Plastic Surgery Seattle Blog

According to new research from Oregon Health and Science University, you may be able to decrease the frequency of your Botox treatments over time, meaning you’ll still receive the same wrinkle-reducing results, but the overall cost of Botox will decrease.

After using Botox every four months for two years, the injection frequency can be extended to six months while still remaining effective.  A study was conducted by Dr. Roger A. Dailey looked at results from 50 patients undergoing Botox injections for temporary correction of their glabellar lines.

In addition, the research indicates that Botox may have work as a preventive measure against wrinkles.  The study was funded by Allergan Inc.  Read more in the press release from OHSU.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded clearance for Botox this month, allowing the drug to be used as a treatment for spasticity in muscles of the elbow, wrist and fingers. Such conditions occur frequently after a stroke, injury or debilitating disease.

The FDA specified that Botox treatment is not intended to be a substitute for physical therapy or the “usual standard of care rehabilitation regimens.”

Treatment applications for Botox seem to be continually expanding. While the drug is best known for cosmetic purposes — typically the treatment of forehead wrinkles or “frown lines” –there are several therapies now being offered by physicians today. Excessive sweating, cervical dystonia and muscle spasm are just a few of those alternative treatments.

• Botox Cosmetic in Seattle, Washington
• FDA info on botulinum toxin

Is looking better near the top of your list of New Year’s resolutions.  Are fine wrinkles detracting from your appearance?  If so, Botox might be the solution you’re seeking.

By now, you probably know that BOTOX is a highly diluted form of the botulinum toxin used to correct certain facial lines and wrinkles. FDA-approved in 2002, BOTOX injections may be the single most popular non-surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate facial lines, wrinkles and grooves.

Wrinkles emerge over time

Crow’s feet, lines and even deep grooves appear on our faces over the years, the result of our natural expressiveness, lifestyle habits, and the tendency to move our facial muscles in habitual ways. For instance, you may squint a lot (when you’re concentrating, when you’re worried, when the sun is bright, or when you are trying to focus your vision.) As the years go by, this repetitive motion begins to carve lines in your face and can eventually result in a permanent expression of worry or intense concentration.

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Did you know that healthy patients – with a stable weight, who don’t smoke – are far more likely to have successful surgery outcomes? Patients with unhealthy lifestyles face greater risks and complications when they undergo surgery, so in most cases it is wiser for the surgeon to simply decline the procedure.

People who are interested in cosmetic and facial plastic surgery should first go through a sort of ‘lifestyle makeover,’ modifying their habits until they have reached a satisfactory state of health. At our Seattle Plastic Surgery office, we want our patients to get the best experience and outcome possible, so we ask them to focus on being healthy first. The ideal patient refrains from smoking or using illegal drugs, has a stable weight, and realistic expectations about cosmetic surgery.

For more specific information on health and surgery outcomes, contact us for a consultation.

Last March, researchers with the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) sent surveys to 687 patients who had received Botox and/or wrinkle filler treatment. 

The full results are available here via MS word doc; some of the noteworthy findings are as follows:

 - Most patients described themselves as healthy individuals; 95 percent said they incorporated exercise into their lives, and 78 percent cited healthy eating habits.

 - Nearly 70 percent of the respondents who had been treated with Botox also opted for dermal filler treatment.

 - Among survey respondents, the average patient was “a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.

 - 66 percent of the respondents said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year.

 - 72 percent chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines, or ‘angry 11s’ that appear between your eyebrows.  

 - 63 percent of the respondents chose dermal fillers to treat facial wrinkles and folds, mostly the nasolabial folds or ‘smile lines’ that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth. 

 - 87 percent reported that they discussed their treatments with others, and 70 percent said they received support from the people they told.

Medicis Pharmaceutical and the French company Ipsen, have received FDA approval for Dysport, a new wrinkle treatment similar to Botox. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists may have the drug available for cosmetic use in just 30 – 60 days.

Rather than rebranding the drug ‘Reloxin’ as planned, Medicis decided to retain its original European name, Dysport

The April 30th announcement coincided with a 3 percent drop in Allergan’s (maker of Botox) shares, and a 14 percent increase of Medicis’ shares. Analysts and industry professionals expect Dysport to carry a slightly lower price tag than Botox, and say it could capture as much as 30 percent of the current market.

Botox and Dysport both perform the same basic function – neuromuscular blocking to relax and prevent wrinkles. Dysport however, is said to be more diluted than Botox and thus more cost effective for providers. The recent FDA approval of dysport also came with a unique warning label describing the risks associated with the botulinum toxin.

For more information on wrinkle treatments in Washington, see our homepage.