Botox®
It’s hard to believe but it’s been over 25 years since Botox was first approved for use in the US! It has stood the test of time as an effective, non-invasive, and safe treatment to reduce and prevent lines and wrinkles. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Botox Lone Tree and Botox Denver is the cornerstone of cosmetic dermatology. In fact, it’s the number one non-surgical cosmetic treatment performed by dermatologists in Colorado and the entire US.
Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) contains tiny amounts of botulinum toxin protein. It is used to improve lines and wrinkles on the face that can make patients look tired, angry, or older. Botox is one of the most extensively studied cosmetic treatments and is approved for cosmetic use throughout the world.
Many wrinkles on the face are caused by repetitive contraction of facial muscles. Botox works by temporarily relaxing specific facial muscles, which leads to a softening and smoothing of wrinkles.
Botox is most commonly used on the upper face to smooth and relax facial lines. Vertical frown lines (the “11’s”), horizontal forehead lines, and crow’s feet around the eyes all respond well. Precise injections at the tail of the eyebrow can give a brow lift. Botox is also used to reduce vertical lip lines, raise the corners of the mouth, and relax muscle bands in the neck.
While each patient is unique, the average duration of treatment is typically 3-4 months. In some patients, the effects of Botox can last up to 6 months or longer.
All Botox and filler injections in our Lone Tree office are administered by Dr. Richard Ort, a board-certified, Harvard-trained dermatologist. In the interest of patient safety, we do not employ a nurse or other staff to perform these treatments. Dr. Ort has a conservative approach and is committed to achieving the best results while still staying within your budget. The goal is to soften lines and wrinkles without looking overdone or frozen. Dr. Ort will carefully analyze your face and make a treatment plan that is tailored to you.
Dr. Ort believes that these treatments should NOT be painful and should NOT typically cause bruising. We ice the skin before every injection to minimize discomfort. Injections are delivered precisely using gentle technique and tiny (32 gauge) needles. Extra care is taken to avoid visible veins to minimize bruising. Most patients comment that they have never had such a comfortable treatment!
Yes! We commonly use two alternative products, Xeomin and Dysport, both of which are FDA-approved. These products provide similar cosmetic benefits as Botox. They represent a great option for our patients.
Many of our patients prefer to use Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA). Unlike Botox, Xeomin is a “naked toxin”, meaning that it contains only the active botulinum toxin and does not contain the accessory proteins which are bound to the toxin. Some people who undergo Botox treatment may rarely build up antibodies against the accessory proteins, causing the product to become less effective over time. Xeomin is ultra-purified to remove the accessory proteins, which may decrease the risk of developing antibodies to the product.
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is another great alternative to Botox. Our positive experience with Dysport suggests that it is slightly stronger and longer-lasting than the other products. Many patients have found that they can stretch out their treatments a bit longer with Dysport. Our staff almost always request Dysport for their own treatments!
Botox is one of the less expensive treatments offered at our practice. Botox is often the place where patients start in their cosmetic journey. We participate with the manufacturer patient reward programs for Botox, Xeomin, and Dysport to help lower costs for our patients.
Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) is a newer product which may provide longer-lasting results in some patients. However, Daxxify is more expensive than Botox. It remains to be seen whether Daxxify will provide a good value for our patients. There are other new products on the horizon and we will evaluate these as they become available.
We commonly use Botox in our Lone Tree office to treat hyperhidrosis of the armpits, palms, or soles. This can provide dramatic relief and reduce the embarrassment of excess sweating and wetness. This treatment truly works with results that last about six months.
Botox has been safely used in millions of people over the last 25+ years. With proper physician oversight, Botox is one of the safest medicines used in cosmetic dermatology. As with all medical treatments, side effects can rarely occur. The risk of a serious side effect from cosmetic Botox treatment is extremely low. We recommend that you review our consent form prior to your treatment.
Most of our thousands of Botox patients come from local communities such as Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Littleton, Cherry Creek, Castle Rock, Greenwood Village, Colorado Springs, and Denver. Some Botox patients come from Vail, Steamboat Springs and other mountain towns. We’ve had people fly in for Botox and filler treatment from all over the country including California, Texas, Florida, and New York!
