BOTOX® Cosmetic for frown and worry lines is the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the industry according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). BOTOX® Cosmetic is very often the first cosmetic procedure Orange County patients try and has become the leading non-surgical cosmetic procedure in patient satisfaction.

What are wrinkle relaxing injections?

Doctors have used wrinkle relaxing injections in medical practice for over 15 years for treatment of muscle spasticity and facial spasms and over 12 years for the treatment of lines, wrinkles and furrows.

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?

Acetylcholine is a chemical “messenger” produced in our nerves to stimulate the muscles to contract. BOTOX® Cosmetic reduces the release of acetylcholine therefore reducing muscle contraction. This contraction reducing action on the muscle is never permanent and wears off in several months.

BOTOX® Orange County Before and After Patient C

View Before & Afters

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work to reduce facial lines?

Many facial lines are caused by repeated use of the facial muscles of expression e.g. squinting and frowning. By reducing the amount of facial muscle movement the lines can be softened.

Injections are placed directly into the muscles, temporarily putting them to “sleep’” for a period of three to six months. The aim of the treatment is to break the habit of frowning or squinting and thus reduce the appearance of the lines and also reduce the development of further facial lines.

After your treatment it will take 2-3 days for the effects to start to be seen reaching its maximum effect at 7-10 days. The treatment may last from to 3-6 months, on average 4 months. With ongoing treatment the effects may last longer.

Occasionally you may require a top-up injection at two weeks if the muscle is not adequately relaxed. It is always better to inject a conservative amount and add more if required. BOTOX® Cosmetic will make it difficult to frown and squint and therefore reduce facial lines However if you try very hard you will be able to move the muscles a little. This does not mean the treatment has not worked.

If you’d like to speak with our experienced staff, call the office or request a call back through our online callback form. We’re happy to explain how BOTOX® Cosmetic is used for far more than frowns or worry lines.

Are there any side effects?

The side effects are minimal and all are temporary. The injections may sting very slightly but they are not painful. Other side effects are minimal redness and swelling at the injection sites that usually disappears after an hour or so. There is also a small risk of bruising at the injections sites. You may experience transient headache and numbness at the treatment sites.

There is a very small risk of eyelid drooping (ptosis) and slight puffiness following treatment. In the unlikely event that this occurs, it is always temporary and usually settles after 2-3 weeks. The incidence of ptosis is about 2% but always ask your practitioner what problems they have had with treatments as this will differ between doctors.

After several treatments, very rarely some Orange County patients become resistant to the drug and it no longer works effectively.

Are you ready to improve your appearance?

Request a consultation

How does it work?

BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment does not eliminate normal facial expressions when properly injected. Dr. Sikorski has experience with thousands of BOTOX® Cosmetic injections. The key to natural-looking results is dependent upon injection technique and the correct amount of product injected. Fully understanding underlying muscle structure is especially important in precisely placing BOTOX® Cosmetic. As a facial cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Sikorski has specialized insight into anatomy and how each muscle in a group interacts with another.

Natural Image_Botox_Image_Blonde with red lipstick

Treatment Procedure

Location of the injections will be determined by examining your ability to move certain muscles in the selected area. The location, size, and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly among individuals so each patient’s facial muscle structure must be mapped individually.

No anesthesia is required, although you may choose to have the area numbed with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Most Orange County patients compare the sensation to a pin prick and treatment takes only a few minutes.

You may resume normal activity immediately. You may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and could last up to 5 months. After that, the muscle action returns. When frown lines reappear, a repeat treatment is necessary to regain the results.

How to lower the incidence of bruising

Generally bruising is not experienced, but the possible incidence of bruising can be decreased by avoiding the following for 10 days prior to BOTOX® Cosmetic injections:

  • Aspirin
  • Motrin or Ibuprofen
  • Vitamin E
  • Green Tea

These products thin the blood and make bruising more common. Post treatment ice packs further the potential for injection related bruising. These guidelines apply not only to BOTOX® Cosmetic but to all injectable fillers as well.

Are there any side effect?

Side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic are minimal, with slight discomfort upon injection of the solution. This may be minimized by the use of Emla cream one hour prior to the injection but most patients need no anesthesia at all. Bruising at the site of injection may occur but is not common. One percent of patients in the Orange County area develop a slight lowering or ptosis of one eyelid and, also rarely, asymmetry of facial expression. These effects are temporary and may not even be

Dr. Sikorski Headshot
Your consultation visit

You’ll enjoy a relaxing visit to our office where you can ask questions, meet our staff, take a tour of our office and surgical suite and view additional photo results of our Orange County patients.

Your consultation assessment is with Dr. Sikorski, not an impersonal or commissioned sales person. Fees and procedure preparations are discussed with our patient coordinator, who will detail the surgical experience with you.

We look forward to meeting with you and helping you find the simplest solution to achieve the goals you desire. Contact Natural Image OC for a Botox consultation in the Orange County area. Call (949) 448-0487.