Non-Surgical Injectables Botox®

When you smile or frown, your facial muscles move to make the expression and cause creases around your eyes, forehead, or mouth. Once you stop making the expression, the muscles relax, and your skin smooths out. However, when this happens over and over again for years, these repetitive muscle movements can lead to visible wrinkles. That’s where Botox® comes in to relax your facial muscles.

What is Botox®?

Botox® is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments. It’s a convenient, anti-aging injectable that smooths out dynamic wrinkles (wrinkling that occurs during muscle contraction). Botox® is the brand name of a type of neurotoxin called botulinum toxin. Other neuromodulator brands have the same active ingredient and work very similarly.

Though Botox® Cosmetic is the most well-known, Botox® was originally a medical treatment and is still used for therapeutic purposes. Botox® can treat migraines, hyperhidrosis, muscle spasms, and more.

Because it works by relaxing the facial muscles, Botox® Cosmetic primarily treats dynamic wrinkles caused by facial expressions.

Botox® can treat: 

  • Frown lines (“elevens” between your brows)
  • Worry lines and horizontal forehead wrinkles
  • Sagging eyebrows
  • Crow’s feet 
  • Smile lines

Watch library.

Types of Neurotoxins

There are several brands of botulinum toxin injectables, each with slightly different formulas. We offer Botox®, Dysport®, and Jeuveau® at the Langdon Center to ensure we have the best neuromodulator option for each patient. While Botox® is the most common, some patients may benefit from one of our other options.

Dysport® is most effective for glabellar lines between your eyebrows. It may spread more than Botox®, making it ideal for larger areas like the forehead instead of small, specific areas. Some patients see faster results with Dysport®, typically lasting three to four months.

This neuromodulator is a fairly new addition to the market, sometimes called “NewTox.” Jeuveau® is ideal for forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Like Dysport®, it may show results slightly quicker than Botox®.

Frequently Asked Questions

Neuromodulators like Botox® are therapeutic muscle-relaxing agents. The botulinum toxin temporarily blocks signals between your nerves and targeted muscles, preventing repetitive movements. Your skin smooths out as the treated facial muscles relax, and dynamic wrinkles soften.

Botox® treatments are a simple injection process that typically takes just a few minutes. Dr. Langdon is well-known for his gentle technique that minimizes bruising. The injection needle is very small, so discomfort is minimal. You’ll likely feel only a quick pinching sensation, or you can request an anesthetic (numbing) cream, making the treatment nearly painless!

One of the things that makes Botox® so convenient is that it requires no downtime and has minimal side effects. Following treatment, patients usually return to their jobs and normal activities immediately. Most people have only minor swelling at the injection site that disappears within one hour. 

You should avoid exercise, heavy lifting, and pressure on the injected area for one day. Strenuous exercise can increase swelling, and touching the treatment area may cause the Botox® to spread, affecting your results.

Patients usually see the full effects of Botox® Cosmetic treatments three to eight days following the procedure. As the neurotoxin takes effect, the treated muscles will relax, and dynamic wrinkles will soften. Botox® results normally last for three to four months, and many patients enjoy longer-lasting effects with repeat treatments.

The effects of Botox® gradually wear off after a few months, and dynamic wrinkles reappear, though they often are not as deep or visible as they were before treatment. To sustain smooth skin and a youthful look, we typically recommend three or four Botox® treatments a year. By returning for repeat treatments, you may need fewer injections in the future to maintain young-looking skin. 

You can try one of our other neuromodulators if you’re no longer seeing ideal results with Botox®. Neurotoxins are often paired with dermal fillers for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Botox® is typically most effective for adults under the age of 75. It can help prevent wrinkles in younger patients or smooth out existing dynamic wrinkles in middle-aged patients. Ideal candidates are healthy overall, have realistic expectations, and aren’t pregnant or nursing.

Because many wrinkles in people over 75 are considered “static” (present even without muscle contraction) and will not improve as much when the muscles are relaxed, we may recommend other procedures to target static wrinkles, such as CO2 laser resurfacing or a facelift. Because each patient is unique, a consultation is the best way to determine an effective treatment plan.

Take the next step.

To learn more about Botox® or to schedule your consultation with Board-Certified Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Langdon, please fill out the form on this page or call The Langdon Center at (203) 453-8625. We look forward to working with you! The Langdon Center serves patients in the Guilford & New Haven, CT areas.