How does Botox work?
Botox® is delivered by direct injection into the facial muscles that cause wrinkles and furrows. The injectable weakens or paralyzes these muscles or blocks specific nerves, meaning your fine lines and wrinkles show less. Injection sites can be numbed with ice packs or an anesthetic cream but generally require no anesthetic.
How can Botox benefit me?
Botox® relaxes dynamic wrinkles caused by repeated facial movements like squinting and frowning, which can reduce the appearance and pronouncement of these wrinkles.
Botox® is FDA approved for use in individuals 22 years and older for the temporary improvement in the appearance of one or several types of facial lines, including forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Therefore, it is safe if used for the FDA approved uses.
What can I expect from a Botox session?
You’ll be asked to go into the office for an initial consultation, which is meant to determine suitability by assessing the history of prior Botox® injections, muscle relaxants, sleeping aids or allergy medication being taken, pregnancy status or if you’re breast feeding, the wrinkle areas you want to improve, and how many Botox® units you’re going to need. Additionally, the person delivering the injections will disclose potential Botox® side effects after treatment including pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site, headache or flu-like symptoms, eye dryness or excessive tearing, or droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows. These symptoms usually subside on their own within a few days.
One treatment session usually lasts 20 minutes and an anesthetic isn’t usually required. But if you’re concerned about pain during injection, you can request an anesthetic, which might be a topical anesthetic or an ice and vibration anesthetic. Results can be seen in as soon as 48 hours and maintenance is recommended every 2-3 months.
What is the cost of Botox?
A regional search for Botox cost in San Antonio results in a range from about $10 to $15 per unit, where one unit is 1/10 of a 1 mL syringe worth of Botox®. The total cost for a Botox® treatment is based on how many units you need. The total number of units required for a treatment can range anywhere from 10 to 40 units, so you’ll be able to figure out the total cost once you’ve had a consultation with your physician to determine the number of units recommended for you. Just as a reference, the average patient requires about 20 units for a treatment, which using an average per unit price of $12.5 results in a total Botox® treatment cost of $250.
To find out if you’re a good candidate for Botox®, call Cornforth Gynecology and Medspa to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online today.