Relax Dynamic Wrinkles in Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Ft. Myers, and Naples, FL

Dynamic wrinkles and similar signs of aging form over a span of years, as muscle contractions cause creases to appear and grow deeper on the face, prominent cords to develop on the neck, and more. Happily, these unwanted changes—including crow’s feet next to the eyes and platysmal bands on the neck—can be smoothed in a matter of days with injections of BOTOX^® Cosmetic. At Naples and Marco Island’s Skin Wellness Physicians, these injectable treatments are made by dermatologists Dr. Anne Marie Tremaine, Dr. Daniel Wasserman, Dr, Vivian Wong, and Dr. Anita Grassi, who are highly experienced, specifically trained, and devoted to beautiful, natural-looking results.

BOTOX^® Cosmetic has an excellent safety record, can be administered via convenient appointments, and provides reliable results. All of these benefits—and more—combine to consistently make BOTOX^® Cosmetic the most commonly chosen cosmetic treatment around the world each year.

What Is BOTOX^® Cosmetic?

BOTOX^® Cosmetic is a neuromodulator, which is a prescription medication injected into specific areas to reduce the severity of facial lines and other signs of aging. BOTOX^® is made from a toxin created by specific bacteria—Clostridium botulinum—which can be found in natural environments all over the world. A purified version of the toxin was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for therapeutic use in 1989, and more medical approvals followed. Several cosmetic applications have also been approved, expanding the injectable’s range of uses. Now, millions of treatments are made each year across the globe.

How Does BOTOX^® Cosmetic Work?

Once injected into a muscle with care and precision, the purified toxin disrupts signals sent via the nervous system that would normally cause a contraction. The medical explanation for this is simple to explain: Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger that is released when the brain wants to direct specific muscles to move. This acetylcholine is very important to voluntary actions like contractions that help to create facial expressions, as well as involuntary ones like sweat glands activating for perspiration.

BOTOX^® prevents acetylcholine from being released, so nerves and glands that would otherwise receive the message stay at rest instead. The result is a more relaxed expression, smoother skin, and a generally refreshed appearance.

What Can You Do to Get Ready for BOTOX^® Injections?

Every patient coming to Florida’s Skin Wellness Physicians starts their treatment plan with a personalized consultation. At this discreet meeting, we will discuss the patient’s medical background, their current state of health, their cosmetic goals, and a list of any medications or supplements they are currently taking. All of this information helps to minimize risk and maximize results. Note that while there are always some risks involved with any cosmetic treatment, BOTOX^® is generally a very safe procedure when administered by an experienced, trained injector—such as our dermatologists.

At the initial consultation, patients considering BOTOX^® Cosmetic are encouraged to ask questions to so they can be confident that their provider is properly trained, operating out of an accredited facility, and using the real product—not a substitute. Note that while there are other, similar wrinkle-smoothing injectables available at practices around Florida and the rest of the United States, Skin Wellness Physicians uses only BOTOX^® for patients seeking BOTOX^® treatments. If we have a diferent recommendation to make, we will be clear and upfront about our suggestion.

Some other factors to consider and discuss are BOTOX^® costs, possible risks or complications, details of the treatment, and what to expect during BOTOX^® recovery.

What Wrinkles Are Associated with Muscle Contractions?

A person’s skin quality deteriorates with age, due to internal changes, lifestyle habits, and external factors, such as ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollutants.

Young skin tends to have high levels of hyaluronic acid (a sugar molecule that keeps the skin hydrated), as well as proteins like collagen and elastin, which keep the skin strong and pliant. Aging skin, on the other hand, tends to become increasingly thin, dry, and lax as the connective tissues and molecules that gave it structure, pliancy, and elasticity break down over the years.

Not all wrinkles that develop with age are the same. Some creases, such as nasolabial folds, form due to cumulative volume loss. BOTOX^® is designed to treat a diferent sort of facial line: dynamic wrinkles, which are linked to repetitive muscle contractions. Every time we raise our eyebrows or move our cheeks to make facial expressions—such as smiling, frowning, or squinting—specific muscles are activated. There's no way to get through life without moving these facial muscles every day, but BOTOX^® can help to minimize the resulting lines that form.

This is because dynamic wrinkles are typically seen while the face is moving. As the skin becomes weaker with time, however, these lines may become visible even when the associated muscles are kept at rest. For this reason, many people choose BOTOX^® Cosmetic treatments earlier in life, which reduces muscle activity sooner and delays the development of etched-in lines.

BOTOX^® is not ideal for the creases known as static wrinkles, which are associated with volume loss, as well as sun damage, the downward pull of gravity, exposure to toxins and harsh chemicals from smoking, alcohol consumption, and other causes unrelated to frequent muscle contractions.

What Signs of Aging Does BOTOX^® Treat?

When it comes to cosmetic applications, the FDA has approved BOTOX^® Cosmetic for addressing four signs of aging: horizontal forehead lines, frown lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet next to the eyes, and—as of 2024—platysmal bands on the neck. The injectable is also approved to reduce excessive underarm perspiration thanks to its ability to keep sweat glands from activating. It also has other medical uses, such as for minimizing migraines and curbing spasticity related to certain muscle disorders.

Regular use around the country for years has also led to the development of more cosmetic applications routinely and safely performed by experienced and talented physicians. BOTOX^® Cosmetic is frequently injected to address a sagging brow, smooth bunny lines and a dimpled chin, relax a downturned mouth, reduce lip lines, and hide a gummy smile.

Who Is an Ideal Patient for BOTOX^® Cosmetic?

Adults with moderate to severe facial wrinkles, who are in good physical health, and who maintain realistic expectations of their cosmetic results are ideal candidates for this treatment. BOTOX^® is not intended for women who are pregnant or nursing, or those with certain nerve or muscle conditions, allergies, and skin infections.

Rather than coming into the Skin Wellness Physicians ofices with a specific request for BOTOX^® in mind, we suggest that you share your general and specific cosmetic goals during your personalized consultation. This is when we can determine which treatments are best suited for delivering the results you are seeking.

What Is a BOTOX^® Session Like in Naples, FL?

Our skilled dermatologists can complete a series of BOTOX^® injections in as little as 15 minutes, making it possible to fit the entire visit into a generous lunch break. In terms of how the injections themselves feel, patients often report the sensation of a slight "pinch" at the injection sites—but the treatment is overall easy to tolerate. Even so, patients are encouraged to ask about strategies to minimize discomfort and make the process a better overall experience.

In the days after a treatment session, expect some potential slight bruising, skin redness, or tenderness in the treated area. All of this will fade along with the injected muscles’ ability to contract. A visible change will become apparent with about three days, and the efects will reach their peak after about two weeks. These results can be expected to last for three to four months. After this time, as the muscles regain their ability to contract, patients can schedule a new injection session to ensure an ongoing look of rejuvenation.

Is BOTOX^® Safe?

Thanks to the medication’s popularity, BOTOX^® injections are the most widely performed cosmetic treatments across the planet each year. The cosmetic's global use is the result of decades of rigorous testing and study, followed by millions of annual applications. BOTOX^® has earned its reputation as a safe and efective treatment—when handled by properly trained and experienced injectors, like our dermatologists at Skin Wellness Physicians.

While many people may claim to be adequate injectors, only dermatologists have a medical background focused entirely on the skin and its related systems and structures. That means these physicians have particular knowledge of how BOTOX^® can impact the areas where it is injected. This knowledge is critical for delivering not just safe results, but aesthetically pleasing ones that relax wrinkles while still allowing you to form a range of natural-looking expressions. Education and experience are important for any injector, especially since patients want to look refreshed—not "frozen."

What Treatments Are Available Beyond BOTOX^® in Naples, FL?

Although BOTOX^® is immensely popular, it is not the only muscle-relaxing injectable available. Another option is Dysport^® which provides similar results, but takes efect sooner and may spread a bit farther from the injection site. Each neuromodulator ofers its own unique advantages to suit particular patients' needs—and remember that one will never be substituted for the other at Skin Wellness Physicians. Patients will always know exactly what product and treatment they are receiving.

Lines, creases, and wrinkles that form due to volume loss as opposed to muscle movement require an entirely diferent strategy. Dermal fillers like Juvéderm^® and Restylane^® add volume in small amounts wherever they are injected, smoothing out skin that has developed lines naturally as it has aged, restoring more youthful contours, providing improved definition, enhancing thin lips, and more.

All of the various injectables and other treatments available from Skin Wellness Physicians can be used together in a variety of combinations to achieve customized rejuvenating efects. Contact the team to discover which cosmetic treatments may best work for you and your cosmetic goals.