Botox Cosmetic

Botox is a highly purified protein that prevents unwanted muscle contraction. Many people subconsciously furrow their brow, especially when they are tense, which results in facial wrinkling. Crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes and forehead creases are other examples of this type of wrinkling. Working by minimizing unwanted nerve signals for a muscle to contract, Botox can be compared to a cut-off switch between an electrical cord and a lamp. Electrical energy must reach the lamp for the light to turn on just as a nerve signal must reach a muscle for it to contract. Botox minimizes the wrinkling effects of these muscles, thereby giving the skin a smoother and more youthful appearance.

Botox Cosmetic is available to any licensed physician. However, for best results you should always trust your skin to a physician with specific training in cutaneous and aesthetic medicine, such as a board-certified dermatologist. Drs. Anderson and Rahman are two of the few doctors in Knoxville to become a member of the Botox Cosmetic Physicians Network, a select group of physicians the maker of Botox recognizes as an expert in facial aesthetics.

In many offices in Knoxville, physicians delegate the injection of Botox to technicians who may have minimal or no medical training. You may have also seen “medi-spas” popping up throughout the Knoxville area. Many of these centers do not even have a physician on the premises! Recent articles in The New York Times and CNN stressed the importance of having a qualified physician administer your treatments, stating it is “crucial that people check the credentials and experience of those who offer cosmetic treatments”. It is vital that you insist on having a highly qualified, specifically trained providers perform your Botox injections. Trust your skin to Knoxville’s leading experts in Botox Cosmetic!

The initial results are visible within three days and typically last three to four months. You may notice that your first treatment does not completely eradicate your frown lines or other wrinkles. This is because every patient requires an individualized treatment and initial under-treatment is much better than over-treatment. Drs. Anderson, Rahman and Wright will adjust your future treatment based on your initial results. After three to four months your treatment effects will start to wear off. Most patients schedule follow-up visits every three to four months for re-treatment.

Botox is injected with a very tiny needle into the specific area being treated. No anesthesia is needed, as pain is very minimal. Most patients liken the injections to a light “pinch”.

Botox can usually be administered in less than ten minutes.

There is no downtime following your treatment. You can return to work or your regular activities immediately. Occasionally mild bruising may be visible at the treatment site. You should not lay down or exercise strenuously for several hours following your treatment. Take care not to rub or massage the treated area immediately after the injection.

Under-trained or inexperienced physicians can leave a patient with a “blank” and “expressionless” appearance. Only by careful analysis can a specifically trained physician determine how much Botox will give you the results you want without overdoing the procedure. The ideal result is youthful and fresh while still allowing natural expressions.

Our physicians will ask you to frown, squint, smile, and even contort your face to determine your individual muscle intensity. This is important in determining both treatment placement and dosage. You will never be rushed through your appointment.