Botox

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT MY BOTOX® CONSULTATION?

At your consultation, you’ll meet with Dr. Brock Ridenour or one of our aesthetic nurse injectors. They will review your facial areas of concern and medical history, listen to your goals and develop a treatment plan. Be sure to let your provider know about any medications you’re taking and any previous surgical procedures or non-surgical treatments. The specialist you meet with will explain the treatment process, answer any questions you may have and help you understand what can realistically be achieved with Botox.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY BOTOX® TREATMENT?

Before your injections, the area will be cleaned. A topical anesthetic may be applied for your comfort if needed. Botox is then administered by a simple injection using a very small needle. A small amount of the product is injected directly into the overactive muscle group. Pain and discomfort are minimal. 

HOW LONG DOES THE BOTOX® PROCEDURE TAKE?

The treatment takes only a few minutes. The duration of your entire visit to our office will likely be less than an hour.

WHAT SHOULD I NOT DO AFTER BOTOX®?

You can immediately resume your usual lifestyle and activities after your Botox injections. However, adhering to the following recommendations of what to avoid can help promote the best Botox results. 

For Three Hours 

Keep your head elevated (don’t lie down) and do not exercise for a minimum of three hours after your treatment. 

For 24 Hours

Avoid exposing yourself to excessive heat, such as using hot tubs, saunas and tanning booths, for the first day. 

For Two Weeks 

Do not rub the treated area or get a head or facial massage for two weeks to avoid spreading the formula to nearby muscles. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS FROM BOTOX®?

Your dynamic wrinkles should smooth out within two to four days of treatment.

HOW LONG DO THE RESULTS OF BOTOX® LAST?

On average, Botox is effective for about four months for patients new to the treatment. Because the wrinkle-causing muscles will lose some strength with each repeat treatment, the duration of your Botox results may increase over time with regular maintenance. 

HOW OFTEN CAN I GET BOTOX®?

Most patients get treatment two to three times per year (every four to six months) to maintain the effects of Botox. You can expect to require Botox treatments less frequently once you’ve been getting them for a while.

Frequently Asked Questions about BOTOX®

HOW MUCH DOES BOTOX COST IN ST. LOUIS, MO? 

The cost of your Botox treatment will depend on how extensive your wrinkles are, how many areas you’d like treated and how many units of Botox are needed to achieve your desired results. On average, Botox costs $10 to $15 per unit, and patients pay an average of $100 to $400 per treatment area. 

At your consultation, we can evaluate your concerns, discuss your treatment plan and provide you with the specific cost of your Botox procedure. 

HOW MANY UNITS OF BOTOX® DO I NEED?

In most cases, patients get 10 to 50 units of Botox at each treatment. Your facial muscles learn to naturally contract less and less with each treatment. Therefore, you will likely need fewer Botox units for each subsequent treatment to achieve your desired results.

WILL I HAVE ANY BOTOX® SIDE EFFECTS AFTER TREATMENT?

Many patients develop small red bumps right after their treatment that last for just 30 minutes. Other minor side effects after Botox may include bruising, redness, headache, dry mouth and discomfort at the injection site. To prevent or reduce the severity of these side effects, we recommend that patients don’t drink alcohol or take blood-thinning medications or supplements in the 24 hours prior to treatment.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I STOP BOTOX® TREATMENT?

There are no known long–term Botox side effects. As a result, after a period of a few months, the treated muscle groups will resume normal function.

WHAT IS A CHEMICAL BROW LIFT?

Botox can also be used to lift the brows upward with what is known as a “chemical brow lift.” This lifting occurs because Botox can reduce the activity of muscle groups that pull “downward” on the face.

DO I NEED BOTOX® OR A SURGICAL BROW LIFT?

While Botox can treat the same wrinkles as a brow lift (frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines), there are some cases where brow lift surgery becomes necessary. If you have significantly drooping eyebrows that hang over your eyes, a surgical brow lift procedure may be needed to achieve the best results. 

DO I NEED BOTOX® OR EYELID SURGERY?

If you have hooding over your eyes, it might be caused by sagging eyebrows and may be treatable with a chemical brow lift using Botox. However, excess tissue, muscle laxity and displaced fat in the upper eyelids may also cause hooded eyes, in which case eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) would be needed. 

If you look in the mirror and lift your eyebrows with your fingers and that corrects your concern, Botox or a brow lift may be needed (the extent of how much lift is needed will determine which is best for you). However, if you lift your eyebrows and you still have sagging over your upper eyelids, eyelid surgery is more likely the procedure for you. At your consultation, we can help determine the ideal procedure(s) for your cosmetic concerns. 

CAN I COMBINE OTHER TREATMENTS WITH BOTOX®?

We also offer Dysport, a similar neuromodulator product to Botox. Dysport may be better suited for some patients, or it may be best for some to combine with Botox. Injectable dermal fillers can add volume to wrinkles in the mid to lower face, and various other skin rejuvenation treatments can help provide you with an overall more refreshed, youthful appearance. 

If you have more dramatic signs of aging, we also offer plastic surgery procedures such as facelift surgery and neck lift surgery.

ADDITIONAL USES FOR BOTOX®

Botox has a host of additional uses that can be helpful to your appearance and lifestyle. Botox can be used to diminish the vertical “bands” in the neck and to turn up the corners of the mouth. It is also used to treat excessive sweating of the hands, feet and armpits (a condition known as hyperhidrosis).