Why Go To an Ophthalmologist For Botox Treatments?

By Orin Zwick, MD

Chesapeake Eye Care & Laser Center

. https://www.chesapeakeeyecare.com/

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Why Go To an Ophthalmologist For Botox Treatments?

With more people seeking a refreshed, youthful look, Botox has become a hot commodity. What people may not realize is the importance of finding a qualified person with experience and training. An interesting, but not well known fact is that ophthalmologists are the most experienced administrators of Botox. For over 20 years, ophthalmologists have been using Botox to treat a variety of eye conditions, including eyelid spasms and eye muscle disorders. When Botox is injected into the eye muscles, it reduces their movement and can be very effective in aligning the eyes. When injected for eyelid spasms, it can help limit the overactive blinking. Patients who were treated for spasms noticed that it also helped soften their wrinkles. This realization led to the use of cosmetic Botox.

So, how does this experience relate to Botox treatments for cosmetic purposes? Botox, a non-surgical cosmetic product, is used to relax the muscles of the face that cause “dynamic wrinkles” which are the result of repetitive muscle movements. Botox works great for treating the “l l” lines between the eyebrows, “crows feet” or “smile lines” and deep forehead lines caused by raising our eyebrows. After numbing the area, Botox is injected into specific target muscles to limit their movement and thereby soften the lines. It is the experience that ophthalmologists, particularly oculoplastic surgeons, have with these complex muscles that sets them apart from other Botox administrators.

What is an oculoplasic surgeon? An oculoplastic surgeon specializes in cosmetic, corrective, and reconstructive surgery of the structures surrounding the eye. These structures include the eyelids, tear ducts and orbit (bony socket surrounding the eye). Oculoplastic surgeons are board-certified ophthalmologists who have completed several years of additional, highly specialized training in plastic surgery. Because of this advanced training, they are especially qualified to assess the impact of the eyelids on the health of the eye. When it comes to cosmetic treatments, such as Botox, having a doctor with this level of expertise and knowledge, is reassuring to people. If you are considering Botox treatments, make sure your doctor has the experience and qualifications to give you the results you want.