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One characteristic of the facial aging
process is an imbalance in the relative strength of certain
facial muscles. Depending on the individual, this imbalance
can become apparent in the forehead, around the eyes, oral
commissures (corners of the mouth), and the neck area.
In the forehead, for example, the forehead
elevator muscle (a thin sheath of muscle extending from the
top of the scalp to the eyebrow area) can be overpowered by
depressor muscles situated between the eyebrow and the outer
corner of the eyes.)
The forehead muscle attempts to compensate
by strengthening itself and becoming tenser and thicker. The
overlying skin reflects this tug-of-war situation between
opposing muscle groups by developing horizontal wrinkle lines.
Left unchecked, this process can result in moderate to severe
wrinkling, as well as lower brow position, making the upper
lids seem more full.
Similarly, wrinkles can occur around the
eyes and mouth as opposing muscle groups in these areas develop
muscle tension imbalances. |
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Below the chin, a fibrous tissue sheath
locates and holds muscle tendons tightly against the neck.
Over years, this sheath can thin and weaken dramatically.
Ordinary muscle tension can then cause tendons to drop away
from their proper positions and hang from the neck. This situation
contributes greatly to an aged appearance because of the visible
“bow-string” appearance of thin tendons extending
from just below the chin to the collarbone area.
In all of these instances, Botox can effectively
reverse these effects. Minute injections of Botox protein
result in a weakening - and relaxation - of selected muscle
tissues. In the face, as the injected tissues relax, overlying
skin wrinkles begin to disappear. In the neck, visibly taut
tendons lose their tension and disappear back into surrounding
skin and soft tissues.
Botox is often combined with Restylane
injections (used to erase fine lines) for maximum aesthetic
benefits. And Botox has now received FDA approval for another
use: reducing or eliminating excessive skin sweating.
Initial treatments result in a therapeutic
effectiveness of approximately three months. But the longevity
of Botox therapy increases over time (i.e., the frequency
of necessary treatment decreases) as natural muscle strength
balance is restored and maintained. Complications from Botox
therapy are rare and can be avoided in almost all cases by
proper pre-treatment diagnostics and screening.
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