Quick Facts About Botox Treatment

About 7 million BOTOX® treatments were performed last year in the U.S., making it the most popular cosmetic dermatology treatment – a distinction it's held for many years, and for good reason: BOTOX® offers amazing results for reducing the appearance of lines and creases in both men and women, without the need for invasive and costly surgery. Despite its popularity, many people don't know a lot about BOTOX® beyond the fact that it's used to treat wrinkles. Here are a few other facts about BOTOX® you may not know:

• Although it's most widely recognized for its cosmetic uses in treating dynamic facial wrinkles, BOTOX® has several other medical applications, including the treatment of muscle spasms in the head and neck, chronic eyelid spasms called blepharospasm, excessive sweating and some types of urinary incontinence.
• BOTOX® is being evaluated as a treatment for people who suffer from chronic pain syndromes, and it's already in use for some types of neuropathic pain disorders.
• BOTOX® was approved for the treatment of facial lines and wrinkles in 2002 and has one of the longest and most established safety profiles in the industry.
• There is no upper age limit for BOTOX® treatments. An experienced practitioner evaluates patients on a case-by-case basis to determine if BOTOX® will provide the results the patient is looking for.
• BOTOX® can be used in combination with fillers to treat both dynamic and static wrinkles (lines that appear as a result of aging, sun damage and good old gravity).
• BOTOX® treatments last about four months, and repeated treatments may help lines and wrinkles relax so injections can be spaced further apart.

Halo Laser & Aesthetic Medicine is a leader in state-of-the-art BOTOX® treatments and other medical spa treatments for men and women throughout the Greater Chicago area. To learn more, schedule a consultation today.

Botox Injections- Things to Know

BOTOX is the most popular cosmetic dermatology treatment in the U.S., with nearly 7 million treatments performed in 2015. If you're considering BOTOX® injections for your lines and wrinkles, here are five things you should know:

1. BOTOX® injections can't treat all types of wrinkles. They're just for dynamic wrinkles that form as a result of facial movements – primarily, crow's feet, forehead lines and frown lines between the brows.
2. BOTOX® injections can be combined with other cosmetic dermatology treatments including dermal fillers to treat both dynamic and static wrinkles. Sometimes referred to as a “liquid facelift,” combined treatments can help you get the effects of a mini facelift without the surgery, cost or recovery time.
3. BOTOX® discomfort is minimal. One of the most common fears of having BOTOX® injections is that it's going to hurt. But the fact is, most people feel very little discomfort. Injections use very fine needles and the area can be iced before and after treatment so you'll stay comfortable throughout treatment.
4. You won't have big bruises, either. While you may have some very minor bruising, applying ice after treatment keeps bruising to a minimum, and most patients have no bruising at all. Bruising that does occur can be hidden with makeup.
5. BOTOX® is safe. The internet is full of "cosmetic surgery gone bad" photos, and while that may be good for gaining page views, it also drives a lot of confusion. BOTOX® has been around for years, gaining FDA approval for cosmetic use in 2002. The key to great results: Choose an experienced provider.

Halo Laser & Aesthetic Medicine is a top provider of BOTOX® injections, offering a complete array of cosmetic dermatology options and medical spa treatments for men and women throughout the Greater Chicago region. To schedule your own personalized consultation, call Halo at (847)613-4019 today.

How is Sculptra different than Juvederm?

Today's facial fillers offer an effective alternative for men and women who want to reduce or erase some of the signs of aging, including wrinkles and lost volume. With the right treatment regimen and a skilled injector, patients can enjoy many of the same benefits of a traditional facelift – but without the cost, incisions or downtime that go hand-in-hand with surgical procedures. Still, not every filler is created equal, and it's important for patients to understand the differences between products so they can learn why one treatment may be a better option than another for their needs.

Sculptra® vs. Juvederm®

Today, Sculptra® and Juvederm® are two of the most popular facial fillers, and while they can both produce great results, there are some important differences between them:

• The first and most critical difference is what they're made of. Juvederm® is composed of hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance that helps skin retain moisture so it looks and feels plumper. Sculptra® uses poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a gel derived from natural products that works to promote the development of collagen, one of the most important building blocks of skin. Collagen forms a supportive scaffolding for skin that helps it maintain resiliency and firmness.
• The next difference is how they're used. While both products can be used to treat different areas of the face, Juvederm® is primarily used to fill in wrinkles and “plump up” lips that appear too thin. Sculptra® can also be used to address wrinkles, but it's often used to restore volume in the cheek area, creating a more youthful profile while gently lifting sagging tissues of the lower face.
• Finally, while Juvederm® results are immediately apparent, they last anywhere from six to nine months before a re-treatment is necessary. The effects of Sculptra® can take longer to appear as collagen is rebuilt, but the final results can last two years or even longer.

Ready to learn more?

Halo Laser and Aesthetic Medicine offers an array of filler options so both men and women can enjoy all the benefits of a “liquid facelift.” To learn more, call 847-915-4248 today.

Dysport vs Botox

         

BOTOX® and Dysport® can both be effective in treating dynamic wrinkles - so which one is better? Here's what you should know:

Both BOTOX® and Dysport® have the same underlying mechanism: both prevent wrinkles from forming by blocking the nerve signals that cause facial muscles to contract when we make expressions like smiling or frowning. And both are injected in the same manner and the same areas. The primary difference between these two agents lies in their structures. Both BOTOX® and Dysport® rely in special carrier proteins to enable them to access and affect the muscle tissues, but BOTOX® uses slightly more proteins compared to Dysport®. This means two things:

• BOTOX® molecules are slightly larger than Dysport®, and some studies indicate Dysport® may be more effective in treating smaller areas or subtler types of wrinkles thanks to its smaller molecular structure.
• Dysport® may be slightly more likely to “spread out” once injected, which can be a good thing in some treatments but not in others.

Confusing? Yes. But we can help. At Halo Laser and Aesthetic Medicine, our practitioners are skilled in both BOTOX® and Dysport® cosmetic dermatology treatments, carefully evaluating the underlying structure of the skin, the facial anatomy and the patient's own expectations to ensure the best choice. If you have wrinkles and lines you'd like to get rid of, call Halo Laser and Aesthetic Medicine at 847-915-4248 and schedule an evaluation to learn about all the medical spa treatments that can help you look great.

What is the botox cost range?

BOTOX® is by far the most popular cosmetic procedure performed in the U.S. today, with about 6.8 million treatments performed in 2015. Both men and women love BOTOX® for its results as well as the fact that it's an injectable, which means there's no need for incisions or anesthesia to get great results and it can be performed right in the doctor's office. Another reason to love BOTOX® is its cost, which has remained relatively constant for the past few years.

What does BOTOX® cost?

BOTOX® injection treatments usually are charged either by the unit or by the area being treated, like the crow's feet or forehead area. Typically, most BOTOX® procedures range in cost from about $400 to $1,000, with higher costs associated with more extensive treatment areas.

In recent years, some salons and spas have begun offering BOTOX® injections as a way to capitalize on the treatment's popularity. Indeed, many sites regularly tout “BOTOX® specials” of $200 or less per treatment area. That may sound tempting, but most “cut-rate” treatments use far fewer units per area, which means the results won't be as good or as long-lasting.

Experience counts.

The other key factor is experience and skill. When it comes to any type of cosmetic procedure, including BOTOX®, you want someone with in-depth cosmetic dermatology experience to ensure the best results. Halo Laser and Aesthetic Medicine is a leading provider of BOTOX® injections and other medical spa treatments. To learn more, schedule a consultation today.

Is the cost of Botox dependent on the location of the injection?

BOTOX® injections have many uses in medicine, but without doubt, their most popular and prevalent use is in the treatment of dynamic facial lines and wrinkles like crow's feet, forehead lines and frown lines or glabellar folds, the little vertical lines that form between the eyebrows, especially when you frown. It may also be used in low doses for so-called smoker's lines, the little vertical lines that form around the lips. While some cosmetic treatments can have a price structure based on which area is being treated, the cost of BOTOX® is based on a flat-fee structure dependent on the area being treated and the number of units or vials required. More extensive treatments require more vials or units, and therefore cost more. The unit cost can vary as well, ranging from about $12 to about $20 each.

Nationwide, BOTOX® treatments range from about $300 for a very small treatment area to about $1,000 for more extensive treatments. And of course, the cost of treatment can vary geographically and from practice to practice. While BOTOX® injections are widely used in cosmetic treatments, they still require considerable expertise and skill to determine the exact placement of the injection to avoid complications like drooping eyelids, so skill and experience should count the most when deciding on a treatment practitioner.

Here's a quick review of the cost of BOTOX® for the most popular treatment zones:

• Crow's feet – from three to 10 units per temple region, or up to $400 for both eyes
• Forehead lines – about 20 units, or up to $200
• Frown lines – about 25 units, or up to about $500

It's important to remember the cost per unit can vary over time, and men typically require more units per treatment area to achieve optimal benefits of their injections.

To maintain the results of your treatment, you'll need re-treatments about every three to four months, but the good news is, wrinkles tend to soften with successive treatments, and over time, you may be able to wait longer between touch-up treatments.

BOTOX® can also be used with fillers or other cosmetic options to provide patients with many of the benefits of a “mini facelift” without the need for surgery. If you'd like to learn more about BOTOX® injections or the cost of BOTOX® treatment, call Halo Laser and Aesthetic Medicine to schedule a personal consultation today.

What is the cost for co2 laser resurfacing

CO2 laser resurfacing can offer men and women amazing benefits, helping to remove wrinkles, scars and other signs of aging while promoting healthy collagen development. But like other cosmetic treatments, most insurance companies won't cover any of the associated costs. It's understandable, then, that when it comes to deciding on a treatment provider, one of the first considerations is cost.

The Cost of CO2 Laser Resurfacing

The problem is, when it comes to determining the cost of CO2 laser resurfacing, lots of variables come into play. While it's somewhat easier to estimate the cost of fillers of BOTOX treatment based on the areas being treated and the number of units or vials required, laser treatments are much more subjective and pricing is based on an overall evaluation of the treatment area, the surrounding regions, the patient's expectations and many other variables. Pricing can also vary by geographic region and from practice to practice.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of laser resurfacing was about $2,200 in 2014, the latest year for which cost data is available. But that's just the doctor's fee – it doesn't include numbing agents or anesthesia, the assistant's fee, medications used during or after the procedure, or any facility-associated fees. And again, that fee can be higher or lower, depending upon the extent of the treatment area and other variable.

Affording Your Treatment

As with any medical procedure, it's important not to make cost the focus of your choice when looking for a treatment provider. A practitioner with extensive skills and experience may be slightly more costly than competitors with less expertise, but because any type of medical procedure can have risks and complications, this is not an area where you want to skimp. In the hands of a really skilled treatment provider, CO2 laser resurfacing can offer amazing results with a high degree of precision and far fewer risks and potential complications.

At Halo Laser and Aesthetic Medicine, we want patients to be able to afford the highest-quality care so they can feel confident about their results. Our office can help you find a financing plan that works for your needs so you can fit the cost of treatment into your budget. To find out more about laser resurfacing or to inquire about financing options, call our office.