BOTOX 101

What is Botox?

Botulinum toxin (BoNT), often shortened to Botox, is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing flaccid paralysis. The toxin is also used commercially for medical and cosmetic purposes. Botox injections are noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles in cosmetics. Injection of botulinum toxin into the muscles under facial wrinkles causes relaxation of those muscles, resulting in the smoothing of the overlying skin. In cosmetic applications, botulinum toxin is considered relatively safe and effective for reduction of facial wrinkles, especially in the uppermost third of the face. Botox has been in existence and has safely been used for over 20 years. Botox cosmetic from Allergan was the first drug to use botulinum toxin. Other commercial forms are marketed under the brand names Dysport/Azzalure from Galderma and Ipsen, Xeomin/Bocouture from Merz, and Jeuveau from Evolus, manufactured by Daewoong. Each is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage units, so they aren’t interchangeable. How Long do wrinkle smoothing treatments last? In general, muscle relaxing treatments last about 3-4 months. There will certainly be patients in which in lasts longer, in that 4–6-month range, or shorter, in that 2-month range.

What areas does botox treat?

While BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) is only FDA-approved for only 3 areas- moderate to severe forehead lines, lateral canthal lines, and/or glabellar lines, it is usually applied to multiple areas of the face and neck for wrinkle reduction.

Common other areas for its use are:

Forehead Wrinkles: Forehead wrinkles are one of the first facial features to show signs of aging. Since they are difficult to hide, they are one of the most common areas for Botox.

Forehead Frown Lines (11’s): The lines that appear on your forehead between the eyebrows or popularly known as the “11’s” when you frown are also called forehead frown lines. If not treated, these lines can progressively get deeper. These lines can make you look tired, upset, or angry. Botox reduces the depth of these lines.

Brow Lift: A Botox brow lift is a procedure that gives a temporary lift to the eyebrows through strategic use of a neurotoxin.

Crow’s Feet: These are the small, fine lines that extend from the corners of your eyes when you laugh or smile.

Bunny Lines: Bunny lines refer to the fine lines that appear on either side of your nose when you wrinkle it. Like many types of facial wrinkles, bunny lines are caused by repeating certain facial expressions.

Gummy Lines: A gummy smile is one that shows more of your gumline than you’d prefer. It’s also known as excessive gingival display. This occurs in patients with dynamic upper lip muscles.

Smoker’s Lines: Also known as perioral lines or ‘barcode’ lines, these are the little vertical above the upper lip that run vertically downward into the lip. One may not necessarily be a smoker to have the appearance of smoker’s lines on their faces. A small amount of Botox can treat these lines that appear when you purse your lips. They can appear due to overuse of straws, those who whistle or generally purse their lips a lot. Improvement of these lines can help your lipstick or foundation sit better in this area.

Lip Flip: A Lip flip is the use of botulinum toxin injections to relax the muscles around the mouth (the orbicularis oris muscle), causing the upper lip to roll up and outward. This is for those who want more “show” of the lip, without actually plumping it with fillers.

Marionette Lines & Corners of The Mouth: These lines run vertically between the corners of the mouth and chin, which can also create sagging in the lower half of your face. Marionette lines get their name from marionette string puppets, which are known for having split jaws so puppeteers can help them talk. The skin around your mouth is particularly prone to wrinkling because it’s thinner compared with the rest of your face. These lines are best treated with a combination of a muscle relaxer and fillers.

Dimpled Chin: A dimpling on the chin occurs because the muscle underneath is contracting too much. Muscle relaxers stop the contraction of the muscle, resulting in a smoother chin.

Neck Bands: Neck bands or cords appear when the platysma muscles begin to sag. Once Botox is injected, it causes these muscles to relax and makes the appearance of neck bands less visible. Botox for the neck area also relaxes the muscles of the jawline, giving you a neck lift. One thing to keep in mind is that neck fat will not respond to Botox treatment.

Other Areas That Botox Treats That Are Non-Wrinkle Related

Botox for Migraines: Botox for migraines has been FDA approved since 2010. Injections may include: Bridge of your nose, temples, or forehead, your neck, the back of your head and the area above your shoulder blades, depending on type and severity of your symptoms. Most patients respond best after at least 2 sessions. Results are evident within 1-2 weeks after the injection, and can last for upwards of three months.

Botox for TMJ: Commonly known as TMJ, the temporomandibular joint connects your jawbone and scull. Chronic pain and disorders result from injury or trauma, inflammation, arthritis, or overuse due to aging or teeth grinding. Botox reduces TMJ pain by reducing tension in the jaw, relaxing muscles for ease of movement, and relieving associated headaches. Injections may be injected into your jaw, temple, or forehead.

Botox for Masseters: Most people don’t associate their jawline with aging or any sort of cosmetic concern. When we think of an aged-face, we think of wrinkles. A desirable female face tends to be the widest around the eyes and the narrowest near the jaw and chin. As we get older, our faces square off or become wider at the jawline. This is often thought of as delicate, oval-shaped and smoothly contoured. The masseter is located on both sides of your jaw as a rectangular-shaped muscle in your face and jaw and is one of the primary muscles of chewing. This muscle works just like another other muscle in the body. It can be “worked out” and can “bulk up.” The more the masseter muscle “exercises” and contracts, the bigger the muscle gets. This can leave someone with an over-developed muscle and a less desirable square face. It can be bulked up from decades of chewing, grinding their teeth (bruxism), clenching their jaw, or dental problems. Certain habits like frequent and excessive gum chewing can also accentuate masseter size over time. Some ethnicities e.g., Koreans, the Chinese, and other southeast Asians who seem to be genetically predisposed to a thicker masseter and shorter, wider faces. These injections weaken the injected muscle over time. Within a week or two, most patients notice their jawline feels softer when they bite down and touch it. A more rounded jawline is usually noticeable within six weeks. Masseter muscle injections should be repeated every 3 to 6 months to maintain the result. However, after multiple sessions, upkeep can be spaced out to 9-to-12-month intervals. Excessive Sweating: Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating even without the usual triggers of exercise, heat or stress. Those who suffer this condition may sweat up to five times more than the average person, making daily activity uncomfortable, embarrassing, and stressful. Botox injected into the underarm can bring sweating back to normal levels, and is life changing for those with this disorder. Treatment areas can also include the forehead, upper lip, groin, or back.

To book or learn more, call 469-809-1991 for a complementary consultation.

To view ongoing deals, please visit Sleek-aesthetics.com

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT INJECTOR

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT INJECTOR

The aesthetic world has grown exponentially, especially post pandemic. Global market for Aesthetic Services estimated at US$16.4 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$23.3 Billion by 2026. Growing wealth of citizens and rising pressure to maintain physical appearance in a social media dominated world are prompting individuals to opt for various surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatment services. Nowadays, it seems like every corner has a spa offering cosmetic services.

While most cosmetic services are usually harmless with minimal side effects, a lot of things could go wrong, especially with filler injections to the face, the worst one being the risk of blindness. While relatively rare, choosing the right injector is key. While your final filler results are dependent on multiple factors, they could heavily dependent on your injector. Getting the right person can make all the difference between getting the results you want versus. the results you don’t.

Important factors to look for while choosing your injector:

Education & Training

Ongoing training is essential for anyone performing any injection procedures. The industry safety standards change all the time, and your injector should be keeping up with what’s new. May it be an MD, NP, PA or any other professional who is injecting across the country, make sure that you ask your potential injector if they do any ongoing training on existing products and on new products. Also ask about their injecting history. Do not be intimidated to discuss this with your provider as this could save you a big deal of headache, and potential health risks. A good injector will keep up with industry trainings, and will happily address your question. You are spending a lot of money on the cosmetic services. Let it be your money’s worth.

A Good Listener

A good injector will listen to the patient’s needs before ever treating. Education is key. Your needs ought to be discussed in full, the procedure, side effects if any, and expectations, or any other questions you might have. This is the opportunity to gauge how you feel about the provider-Do you trust that they will deliver the results you are asking for-Do you understand everything you need to know about the procedure? Do you understand post care instructions? Do you understand follow up treatment needs, financial commitment, etc. these are some critical questions you need to ask of your provider before ever committing to a procedure. Chose a provider that uses a conservative approach and build on it, rather than an excessive initial approach. Every patient needs to be heard and understood by their providers before they can commit to any treatments. You are trusting this person to alter your face or body, so trust is critical. After all, the way I see it, it’s a journey between the patient and provider as aging progresses, with treatment plans having to be altered or tweaked with time.

Experience

Nowadays, with the era of social media, it is easier to vet an injector’s work. Do you like their work? Discuss your injector’s experience and how long they have been successfully injecting. The more experience, the better. Also ask about bad responses to their treatments and how they dealt with it. Make sure that they are available after the treatment and have an emergency protocol in place in case you need to reach them after clinic hours. Also check their online portfolios and reviews.

Price

We all like a deal! However, when it comes to procedures that involve skill and altering your face and body, going for the cheapest price is not a wise way to choose your injector. In fact, a good injector’s price will probably be higher than the average pricing. This is because advanced injectable training costs a lot of money and time. Cosmetic procedures are also extremely expensive, even from the manufactures. Legislation requirements of an injectable business requires having a lot in place, e.g., overseeing medical directors in most states like Texas, thus driving up the cost, not to mention the cost of licensing for higher educated professionals like nurse practitioners. You are paying for high-level expertise and quality of care. More than likely, practitioners who are willing to offer deep discounts are usually the ones who are brand new and trying to build a clientele or make a quick buck with no thought to the end result. Injectors who are experienced are more than worth the price they charge.

10 Red flags to look out for when choosing an injector

1) Won’t answer questions.

2) Appears rushed to treat.

3) Does not discuss treatment plan & financial expectations

4) The treatment room is dirty.

5) Pressuring you to do a procedure you are not comfortable with.

6) Does not have an emergency protocol in place.

7) Over-injects in one sitting.

8) Offers to inject in non-medical environments.

9) Pricing is too good to be true.

10) Their own faces are overfilled.

To book or learn more, call 469-809-1991 for a complementary consultation.

To view ongoing deals, please visit Sleek-aesthetics.com

BUTT Enhancement

AN EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL PEEL FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

BBL, or Brazilian Butt Lift, is a cosmetic procedure that involves removing fat from one or more areas of the body and transferring it to the buttocks in order to enhance their shape and size. There are two main approaches to performing BBL: surgical and non-surgical.
Are Surgical BBL’s a Thing of The Past?
The main difference between surgical and non-surgical BBL is the level of invasiveness of the procedure.

Surgical BBL

Surgical BBL is performed under general anesthesia and involves making incisions in the skin to extract fat from donor sites such as the abdomen, back, or thighs, and then injecting the fat into the buttocks to achieve the desired volume and contour. This procedure requires a longer recovery time and carries more risks associated with surgical anesthesia and post-operative wound healing.

Non-Surgical BBL

On the other hand, non-surgical BBL uses injectable fillers, such as hyaluronic acid or Sculptra, to add volume to the buttocks. This procedure is less invasive and typically involves minimal downtime, with patients able to return to their normal activities the same day. However, the results of non-surgical BBL are typically less dramatic and temporary compared to surgical BBL, as the fillers are gradually absorbed by the body over time and require repeat treatments to maintain the desired outcome.

It’s important to note that both surgical and non-surgical BBL carry potential risks and side effects, and should only be performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon or cosmetic provider. Patients considering BBL should also carefully evaluate their options and goals, and have a clear understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of each approach.

TRENDs...

The only reason BBLs are now losing their popularity is due to celebrities appearing to ditch the look, causing the pendulum to swing away from it all.

At Sleek Aesthetics, we specialize in non-surgical BBL’s where we go for a subtle but fulfilling results with little to no downtime.
To Learn more or Book your complementary consultation, call 469-809-1991.
Visit sleek-aesthetics to view ongoing promos.

10 BENEFITS OF DERMAPLANING

AN EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL PEEL FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

Dermaplaning is a cosmetic procedure that involves using a scalpel or a special tool to remove dead skin cells and vellus hair (also known as peach fuzz) from the surface of the skin. During the procedure, a trained esthetician or dermatologist will gently scrape the blade over the skin in small, quick motions, which removes the dead skin cells and hair.

Dermaplaning is often done on the face, but it can also be done on other parts of the body.

10 BENEFITS OF DERMAPLANING

  • Exfoliation: Dermaplaning provides a deeper level of exfoliation than most other methods, which can help to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores.
  • Smoother skin: By removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz, the skin can look and feel smoother.
  • Improved texture: Dermaplaning can help to improve the texture of the skin, making it look and feel softer and more supple.
  • Better product absorption: By removing the dead skin cells and peach fuzz, skincare products can penetrate the skin more effectively, leading to better results.
  • Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles: Dermaplaning can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a more youthful appearance.
  • Brighter skin: By removing dead skin cells, dermaplaning can help to reveal brighter, fresher-looking skin.
  • Even skin tone: Dermaplaning can help to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and other skin discoloration.
  • Non-invasive: Dermaplaning is a non-invasive procedure that doesn’t require any needles, lasers, or other invasive techniques.
  • Minimal downtime: There is typically no downtime after a dermaplaning procedure, which means you can resume your normal activities right away.
  • Safe for all skin types: Dermaplaning is generally safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin. However, it’s important to consult with a professional to ensure that it’s safe for your specific skin type and any underlying conditions you may have.