Since 2002, millions of women and men have used Botox® to reduce the severity of their frown lines in order to gain a more youthful appearance.  Botox® is a neuromodulating protein that decreases the stimulation of muscles by the nerves.  When injected in key places, the movement of facial muscles is reduced, which results in a decrease in lines.

Although the FDA approved Botox® specifically to treat the lines between the eyebrows, many practicing physicians use the drug for “off-label” treatments that conceptually work by the same principal.  Dermatologists and plastic surgeons have successfully used Botox® to treat crow’s feet and forehead lines.  The treatment of all three of these areas at the same visit can also result in a reshaping and lifting of the brows.

Dr. Lupo believes the first step to creating a natural, younger-looking face is to take a global approach to facial rejuvenation: look at the face as a whole to determine which treatment(s) will work best for each patient. While Botox® is typically used on the upper one-third of the face, treating the lower two-thirds of the face with this product is another “off-label” way to improve lines and reshape the face.

There are several ways that Botox® can reduce the lines around the mouth, lower face and jaw line. Botox® can be injected into the fine lines around the mouth to reduce lipstick lines. It can also be injected into key areas to reduce the downward pull of certain muscles, which results in a lift to the corners of the mouth. The masseter muscle (the muscle used when chewing) can become enlarged for certain ethnic groups or when people grind their teeth. This results in a squared jaw shape that is not as feminine as an oval or heart-shaped face. Injecting Botox® into the masseter muscle can soften and reshape a squared face. When Botox® is injected into the platysma muscle (the muscle that runs from the jaw line to the collarbone), it can lift the lower face and improve jaw line definition.

Botox® can also help with lines on the nose and improve a smile. The muscle on each side of the nose can be injected to eliminate the bunny lines on the nose that are visible when some people frown, squint or even smile. When Botox® is injected into a muscle near the nose, a gummy smile (where too much gums show at full smile) can be improved.

Dr. Lupo has also used Botox® to treat redness, flushing, rosacea, acne, scars and seborrheic dermatitis. Dr. Lupo is a Platinum Plus injector in the Botox® Cosmetic Network and has been chosen by Allergan to teach other aesthetic physicians proper Botox injection technique® to ensure great results that look natural.

Dysport® is an alternative to Botox® that was FDA approved in 2009.  The Lupo Center uses both Botox® and Dysport®, and after an evaluation, we can determine which product is best for each patient.