BOTOX^®

Smooth Forehead Lines, Frown Lines, Crow’s Feet, and More in Thousand Oaks

Just as repeatedly creasing a piece of cloth in the same place will eventually cause a visible line to form, decades of facial expressions that pull the skin into folds will gradually create etched-in wrinkles. With BOTOX^®, Thousand Oaks’ Dr. Peterson Pierre can keep the muscles responsible for these routine contractions at rest, leading to a more youthful-looking forehead, smoother skin around the eyes, and other benefits.

BOTOX^® is the most commonly chosen cosmetic treatment around the world, with millions of injections helping women and men to achieve the look they want each year. Numerous studies, research papers, and FDA trials, followed by even more years of successful applications to treat a wide range of cosmetic and medical issues, have established BOTOX^® as safe and effective for adults who want to do something about the visible signs of getting older that don’t reflect their age at heart.

How Does BOTOX^® Work?

BOTOX^® is a neuromodulator, which is a technical term for a substance that interferes with the typical transmissions of signals in the body. When the brain sends a signal for a muscle to contract, that message travels through a network of nerves until it arrives and triggers the desired activity. BOTOX^® disrupts that message chain, preventing the muscle from moving—despite it being told to do so.

Since repetitive contractions are responsible for moving the forehead into frequent furrows and other facial folds, keeping specific muscles relaxed is the key to addressing the problem.

Over time, the body metabolizes the active ingredient in BOTOX^®—botulinum toxin—so the targeted muscles will gradually regain their ability to move when they get the signal. Unfortunately, that means lines will also gradually regain their severity.

What Can BOTOX^® Treat?

Some lines appear because aging diminishes healthy facial fat and other important elements, causing the skin to dry out, thin, and loosen. The resulting creases are known as “static wrinkles.”

BOTOX^® is specifically designed to treat a different sign of aging: “dynamic wrinkles.” While skin changes certainly play a role in the development of these lines, the primary culprits are the reliable facial muscles that help with each and every go-to expression. In other words, furrowing your brow gets you the same confused or angry look every time. So does each squint and eyebrow raise.

The FDA has approved BOTOX^® for three cosmetic treatments: smoothing horizontal forehead lines, frown lines (known as “11s”) between the eyebrows, and crow’s feet.

BOTOX^® is also commonly used for a range of what are known as “off label” uses. It can address bunny lines that crinkle the nose, accomplish nasal tip elevation, reduce an overly gummy smile, help to slim the jaw, elevate the corners of the mouth, smooth the chin, address platysmal bands, create a “Nefertiti lift” for improved jawline definition, and lift both the upper lip (a BOTOX^® “lip flip”) and brow.

How Is BOTOX^® Administered?

A BOTOX^® session involves precision injections made directly into the targeted areas. Dr. Pierre offers numbing solutions and other options to patients to make them as comfortable as possible throughout the process.

The details of each injection session will depend on the specific areas being treated. In general, a treatment takes a matter of minutes, with many patients considering it to be a “lunchtime procedure.”

Why Choose Pierre Skin Care Institute for BOTOX^® in Thousand Oaks?

At Pierre Skin Care Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine-trained and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Peterson Pierre personally performs every BOTOX^® injection. His commitment to maximizing safety, comfort, and natural-looking results has earned him the nickname “the gentle injector.”

With every treatment, he works to customize the results so that they do not look overdone, but appear beautifully subtle so patients appear refreshed and rejuvenated. This is especially important with BOTOX^®, which inhibits activity in specific muscles. A thorough understanding of facial anatomy and knowledge of the mechanics of botulinum toxin give Dr. Pierre the ability to deliver a patient’s desired results while still allowing them to freely express any emotion—as opposed to appearing “frozen.”

Dr. Pierre also tailors treatments specifically for men. While women still make up the bulk of patients seeking aesthetic treatments in the United States (and Thousand Oaks), men represent a growing demographic interested in facial rejuvenation. It is not uncommon these days for guys to type “BOTOX^® near me” into search bars in an effort to discover where they can find options for getting a well-rested, less-stressed look. Given the differences between the sexes in terms of skin thickness, muscle density, general facial shape, and more, BOTOX^® injections for men involve specific techniques Dr. Pierre employs in order to effectively generate natural-looking, long-lasting results.

When Do BOTOX^® Results Appear and How Long Do They Last?

Initial results of a BOTOX^® treatment will be apparent a few days after the injection session, when muscle activity begins to slow. The desired skin-smoothing effects can take up to 14 days to fully appear.

Patients typically enjoy three to four months of reduced wrinkles, after which muscles begin to contract normally again. As this freedom of movement returns, so will forehead lines, crow’s feet, and other targeted signs of aging.

A fresh round of injections can be administered so patients can continue to enjoy their more youthful appearance. There is some thought that routine treatments can “train” muscles to sit still, making them less likely to pull skin into such prominent furrows in the future—even when not under the effects of BOTOX^®.

Are There BOTOX^® Side Effects to Watch For?

As with all injectables, BOTOX^® treatments can cause any of several side effects in the targeted area. Expect some initial bruising, redness, tenderness, and swelling wherever BOTOX^® was injected, though choosing an experienced injector like Dr. Pierre minimizes both the risk of these effects and their duration if they do develop. In any case, redness, swelling, and more should resolve on its own in a matter of hours.

There are other rare but serious complications to consider with BOTOX^® injections. Dr. Pierre will cover these at your initial consultation, as well as answer any questions you may have about the treatment, his qualifications and experience, expected results, and more.

What Treatments Are Available to Complement BOTOX^®?

While BOTOX^® is ideal for signs of aging related to muscle activity, static wrinkles—such as nasolabial folds—are best addressed with dermal fillers. These injectables are also appropriate for adding volume in the mid-face, which can flatten or become hollow over time.

Loss of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin over time can also cause fine lines to form. Cosmetic dermatology options to correct these lines include laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels, as well as collagen-inducing microneedling.

Issues with pigment, such as brown spots or redness, require a different strategy, such as intense pulsed light (IPL) or Cutera^® Excel V and Laser Genesis.

Many of these options can be combined in various ways for a holistic approach to treating facial aging, with each unique application addressing a specific condition. The ultimate result is a face that appears wholly rejuvenated.