from the Spring 2008 issue
An on-line Harris interactive survey of 1,300 women age 25 and above was conducted by the National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC). The not-for-profit NWHRC is the leading independent health information source for women. NWHRC develops and distributes up-to-date and objective women's health information based on the latest advances in medical research and practice. The survey results yielded the top 10 questions that women have about aesthetic treatments. Here are those top questions followed by our answers.
1. Are non-invasive, physician-administered aesthetic injectable products such as BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) and JUVÉDERM™ dermal fillers safe?
A. Yes, BOTOX Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM dermal fillers are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that extensive clinical data on their safety and effectiveness was reviewed by the FDA prior to approval. BOTOX is approved to treat 20 different conditions in more than 75 countries worldwide and has been approved in the U.S. for more than 17 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. The same formulation was approved in 2002 – as BOTOX Cosmetic – for the temporary treatment of the frown lines, or what Allergan calls the “11’s”. Two recent studies, published in 2004, demonstrated BOTOX’s strong safety record. One showed no severe adverse events among 2,300 patients across 36 clinical trials. The other was a first-ever long-term safety study on the use of BOTOX for facial aesthetic procedures. The results indicated BOTOX is safe and well-tolerated when used for multiple treatment sessions over extended periods of time.
2. Will the results look natural?
A. We’ve all heard the myths about BOTOX Cosmetic causing “frozen face” or the “deer-in-the-headlights” look. The real answer is, when administered correctly by an experienced injector, BOTOX Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM will enhance the way you look. BOTOX Cosmetic is used to temporarily relax the dominant muscles that cause us to frown, diminishing the appearance of the “11”. JUVÉDERM dermal fillers work differently, by instantly filling in and smoothing out wrinkles and folds that look like the parentheses along the side of your nose and mouth. They create a smooth, natural look and feel. We often use multiple products during a treatment session, depending on our patients’ needs.
3. How long do non-invasive aesthetic injectable treatments last?
A. BOTOX Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM dermal filler treatments are temporary. Effects of BOTOX Cosmetic can last up to 4 months, while JUVÉDERM dermal fillers can last up to one year.
4. How much do non-invasive aesthetic injectable treatments cost?
A. For those of you who have never tried BOTOX Cosmetic, we will treat any single area for just $300 (up to 20 units). For our established patients, we offer the BOTOX Cosmetic VIP Card. The VIP Card entitles you to graduated savings on your second, third and fourth treatments. These patients receive 5, 10, and 15 percent off respectively on these subsequent appointments. The cards are good for up to one year from date of issue. We also offer the BOTOX Cosmetic Benefits Program. Once you are enrolled you save an additional $25 on subsequent visits. You also become eligible for fun giveaways and other special offers and invitations. We offer a wide variety of dermal fillers, including JUVÉDERM Ultra and Ultra Plus. Pricing varies depending on the product used in the procedure. There is typically a discount if multiple syringes are used during a treatment session.
5. Will my insurance cover the cost of non-invasive aesthetic injectable treatments?
A. Insurance providers do not cover cosmetic procedures.
6. Are injectable treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) and JUVÉDERM™ painful?
A. Some patients report minor discomfort at the time of injection. Talk with Drs. Bruce, Eubanks or Hanson or April Harrison, PA-C about pain-reducing options, such as a numbing cream, which can be applied prior to your injection. We are also adding a small amount of lidocaine to our JUVÉDERM treatments to make this procedure more comfortable for our patients.
7. Is there scarring?
A. No reports of scarring were documented in clinical studies evaluating treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM dermal fillers. Additionally, studies with JUVÉDERM demonstrated no increased risk of hyperpigmentation in patients of color. We have had no reports of scarring or hyperpigmentation from our patients with BOTOX Cosmetic or any of our filler treatments.
8. How long do non-invasive aesthetic injectable procedures take?
A. Both these procedures require a relatively short in-office visit and minimal downtime. We usually schedule a 15 minute appointment for a BOTOX Cosmetic treatment. With fillers, we like to schedule a 30 to 45 minute appointment.
9. Do non-invasive aesthetic injectable treatments cause bruising or other side effects?
A. Following treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic, some patients have reported minimal bruising around the injection site area. Temporary eyelid droop can occur, but we have rarely experienced it in our over 10,000 BOTOX Cosmetic procedures. The most common side effects with JUVÉDERM dermal fillers are temporary injection site reactions, such as redness, pain/tenderness, bruising, firmness, swelling, and lumps/bumps. Most side effects are mild to moderate in nature and last 7 days or less.
10. Will my face still have expression?
A. When administered by an experienced physician, you should not lose the ability to express yourself. You can still smile, frown, and look surprised without that “11” between your brows or those lines on your forehead. Aesthetic injectable treatments such as BOTOX Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM dermal fillers are technique sensitive procedures, and with thousands of treatments under their belts all our providers are experienced in the proper administration of both products. Drs. Bruce, Eubanks and Hanson are members of the BOTOX Cosmetic Physicians’ Network. Physician members have a medical practice that focuses on facial aesthetics, have detailed knowledge of facial anatomy and have experience injecting BOTOX Cosmetic. Dr. Bruce is a member of the Allergan National Education Faculty. National Education Faculty members instruct physicians in treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic.
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