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11119 Rockville Pike
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Rockville, MD 20852
301-984-3376
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Botox Myths and Facts

Botox has now overtaken Viagra to become the world’s – and the Internet’s – most publicly recognized medical treatment.
Did you know that, in addition to the much-advertised wrinkle-smoothing effects of Botox, it is approved to treat many non-cosmetic conditions? These include cerebral palsy and neck spasms (cervical dystonia) as well as lazy eye, overactive bladder, excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), and migraines.
The primary action of Botox is to relax overactive muscles. Its safety and effectiveness have been documented over the past 40-plus years.
When Botox is used for wrinkle-smoothing, it rebalances facial muscles that have become overactive with age. There are now other treatments that work in the same way – Dysport, Xeomin, Jeaveau (Newtox) and Daxxify. The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes board certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and oculoplastic surgeons as the core four aesthetic specialists who are qualified through their training and knowledge to be performing all cosmetic procedures including treatment with Botox and these other wrinkle relaxers.
Many more men and women than we may realize are having Botox treatment these days. In 2020, between 4-5 million injections were carried out worldwide, and this number rises every year. When performed properly, Botox should look completely natural and never give you a “frozen face.” and weirdly shaped eyebrows. Good Botox is undetectable; it’s usually only when someone has a bad or unnatural result that we actually realize they’ve had it!
The key to natural-looking results is to consult an expert. The most expert doctors are national and international teachers at dermatology and plastic surgery academies and researchers for the clinical trials that bring new treatments to our country. Here are some important points that are useful for anyone considering Botox:
1. Understand the Science
As we age, some of our facial muscles become unbalanced. The wrinkles that result can send signals that we don’t intend. Frown lines between the eyebrows make us look angry, lines across our forehead communicate worry, and a sagging mouth or neck can look sad. With expert technique, tiny amounts of Botox, Dysport or other wrinkle relaxers are precisely placed just beneath the skin to give a smoother, more harmonious appearance. This must be done with an exact understanding of your facial anatomy and structure. When expertly performed, you will barely feel the injections, and will have little or no bruising. Patients can return immediately to regular activities with no sign of having had treatment. On average, it takes 5-7 days to see the results.
2. See the Whole Picture
When you receive advanced Botox from a true expert, they aren’t just smoothing individual lines or wrinkles, but understand how to go beyond this to reshape your whole face and restore youthful contours, tighter pores and a beautiful skin glow. You will still look like yourself, just more like you did when you were years or even decades younger.
For instance, if your eyebrows have dropped and flattened, making your eyelids heavier, a little Botox in the right places can lift and subtly shape your brows. This adds definition and sparkle to your eyes.
Expert treatment is the key to making you look better without anyone realizing you have had anything done. Ironically, many celebrities who are criticized for being “over-Botoxed” are really victims of over-done surgery, whereas many who are most admired for their beauty, or for aging gracefully, look this good because they are having regular treatments with Botox, fillers and other non-surgical rejuvenation.
3. The Power Of Combination
A key strategy is combining Botox with natural fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma and Sculptra, and state-of-the-art lasers for lifting and tightening like Ulthera, Fraxel or Exilis Ultra. This can achieve a scar-free, more natural-looking, non-surgical rejuvenation that prevents you from ever having to go under the knife.
Advanced techniques can stimulate your skin to produce new collagen and elastin. This lifts and tightens it from within to give longer-lasting results.
4. Looking Good in the Long Term
Many of these treatments require maintenance. This is a good thing as your dermatologist or plastic surgeon can adjust your treatments to fit your face as you age. You will always look completely natural, and may even be told that you never seem to age! Maintenance treatment not only smooths out your wrinkles, it also prevents them from deepening.
A doctor with a European-style approach may be especially focused on giving you results that look as natural and undetectable as possible.
When comparing pricing, make sure you know how well-qualified your doctor is, and that the Botox is not over-diluted. It is a false economy to pay less for bad Botox, or for diluted treatment that won’t last as long as it should.
Select a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with years of experience who can individualize your treatment to address your own unique patterns of facial aging. The most expert doctors are actively involved in cutting-edge teaching, research and public education. This is the real secret to achieving the best results and looking as good on the outside as you feel inside.
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