Botox in San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland, and Walnut Creek

Dr. Moulton-Barrett offers Botox in Alameda and Brentwood, California. Learn more about how this popular anti-aging treatment can smooth your wrinkles and make you look younger in minutes.

What is Botox?

Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism if consumed in large amounts. Botox causes paralysis by blocking signals from nerves to muscles. Physicians have been taking advantage of this effect in medical treatments since the late 1980s when the FDA first approved Botox for medical use in the eyes. Botox has been used to treat wrinkles since 2002.

Botox is a popular FDA approved non-surgical injection that temporarily reduces or eliminates frown lines, forehead creases, crows feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck. Botox is also a popular option used raise the lateral brow as well as the corner of the lip. Botox works by blocking nerve impulses to the injected muscles, reducing the muscle contraction that causes persistent facial lines (wrinkles) that have developed over time to give the skin a smoother, more refreshed appearance. Studies suggest that Botox is also effective in relieving migraine headaches, excessive sweating and muscle spasms in the neck and eyes.

How Botox Treats Wrinkles

Some wrinkles, like those on the forehead and around the eyes, are caused by the contraction of tiny facial muscles. A certified healthcare provider can inject Botox into these muscles and prevent the muscle contractions, which causes the wrinkles to soften. Botox is commonly used to treat wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes and mouth, and between the eyebrows.

Look Younger in Minutes

A Botox treatment only takes a few minutes and the results can be seen in just a few days. A fine needle is used to inject the Botox into specific facial muscles; the procedure requires no anesthesia and can take place right in your physician’s office. The results from a single Botox treatment will generally last four to six months.

The use of Botox on a regular basis every 4 months, typically 5-6 times in total, may lead to permanent weakness of the muscle which may provide long term wrinkle reduction without the need for continued injections.

After your treatment, you should avoid lying down for three to four hours and you shouldn’t rub the area for at least 12 hours after treatment. This can help prevent side effects, including eyelid drooping. You may experience some temporary bruising or a headache after a Botox treatment, but these side effects generally resolve on their own after a few days.

Deciding if Botox is Right for You

Botox does not reduce the appearance of all types of wrinkles, including those caused by sun damage or gravity. A consultation with Dr. Moulton-Barrett will help you determine if Botox or other anti-aging treatments will produce the results you desire.