It may be impossible to avoid lines and wrinkles, but you can take steps to make them much less noticeable. Dr. Robert Dyer and Dr. 
Vincent Criscione, your East Greenwich, RI dermatologists, explain how Botox treatment can help you.
Botox softens wrinkles
Botox injections prevents muscles in your face from contracting by blocking the impulses that travel between your nerves and facial muscles. When you can't frown or make other common facial expressions, the muscles relax, allowing lines and wrinkles to relax and soften. Botox is a toxin that comes from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Since the toxin is purified, it's perfectly safe for cosmetic treatments.
How do doctors use Botox?
Botox is used to:
- Relax the vertical lines between the eyes that can make you look tired
- Improve the appearance of wrinkles around your mouth
- Minimize crow's feet around your eyes
- Smooth horizontal forehead wrinkles
In addition to minimizing lines and wrinkles, Botox is also used to:
- Treat chronic migraines
- Reduce eyelid spasms and severe neck spasms
- Improve the appearance of crossed eyes
- Treat overactive bladder
- Prevent excessive underarm perspiration
What happens during Botox treatment in East Greenwich?
Because the needle used to inject Botox is very thin, injections are not usually painful. Before treatment begins, your doctor will use a local anesthetic and ice packs to numb your skin and increase your comfort. He will then inject small amounts of Botox under your skin in strategic locations. It takes some time for Botox to begin to work, but over the course of the next week, you should see a gradual softening of your wrinkles.
Does Botox offer a permanent solution to lines and wrinkles?
The effects of Botox treatments usually last approximately three to six months. The amount of time you can expect maintain your results varies depending on the area of the face that was treated. If you don't make a follow up appointment, your lines and wrinkles will gradually return.
Botox offers a simple way to improve your appearance. Call Dr. Dyer and Dr. Criscione, your East Greenwich, RI dermatologists, at (401) 471-3376 to find out if you're a good candidate for Botox.