Botox/Dysport is made from the botulinum toxin type A, the same bacteria that causes botulism. But decades ago, researchers found that when injected in very small amounts the botulinum toxin temporarily paralyzes the muscle it is injected into. This proved effective in treating involuntary muscle spasms, migraine headaches, even teeth grinding. But when the FDA approved it for the treatment of wrinkles, Botox/Dysport became a household name.

Certain wrinkles, called dynamic wrinkles, are created by repeated muscle movements in common behaviors such as frowning or squinting. When injected into the muscle that creates a dynamic wrinkle, Botox/Dysport blocks the nerve signals to the muscle, stopping the muscle from contracting. With the muscle temporarily paralyzed, the wrinkle on the surface is reduced dramatically or disappears altogether.

Botox/Dysport targets dynamic wrinkles on the top third of the face particularly well: crow’s feet, forehead lines, and the dreaded 11’s between the brows. Botox/Dysport does not work on static wrinkles, those wrinkles that show themselves all the time.

A small needle is used for Botox/Dysport injections, effectively targeting only the muscles responsible for creating wrinkles. A Botox/Dysport session usually takes just a few minutes and no anesthesia is required.

Your choice of injector is very important because, while Botox/Dysport injections seem simple, advanced knowledge of facial anatomy and experience with Botox/Dysport is required to ensure the neurotoxin is injected into exactly the right spots. Dr. Saltz and his team are thoroughly experienced with Botox/Dysport and offer it in both Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah locations.

The FDA approved Botox/Dysport for aesthetic use on the upper third of the face, the expressive area where we form most of our facial expressions. It is approved to treat crow’s feet at the outside of the eyes, glabellar lines (colloquially known as the 11s) between the brows, and forehead lines. So, if those are the problem areas you seek to address Botox/Dysport is perfect.

However, if you want to fill areas of volume loss on the mid to lower face, things like sunken cheeks or parentheses lines, Botox/Dysport isn’t the answer. Those problems are caused by loss of collagen, sun damage, and other factors. They are not the result of muscle contractions, which are the cause of crow’s feet and the like on the upper third of the face. Lines and sunken areas on the mid to lower face are the domain of dermal fillers, such as Juvederm®.

Botox/Dysport only works on what are known as “dynamic wrinkles.” These are wrinkles that form over time as we make thousands and thousands of muscle contractions when we make various expressions.

Botox/Dysport works on crow’s feet, the 11s between the brows, and on forehead lines. Some people have had success treating neck banding with Botox/Dysport, but that varies dramatically from patient to patient and this is an “off-label” use of Botox/Dysport.

Botox/Dysport was deemed the original “lunchtime procedure.” That’s because a session with Dr. Saltz takes just 10-15 minutes, and then the patient can return to work or other normal activities. There isn’t any recovery. There also isn’t anything you need to do prior to your Botox/Dysport session.

Botox/Dysport doesn’t deliver instant results. It takes about four days for the botulinum toxin to fully block the nerve messages and relax the muscle. From there, Botox/Dysport usually keeps the muscle at rest for about four months. Around that time, your body will absorb the now-inert Botox/Dysport and the muscle will begin contracting again, and the wrinkle that forms above it will return. Another Botox/Dysport session with Dr. Saltz will maintain your results. At Saltz Plastic Surgery we offer Botox/Dysport membership for our clients, called Saltz Signature Membership. This program locks the client into a discounted price for their Botox/Dysport treatments. The membership consists of monthly installments that will prepay for the treatment. Botox/Dysport visits must be between three or four months to be eligible to sign up for Saltz Signature. We recommend three months to maintain the optimal results.

There is some evidence that over time muscles injected with Botox/Dysport become less rigid with their contractions and require less Botox/Dysport to relax. Again, this varies by the patient and how his or her metabolism affects the Botox/Dysport.