specialists choose to become certified injectors. While they may technically be able to administer the injectable, this does not mean they have the talent or experience to provide ideal results. Strongly consider the background and experience of anyone who may be a candidate for injecting neuromodulators. At Ironwood Dermatology, our injectors have a skin focus with specialty training that goes far beyond the necessary basics.

Furthermore, always be sure that the product being used is BOTOX® and not something similar. Dosing and other details are not interchangeable from product to product. Genuine BOTOX® will be identified as such, and no injector should ever substitute another product in its place.

How Much Does BOTOX® Cosmetic Cost?

The cost of a BOTOX® treatment varies depending on the number of treatment areas and other factors, so this detail is best discussed during a personalized consultation.

Which Procedures Complement BOTOX® Cosmetic?

While it is ideal for smoothing out dynamic wrinkles caused by repetitive muscle motion, BOTOX® Cosmetic is not the answer for the static wrinkles that develop due to other factors, such as the effects of gravity or loss of collagen and elastin in the skin. Dermal fillers are more appropriate choices for these wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds, as well as for adding volume to the face to give it more youthful contours. Available hyaluronic acid-based fillers include Juvederm®, Voluma®, and Volbella®—all from the same family, but each with a unique focus for improving specific areas of the face.

Laser skin resurfacing or IPL Photofacial sessions can also complement BOTOX® injections, since muscle relaxers do not reduce the appearance of sun spots or other pigmentation problems, scars, large pores, and other signs of aging and sun damage.

Your treatment plan might include a single procedure or combined treatments, such as BOTOX® paired with specific dermal fillers or laser skin resurfacing. These treatments can work in harmony to create an overall more youthful and healthier look. Talk to the Ironwood Dermatology team about the options available and to discover whether BOTOX® Cosmetic alone or a personalized treatment plan that takes advantage of multiple treatments and techniques is the best choice for delivering ideal results.

Do You Have Questions?

Reach out to Ironwood Dermatology today for more information on BOTOX® Cosmetic in Tucson and Oro Valley. Call us at 520.618.1630 or fill out a contact form to request a consultation.

book a consultation