Category Archives: BOTOX Questions

Lowest cost BOTOX in MODESTO

Botox, Botox Injectors, BOTOX Questions, Modesto

What’s the lowest cost of Botox in Modesto?

I’ve been attempting to write blogs on common questions which we get in our Modesto Botox Injection Practice – where the Botox is injected by me (Calvin Lee, MD, Board Certified Surgeon)

I can’t be for sure, but I think it’s around $9/unit.  I have also commonly seen Botox at $10/unit in Modesto, California.  It may even be lower than this at private functions such as Botox parties in Modesto.

I guess my practice doesn’t offer the lowest price per unit cost for Botox.  But hopefully we offer one of the best values for Botox.

Modesto Botox with Dr. Lee – my new page – written January 2015.

We hope that Best Value wins over Best Price

It’s our hope that value is something that’s more important than lowest price for Botox.  But we definitely understand that a low price for Botox in Modesto is very important.  It’s probably very important anywhere in the world.

Our Botox Surgeons (mainly Calvin Lee, MD) value a high level of

  • results
  • safety
  • and comfort.

And the Office values a high level of

  • customer service
  • positive attitude
  • and communication

Botox price and Botox cost related links which I have written:

Note:  Botox prices fluctuate.  Please call your Modesto Botox sources for updated info.  Even our prices can change!

Here’s a list of about 40 places to get Botox in Modesto.

Calvin Lee, MD
Calvin Lee, MD

 

 

How many Botox Units for Crows Feet?

Belotero, Botox, BOTOX Questions, Crows Feet, eyes, Juvederm, Modesto,

How many units of Botox are good for treating the crows feet around the eyes?

Quick answer?  8-12 units of Botox per side.  Because we usually want to treat both sides of the eyes, we would double that number and that would be 16-24 units.

8-12 units of Botox per side? (16-24 units of Botox)

Yes, about 8-12 units of Botox could be injected per crows feet (left or right).  However, everyone is different.  I have done more and I have done less.  This depends on Male vs Female, young vs old, and of course on personal preferences and experiences with Botox.

Another consideration is eyebrows.  Eyebrows can also be lifted with a certain style of crows feet injection, or even an extension of the crows feet injection.  Women and men have different eyebrows.  Women have more of an arch, which complements a certain style of crows feet Botox injections – these injections hug the eye a bit closer – especially toward the eyebrow region.

And yet another consideration is swelling under the eyes.  Sometimes too much injection in the crows feet can lead to temporary swelling under the eyes.  These are things to discuss with your personal Botox injector – preferably in person and at an appointment (face-to-face).

What to do for really deep Crows Feet lines?  Static lines.

Fillers may be an option.  I like to use Belotero as a filler for crows feet if needed.   Juvederm could also be used, but in my hands it tends to be a little bit bumpier.  But it is usually my preference to try Botox alone first.

That’s the beauty of Botox.  It is customizable.

Everyone will have different preferences and have a different response to Botox.  It becomes a science and art – this injection of Botox.

I hope I helped to answer the question of how many units of Botox are needed to help with crows feet around the sides of the eyes.

Summary

Let’s say we just wanted one number to be the answer.  Perhaps hang on to the number 20.  It’s a nice round number, and it’s between 16-24 units of Botox (for both sides).  I would say that 20 units of Botox is a nice treatment for many people’s crows feet!

Please feel free visit our Botox practice in Modesto.

 

 

BOTOX Terminology: Glabella

Allergan, Botox, Botox Injectors, BOTOX Questions, Modesto

What is the glabella?

Glabella has very little to do “gorilla” or “umbrella”.  Although they rhyme.  And if you got a gorilla angry, he/she would have a furrowed glabella.  And if you were caught in the a rain storm without an umbrella.  I think you would also be furrowing your glabella.  And for some patients they look like gorillas if they have very strong muscles in the glabella.

It is the area between the eyebrows above the nose.  Interestingly, it is derived from the latin word “glabellus” which means smooth.  And a smooth glabella is the goal of a BOTOX treatment for the glabella.  We sometimes consider the wrinkles that form in this are the “frown lines” between the eyes or eyebrows.

I'm activating my glabellar complex of muscles here (between the eye brows).
I’m activating my glabellar complex of muscles here (between the eye brows).

Is Glabellar Botox FDA approved?

Yes, BOTOX is FDA approved for cosmetic use in the glabellar complex

How many BOTOX Units are used in the Glabella?

Usually around 20.  But ranges from 12-40 units have been used in my Modesto Botox practice.  Men and younger patients, with their stronger muscles, usually need a higher dose of BOTOX units.  However some younger patients are looking for prevention, and thus may not need as high of a dose.  Customization is key.

What muscles comprise the Glabella?

The procerus muscle in the middle, surrounded by a pair of corrugator/depressor supercilii.  Everyone has different presentations of this muscle.  The anatomy is slightly different for each individual, and the strength of these muscles differ as well.  This leads to individualization of each BOTOX injection.

So basically three muscles:
  • Procerus in the middle
  • Depressor supercilii
  • Corrugator supercilii

Botox 111

If BOTOX doesn’t work for glabellar creases, what’s next?

Consider fillers for the static lines of the glabella.  BOTOX may work somewhat for the glabellar static lines; however, BOTOX is mainly a treatment for dynamic lines.  Dynamic lines (wrinkles) are formed when the muscle contracts.  Static lines (wrinkles) are present even when the muscles are relaxed.  Many dynamic lines are on their way to static lines – it’s just a matter of time.  However BOTOX can prevent the progression.

What is the best filler for glabellar static lines?

I think this question depends on the injector and how they use the fillers.  This would be an  off-label FDA use of fillers.  I personally prefer Belotero for filling Glabellar creases if it becomes a desired option.   The reason I like Belotero to complement BOTOX treatments in the glabellar region is that it is a light-weight filler which doesn’t easily show up as bumps in the glabellar region.  However if the glabellar lines are very deep and the skin is lax, sometimes a thicker filler such as Juvederm would work better.

More questions about the Glabellar BOTOX injections?

Feel free to make an appointment at our office.  Home page here: Modesto Botox Injections.  Botox injections in the glabella is the most popular use of Botox Cosmetic.

Medical Botox vs Cosmetic Botox, differences?

Botox, Botox Injectors, BOTOX Questions, Crows Feet, eyes, FDA, hyperhidrosis, Modesto, sweating, ,

BOTOX® Medical and BOTOX® Cosmetic

The BOTOX formulations are the same.  But the uses are different.  As the terms say, BOTOX medical is used for Medical purposes.  And BOTOX Cosmetic is used for cosmetic purposes.  There are many OFF-LABEL FDA uses of BOTOX, but here we explore the ON-LABEL uses for medical problems and cosmetic problems.

Medical uses of BOTOX
Sometimes called BOTOX THERAPEUTIC

More specifically, medical uses of BOTOX which are ON-LABEL FDA:

  • BOTOX for Overactive bladder symptoms
  • BOTOX for Urine Incontinence due to neurological disease
  • BOTOX for Headaches, specifically chronic migraines (15 or more days each month, longer than 4 hours each day)
  • BOTOX for upper limb spasticity
  • BOTOX for cervical dystonia
  • BOTOX for strabismus: an eye muscle problem
  • BOTOX for blepharospasm: an abnormal spasm of eyelids.
  • BOTOX for axillary hyperhidrosis
BOTOX Injection sites for Blepharospasm

The BOTOX injection site picture from Allergan.  BOTOX has been the main blepharospasm treatment since FDA approval in 1989.

BOTOX injection sites for Blepharospasm treatment. Picture from Allergan. BOTOX has been the main blepharospasm treatment since FDA approval in 1989.
BOTOX injection sites for Blepharospasm treatment.

Cosmetic uses for BOTOX

  • Glabellar lines = Frown lines between the eyebrows.  Botox was approved for usage for cosmetically reducing the appearance of wrinkles, temporarily between the eyebrows in patients between the age of 18 to 65 years old.  This was approved by the FDA in 2002.
  • Crows feet = Lines on the side of the eyes.  In September 2013, the FDA approved Botox for use in the crows feet area.  Botox for the Crows Feet – a entry in my Modesto Botox Blog

Again all the above mentions are FDA approved – ON LABEL usage.  There are other medical and cosmetic uses of BOTOX but they require a physician to determine the possibility of OFF LABEL-FDA use.

Differences in Dosages in Medical Botox vs. Cosmetic Botox

Usually many more Botox units are needed for medical indications than for cosmetic indications.

Disclaimer for this BOTOX webpage:

Unless you are directly looking at my actual crows feet and my glabellar lines, there is no establishment of a doctor-patient relationship.  Please see your own doctor’s wrinkles in person so that you can get medical advice.  Above is for information only – not to be considered any sort of medical advice.  Furthermore, looking at a picture or video of my crows feet and glabellar wrinkles does not count – it has to be a live and in-person viewing.

 



Juvederm Voluma for the Lips?

BOTOX Questions, Juvederm, Voluma, ,

Interesting Botox Questions and Filler Questions

Question #1 (first of a series I hope to compile).

Today our office got asked the questions from a patient who called the office:  “Can Juvederm Voluma be used for the lips?”  This is a great questions.   Lately it seems that I never have a straight forward answer.  But I’ll try to be straightforward with this Botox/Filler question.  The quick and dirty answer is: “YES.”

Can Juvederm Voluma be used for the lips?

The reason that this is an interesting question is that it is an off-label FDA usage question which can’t be answered legally by the drug company, Allergan who makes Botox, Latisse, Juvederm, etc.  However, I can attempt to answer the question as a doctor who injects Botox and Juvederm of all sorts including Voluma.  I have a practice in Modesto, CA.  And I would recommend that people see me in person before taking any of what I type here as personal advice.  Disclaimer:  The information here is just for general information purposes, it’s not meant to be medical advice.  Please visit my website for contact information so that I can see you as a patient in my office, in person, if you are seeking medical advice.  Website is:  www.InjectionArtistry.com – my Botox injection home page.

In general Juvederm Voluma is used in the cheeks

Cheek volumization with Voluma is the FDA indicated usage.  It has a possibility of lasting up to two years.

Two year indication in the cheeks

This is the main motivation for many people to ask if Juvederm Voluma can be used anywhere else – such as nasolabial folds or marionette lines – areas where Juvederm ultra or ultra plus has been used.  This includes the question about Voluma for lip augmentation.

The Duck Look for lips

If you are looking for very big duck-look for the lips, Juvederm Voluma could possibly be an excellent choice.

Lip augmentation with Voluma? How else could it be done.

There’s also the possibility of diluting down the Voluma with Saline – this would possibly gives the lips a softer look.

My personal preference for Lip Augmentation:

I prefer to use either Juvederm ultra or Juvederm ultra plus for the lips.  The XC versions of these products are excellent.  I would prefer not to use,  in my own practice Juvederm Voluma for the lips.  But in the hands of another injector,  Voluma might just be great for the lips.

2 years for the lips with voluma?

I would doubt that Juvederm Voluma would last that long in the lips.  Thus I’m not sure that I’m sold on the idea of using this product in the lip location.  But with the proper dilution, I think we could find ourselves a very versatile product for the the whole face!!

Summary on Voluma for lips:

  • No, it’s not usually used for lips, Voluma is usually used for cheeks
  • No, I don’t think it will last two years in the lips.  Probably more like 7-10 months?  That’s just an educated guess.
  • I think if it’s used on the lips, Voluma could be diluted
  • Voluma, if diluted could be used on many other parts of the face
  • My personal preference for Lip augmentation fillers is Juvederm Ultra or Ultra plus, especially the XC versions of those products.

Parting words

I do have a rambling style of writing – I think.  But this is my blog and I write however I want.  This page is meant to be a discussion about Juvederm Voluma and Lip augmentation.  This is not meant to be an advertisement in any way nor is this deemed to be medical advice of any sort.  And much of the discussion here is off-label FDA usage of Juvederm.

I hope you have found this page to be somewhat useful – especially if you are a colleage Botox/Juvederm injector.  Please feel free to visit my Botox Modesto WebPage.