Botox® in Jacksonville, FL

Conveniently located in Jacksonville, Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, led by double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Phillip Garcia, uses Botox® cosmetic as our top choice for eliminating wrinkle lines. Botox® works differently from fillers, such as Radiesse® and Juvéderm®. Rather than filling in wrinkles, Botox® temporarily relaxes underlying muscles, restricting the facial expression movements that cause hyperdynamic lines (wrinkles) to form. Botox® is injected by our nurse practitioner to residents of Ponte Vedra Beach, Orange Park, Lakeside and nearby areas in North Florida.

Botox® in Jacksonville, FL

What is Botox®?

Botox® cosmetic is the purified form of Botulinum toxin Type A, produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum. But don’t let those words scare you. Botox® is proven to be safe when used as directed by a board-certified plastic surgeon or physician and is approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles.

Don’t buy into the common misconception that you’ll end up with a “frozen” face. Botox® doesn’t freeze your face at all, but simply prevents certain muscle groups from overacting and creating folds in your facial skin. Botox® is simple to administer and causes minimal discomfort, while yielding maximal results in three to six days after injection. Skin-smoothing results last up to three months with Botox®.

The aim of Botox® cosmetic is to eliminate wrinkle lines by temporarily relaxing the underlying muscles.

When small doses of Botox® are injected into a muscle, so as to temporarily relax it, there is interference in the action of the muscle, making folds and wrinkles become much less noticeable.

Botox® cosmetic has a usual duration of action of three to four months.

Before we go any further:

Find a mirror and look into it closely. You will find that at rest, you have few, if any, wrinkles and that your facial skin may actually look good. Now raise your eyebrows or frown, or smile, or squint your eyes. You now see that there are lines developing that you may not have known existed. These are lines that we like to call hyperdynamic lines, meaning that they only occur with facial movement. These lines were once completely unnoticeable when we were young, but with repeated action, have left permanent marks on the skin. There are two solutions to the problem of thin wrinkles in terms of injectable materials. Botox® cosmetic is a substance that relaxes the muscles that cause hyperdynamic lines while the filler materials, such as Juvederm® and Radiesse™ “fill in” those wrinkles and flatten their appearance.

How Much Does Botox® Treatment Cost in Jacksonville?

Cosmetic treatments, such as Botox®, are considered elective procedures, so most insurance carriers won’t cover the procedure. To keep Botox® affordable for everyone, Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery accepts personal checks, cash and credit cards. We also provide easy financing via CareCredit.

What is a Wrinkle?

Wrinkles (hyperdynamic lines) are the most common and usually the first indicator of an aging face. Wrinkles, however, are not a problem confined to older patients. Wrinkles can be due to either skin laxity with the loss of tone or over-activity of the underlying muscles. Many factors have been found to compound wrinkling of the facial skin, including sun exposure, smoking, and poor skin care. These are, of course, additive to the uncontrollable effects of gravity and genetics. Many products and habits can help in reducing these wrinkles. These include good skin care products, the use of sun blocks and smoking cessation. These, however, cannot stop the activity of the underlying muscles producing the deep wrinkles and folds.

What is a Glabellar Furrow?

Botox in Jacksonville, FL

There are multiple muscles in the forehead and around the eyes that function to give the upper one-third of the face character and appearance. These muscles are oftentimes overly active and produce deep furrows (or folds). In the region between the eyebrows, lies a pair of muscles called the corrugator supercilii muscles. These muscles primarily work to lower the inner brows to give the appearance of anger, solemn or inquisitiveness. These muscles are responsible for the vertical lines that you see in the region between the eyebrows. Botox® is the only FDA-approved injectable medication used to treat the furrows that are due to over activity of this muscle.

What Can I Expect the Day of My Botox® Injections?

Botox® in Jacksonville, FLWhen you come in for your injection, you will be seen by our injection specialist, Becky. Photographs will be taken, and you will visit with her so that you may have ample time to discuss with her your areas of concern and what you expect from your Botox® treatment.

She will have you make several facial animations to properly decipher where the major animation lines are located.

A topical anesthetic is placed on the skin to minimize any discomfort that you would have from the injections.

Several tiny injections of Botox® will be injected into the small muscles of the forehead and around the eyes that are making those deep lines pronounced.

A cold pack is placed directly on the injection sites to help with any discomfort and redness. You can actually return to work right after your treatment!

You may notice a small amount of redness at the sites of injection, but this will subside by the time you return home.

The whole process takes less than 30 minutes from the time you walk into the consult room!

When Can I Begin to See the Results of My Botox® Injections?

You can expect to see some results by the fourth or fifth day after your injections. You will notice a gradual improvement and by one week, what you will see the most is how open your eyes appear to be. Friends and family may comment that you have done something different with your hair or that you are wearing different makeup.

Will I Be Able To Make Normal Facial Expressions After Botox®?

Botox® cosmetic does not change the way your face looks at all. To dispel a common misconception, it does not “freeze” your face. It simply prevents certain muscle groups from over acting and thus creating folds in the upper thirds of the face.

Should I Have Bumps After Botox®?

You may have some small bumps after Botox® around each injection site. This is normal and only indicates that the skin is slightly inflamed from the injection, and it is not related to Botox® itself. The bumps are barely noticeable and usually last only an hour or two.

Is There Any Swelling After Botox®?

Swelling after Botox® injections, as well as bruising, tenderness, and very minor bleeding, are common. These symptoms are localized around the point where the needle was inserted into your skin. Swelling around these sites lasts 24 to 72 hours.

What About Washing My Face After Botox®?

We recommend washing your face after Botox® injections to keep the injection sites clean. This reduces the risk of infection and skin irritation. Use a gentle cleanser, and wash your face with a soft touch. You don’t want to rub the area.

Can I Apply Ice After Botox®?

Ice after Botox®, as well as cold compresses, within the first 24 hours can help reduce swelling after Botox® injections. Use a soft cloth, and don’t apply any pressure to the area. Leave it in place for 30 minutes at a time. This will also help with any tenderness and bruising.

How Do I Know if Botox® Cosmetic is Right for Me?

The areas that we will address are outlined above. If you are tired of looking tired and do not want to invest neither the time nor the money in a surgical procedure, then this non-surgical, no downtime procedure is just right for you.

Individuals who are NOT a candidate for Botox® include:

  • Those with known allergies to Botox® or any of its preservatives
  • Pregnant women
  • Women who are lactating
  • Eaton-Lambert Syndrome sufferers
  • Those with Myasthenia-Gravis Syndrome

Essential Surgical Documents for You to Review

Please download these essential pre surgical documents and lists of supplies

BOTOX PRE CARE INSTRUCTIONS

click to download

BOTOX POST CARE INSTRUCTIONS

click to download

 

When our patients think of Botox®, they may have the misconception that they need to be a certain age to receive treatment. That being said, Botox® is a popular treatment among patients in their mid-twenties and mid-sixties alike. While our more mature patients may consider Botox® to reduce already present wrinkles, patients in their 20s are now receiving Botox® as a preventative treatment.

The effects of Botox® typically last about three to four months. After this period, patients may find that their fine lines and wrinkles begin to return. This is because the muscles in their treated areas begin to gain function again and return to their natural state.

Yes! Botox® can provide patients with extremely natural-looking results when administered by a skilled medical professional. At Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, we ensure each of our patients gets the natural-looking results they desire every time.

Botox® typically lasts about three to four months following treatment. For this reason, we generally recommend patients come in quarterly to receive regular Botox® treatments if they wish to maintain their results.

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is the leading facial plastic surgery center on the First Coast. As a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, specializing solely in cosmetic facial procedures, Dr. Phillip Garcia provides his North Florida patients with exceptional skills and results that last. For more information on Botox® or to schedule a consultation at our convenient location in Jacksonville (Town Center), please contact us today.