Many people are familiar with Botox®–a highly-popular non-surgical procedure that is sweeping the nation. Dysport™, its European counterpart is similar to Botox®, as it is administered via injection by a licensed doctor, and can serve to treat wrinkles, frown lines, migraines, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm (eye twitching), and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).  Both Botox® and Dysport™ are purified protein molecules, derived from Clostridium botulinum, which produces a substance that serves as the active ingredient and helps reduce the muscle activity that causes muscle strain and frown lines. Botox® is used for cosmetic procedures as well as non-cosmetic procedures, such as excessive sweating, cervical dystonia, and blepharospasm .

Botox® Cosmetic for the Face

Botox® Cosmetic was designed purely to help alleviate the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines and wrinkles, especially in the area between the brows. Botox® Cosmetic is a version of Botox® recommended only for people between the ages of 18 and 65, and is the only treatment of its type to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What makes Botox® Cosmetic so appealing is that it is non-surgical and fast. All it takes is one ten-minute treatment of a few tiny injections to notice improvement in frown lines within days. Although results vary from person to person, the results of a single Botox® Cosmetic treatment can last anywhere between three to six months.

In recent years, Botox® Cosmetic has become widely popular, with millions of procedures successfully performed. In clinical trials, 90% of people reported moderate to better appearance of frown lines between brows one month after their Botox® treatments. In addition, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ranked Botox® Cosmetic as the most popular physician-administered aesthetic procedure in the United States for the fourth year in a row.

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Botox® for Migraine Headache Treatment

In September of 2008, Allergan™, the company that produces Botox®, conducted trials to see if Botox® injections could alleviate the symptoms of migraines. The results were astonishing. Chronic migraine sufferers experienced fewer days of migraines with injections of Botox® in the forehead and nearby areas.

As migraines can often be triggered by head and neck pain, it follows that Botox® may be able to help treat migraines, as Botox® is already a well-known treatment for cervical dystonia, a condition associated with abnormal head position and neck pain.

If you suffer from migraines, tell Dr. Hakimian about the pain you are experiencing and your medical history. Botox® injections may be right for you and all it takes is a single ten-minute trip to Laser Touch Medical Clinic, where a few tiny injections of Botox® can help you experience some relief from migraine headaches for several months.

Botox® for Cervical Dystonia (CD)

If you experience chronic neck pain or neck spasms, you may have cervical dystonia, commonly known as CD. Dr. Hakimian can diagnose possible signs of cervical dystonia as well as treat it. Botox® is a solution that may be able to help alleviate some of your symptoms and pain.

Signs of cervical dystonia include: a head that is held or turned in an abnormal way, abnormal posture, neck muscle spasms (with or without pain), neck tightness, neck and shoulder pain, aches around the neck which become more severe over time, head turning or pulling to one side, shaking or tremors, symptoms that improve after sleep or rest, symptoms that are worse after stress or physical activity, and problems swallowing. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be a candidate for Botox® for cervical dystonia.

Botox® helps to reduce the symptoms and pain of cervical dystonia by reducing muscle activity in your neck. Overactive muscles in the neck can cause the pain, tightness, and abnormal pull you are experiencing. In clinical studies, Botox® injections helped cervical dystonia patients with improved head tilt, less intense pain, less frequent pain, and improved ability to function in daily activities.

Dr. Hakimian will analyze your condition and decide whether Botox® may be an effective way to help alleviate your cervical dystonia pain. In which case, he will locate the exact muscles that are triggering your pain and administer a few tiny Botox® injections directly into those muscles. Relief may come right away, or it may take several hours, and can last for several months, depending on the patient.

Botox® for Blepharospasm (Eye Twitching)

The medical condition blepharospasm is characterized by involuntary muscle spasms around the eye. While everyone experiences eye twitching at some point, people with blepharospasm can experience an uncontrolled narrowing or closing of the eyelid and impaired vision, which can impact their daily lives and activities.

Symptoms that you may be developing blepharospasm include dry eyes, watery eyes, light sensitivities, increased blinking, ocular (eye) pain, and eye soreness. If you have been diagnosed with blepharospasm or think you may have blepharospasm, Botox® may be able to help alleviate some of your symptoms and pain.

Botox® can be injected directly into the muscles surrounding the eye, helping to reduce their activity. This will reduce muscle spasms and help promote muscle relaxation, both alleviating your pain and reducing muscle spasms and tension. Although the idea of having injections around your eye may sound scary, it is actually quite safe and painless. The Botox® injection needles are very tiny and fine, and discomfort during the Botox® injections tends to be temporary and minimal. Dr. Hakimian can perform Botox® injections for blepharospasm in just ten minutes. You may, however, experience some tenderness or bruising at the injection sites, which should dissipate within a few days.

Most Botox® for blepharospasm patients start to see results in just a few days, as the muscles around their eyes begin to relax. Within a few days, even patients with extreme blepharospasm should be able to fully open their eyes and engage in normal activities, such as reading, working on a computer, and driving.

Botox® for Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating)

Excessive sweating may seem like just an embarrassing problem, but it is actually a documented condition known as hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis can occur just about anywhere on your body—armpits, palms, feet, face, neck, back, or chest. When topical creams or solutions do not work to combat the embarrassing and difficult problems associated with hyperhidrosis, Botox® may be able to help.

Botox® can be injected directly into your affected areas to temporarily stop or control excessive sweating. Botox® works by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from your nerves that stimulate sweat glands; if the sweat glands are not triggered by the nerves, no sweating occurs.

Botox® has been proven to effectively treat cases of hyperhidrosis. In clinical trials, 81% of patients who received Botox® injections reported at least a 50% reduction in sweating, with long-lasting results! Although Botox® Cosmetic usually only lasts about three to four months for the reduction of wrinkles, results from Botox® treatments for excessive sweating can last over six months!

While Botox® has been found to be a great way to treat the symptoms of hyperhidrosis, it is not a cure. In order to maintain treatment results, Botox® injections must be administered at regular intervals. Dr. Hakimian can help diagnose you of hyperhidrosis and determine your injection intervals. The tiny Botox® injections can be administered in just ten minutes! Results should be seen within a few days.

The staff at Laser Touch Medical Clinic will be happy to discuss any of our non-surgical procedures with you. Please call for a private consultation at 1-888-LASER-15 (1-888-527-3715) or schedule an appointment online.