wonders of botox

Facial Facts: The Many Wonders of Botox

Posts, Botox

The human face is a treasure trove of experiences and emotions. Every gesture tells a story and every glimmer connects us to the ones we love and the world at large. But over time, facial expressions take their toll on the skin that conveys them.

Every smile, frown, and wink requires the contraction of muscles. These actions pull at the skin attached, creating fine lines. As the skin ages, wrinkles may become deep ridges. Your skin has a difficult time correcting creases along the lips, brow, and cheeks, especially in your later years.

But Botox gives you the boost you need to erase fine lines.

WHAT IS IN BOTOX?

Botox is an abbreviation for botulinum toxin. Some people fixate on the word “toxin” but there are no live toxins in this product. The chemical makeup of Botox is carefully formulated to work seamlessly with your body’s chemistry. There are seven types of botulinum toxins, but only strains A and B are FDA-approved for medical use. 

Botox is a neuromodulator, which means that it interferes with the repetitive muscular contractions that contribute to wrinkles. When your muscles twitch, they release a chemical called acetylcholine. When a skilled medical professional injects Botox directly to the site of a particularly tense muscle, the neuromodulator blocks the release of acetylcholine. When the neural dance between the muscles and the nerve endings is disrupted, your expression is allowed to maintain a placid, smooth appearance. 

BENEFITS OF BOTOX

The applications for Botox use are as varied as they are astounding. Because of the neuromodulator’s ability to manipulate unwanted muscular contractions, it has found its way into a wide array of studies and success stories.

Take, for example, the issue of excessive sweating. People who struggle with hyperhidrosis experience flop sweat, even when they are not particularly overheated or physically active. Botox has proven effective in reducing axillary hyperhidrosis. Doctors can inject Botox into the armpit to address the occurrence and persistence of excessive sweating.

AREAS TREATED BY BOTOX

Your aesthetic journey is unique to your image. The way you see yourself is more important than anyone else’s opinion. That is why your desired use of Botox will differ from everyone else’s. This miracle serum can smooth lines and ease tension in a plethora of facial features. The only limits are your imagination.

Botox for Ears – As we age, our ears may sag and wrinkle. Individuals who wear earrings to conceal their unsightly lines may actually be adding to the problem. The skin on the ears is sensitive, and added weight can exacerbate the aging process. You can repair your ears with a special blend called “eartox” that also plumps the sagging contours of your ear with hyaluronic acid. Your ears will perk up and ring in the youthful shape they once enjoyed!

Botox for Eyes – As they say: the eyes are the windows to the soul… and you want your soul to be open and accepting. Botox can eliminate the drooping, creased appearance that often plagues the skin around your peepers. When the bags under your eyes develop creases, no lotion or cream can accurately address the problem. A precise Botox treatment can brighten your perspective and give you a whole new outlook on the world.

Botox for the Forehead – The lines above your brow indicate surprise, elation, and worry. But you do not feel these emotions all the time, so why are those forehead wrinkles sticking around? With a strategic injection of Botox, the lines along your brow are erased. You can show emotion when you want to, not when your muscles decide to clench up.

Botox for Lips – The human mouth wears a lot of hats (metaphorically speaking). It gives us sustenance, it delivers vital communication, and it kisses our loved ones. Show your lips some love by turning back the clock! Minimize persistent lines that stand in the way of your natural attractiveness. Pucker up and consider the benefits of a younger, smoother lip-line. 

Botox for Cheeks – Nasolabial folds are the troublesome creases that appear beside your nose every time you smile. They are sometimes called “parentheses” or “laugh lines” but you may not find them very funny. Botox can bring balance back to your cheeks by ironing out those nasolabial folds, allowing your natural luster to shine through.

Botox for the Chin – The lower face is wildly dynamic. Wrinkles can appear in different places on different people and with dramatically different patterns. If years of expressive movements have altered your chin, consider a Botox treatment. Keep your chin up and fine lines down!

Botox for Wrinkles – With age comes wisdom, but the wisdom may weigh heavily upon you. As you explore the wonders of life, they may cause you to worry, smirk, or trigger a cascade of other expressions. Each of these gestures may add to the wrinkling of the skin. But you know enough to battle back those fine lines with Botox. Wisdom has its perks!

Botox for the Neck – The neck may show signs of aging even faster than the face. It also carries stress, strain, and spasms. All of the above can be address by a healing round of Botox. Neuromodulators can target aching neck muscles that cause aches and pains, relaxing their activity and ushering in a new day of serenity.

Botox for Migraines – A migraine can be devastating. It can cause hallucinations, nausea, and pain for several days at a time. But Dr. Binder is a pioneer in the alleviation of migraines with the help of Botox. During your comprehensive consultation with Dr. Binder, he will ask detailed questions about the nature of your headaches. Do they emanate from the neck, from the temples, or elsewhere? Using his diagnostic prowess, Dr. Binder can administer Botox to the nerve clusters that are most likely responsible for the occurrence and persistence of migraines.
Whether you seek pain mediation or aesthetic improvement, Dr. Binder can help. To reap the rewards of his decades of discovery and innovation, contact Dr. Binder at your earliest convenience.

Can Botox Help with Acne Scars?

Botox, Skin Treatment

Growing up is hard enough without the added stress (and distress) of acne. Many of us endure this indignity during our teen years, but acne isn’t exclusive to adolescents… and the scarring from facial blemishes can last long after the initial bout of inflammation has dissipated.

While the skin care aisle is flooded with products to help consumers fend off oily skin and other agents that cause acne, what about its residual effects? How can you replenish your skin after it has been adversely affected by acne, either in your youth or beyond?

Doctor Binder has an answer that may surprise you.

After engineering, the use of Botox for groundbreaking uses such as migraine alleviation and the cessation of profuse sweating, Binder’s team is putting their skills to work helping those who are plagued by acne scars.

How can Botox reverse the blemishes that acne left behind? Let’s take a look under the microscope…

Acne: An All Too Common Occurrence

As our bodies change, our skin sometimes has trouble keeping up. During adolescence, hormones increase the production of natural oils and new outcroppings of facial and body hair. When follicles get clogged by any of the aforementioned materials, they form bumps and pimples. These are the foundations of acne.

This affliction befalls approximately 85% of all young people during the ages of 12 to 24 years. Over five million Americans per year have such bad incidents of acne that they seek medical attention. The price tag for these visits is staggering, accounting for an estimated 1.2 billion dollars in annual costs nationwide.

The Scars Left Behind

Acne itself is a difficult enough situation, by its ramifications can be even more upsetting. When a pimple or other blemish is treated, your skin naturally produces collagen to replace the damaged cells. This material has a different look and feel than the flesh around it, resulting in an unsightly pockmark.

Pockmarks can also occur after a patient heals from chickenpox or a staph infection. While the particular causes vary, pockmarks linger long after their inception, begging for a remedy that will restore your skin to its former luster.

How Botox Can Help

When you study an acne scar closely, you see that it appears to be stretched and tight. That’s because your muscles have contorted themselves to deliver healing collagen to the site of the scar, and your skin reflects this sense of strain and unease.

The way that Botox works is that it relaxes muscle tissue. That’s how it earned its reputation as a leading cosmetic compound; Botox gets under the flesh and finds the source of the strain. The chemical allows muscle tissue to release, which is why it is so effective in easing laugh lines, worry lines, and other facial markings almost immediately after being introduced to your system.

But the relaxation of muscle tissue is just the first step in the process of healing acne scars. The marks are still present, so extra attention must be paid to the site. That’s where fillers come into the equation.

The Added Need for Fillers

When a blackhead or other unwelcome skin impurity is eradicated (or “popped”), it leaves behind a divot in your skin. While Botox is instrumental in relaxing the taut perimeters of this divot, it can’t fill in the gap.

That’s why fillers are sometimes necessary to help finish the task of repairing the damage caused by acne scarring. Fillers help level the entire site where a scar once appeared, raising divots until they are flush with the plane of the rest of your epidermis.

And now that the acne scar has been treated, let’s get back to Botox to see how we can prevent this situation from reoccurring.

Botox for Skin Care

As previously established, Botox disrupts unwelcome facial deterioration. It smoothes lines and relaxes muscles, but its cosmetic benefits don’t end there. By introducing Botox into your tissue, it can slow the skin’s production of sebum and excess oil. These are the harmful agents that often block pores and trigger an acne outbreak, not to mention how they accelerate the aging process.

Therefore, Botox works on several levels simultaneously. It acts as a preventative to acne formation, it repairs the damage of previous acne scarring by releasing the strain of damaged musculature, and it fights against wrinkles where pores can get easily clogged if they aren’t properly maintained.

Is Botox Right for You?

Your face is as special as you are, and there is no uniform approach to beauty, healthcare, and overall aesthetics. You must express your individuality and style as you see fit; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

If you need guidance on your journey to self-actualization, we can help. Botox may not be right for everyone, but its applications are varied and surprisingly impactful. If you think it may be helpful to solve your specific cosmetic or skin maintenance goals, then contact one of our knowledgeable staff members today.

If you do, indeed, embark upon a course of Botox, you will want the best minds in the field to consult on your case. Doctor Binder has been a visionary in the usage of Botox since its early days. He pioneered its use as a treatment for chronic and debilitating migraines, and he knows how powerful and transformative this compound truly is. If you are curious to learn more, then we are eager to connect.

The Best Female Faces Under 30 in Celebrity Botox

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Billionaires, beauty queens, and branding geniuses. That describes our pantheon of famous faces under the age of 30 who have dabbled in the fine art of Botox. The individuals featured below have harvested unimaginable accolades, all while projecting a standard of luminosity that inspires billions of onlookers to gasp in awe.

While it is inadvisable to copy the look of a specific star when formulating your own aesthetic goals, we can’t help but marvel at the effortless grace that these celebrities display.

The following list features A-list personalities who are unapologetic about their passion for empowerment. They have crafted their respective looks, maintained a charismatic aura, and captured the spotlight in their own unique ways. We celebrate their decisions and ponder how Botox has factored into their recent forays into cosmetic enhancement.

Miley Cyrus (age 26) – She grew up in the spotlight, so youth is part of Miley’s brand. Her father was a blockbuster recording artist in the ’90s, paving the way for Ms. Cyrus to become a Disney Channel superstar. Her face launched millions of magazine covers, not to mention platinum album sales, so it’s an understatement to say that Miley is a picture of success. So how has Botox helped usher Cyrus into her 20’s? A before and after look at her features reveals a few answers. While Miley has never admitted to cosmetic enhancement, her seamless silhouette is a beacon of beauty. From the glaring lights of The Voice to the rigors of a worldwide concert tour, Miley Cyrus has maintained her youthful serenity through it all. She has taken a wrecking ball to expectations and continues to stand tall as the haters crumble all around her. That face exudes confidence, and experts believe that Botox has given her the boost(s) she needs to carry that tune into the next phase of her wildly successful career.

Kylie Jenner (age 21) – One of the most photographed faces in the world, young Jenner is a social media megastar. Her Instagram feed has racked up over 135 million followers, giving her the 7th biggest overall audience on that particular platform (half-sister Kim Kardashian ranks as the number six ‘Grammer). Every contour of Jenner’s look is studied daily by fans who want to emulate her look, and Kylie has recently admitted that she has, indeed, enhanced her youthful appearance with injections. Although she won’t divulge the specifics of her various procedures, Ms. Jenner refutes claims that she underwent cosmetic surgery, instead saying, “They don’t understand what good hair and makeup and, like, fillers, can really do.” Kylie is just one of the many members of Generation Z who are opting for Botox before they “need it”. They’re taking control of their aesthetic, defining beauty on their own terms, and charting new rules by which young people are claiming their place in an ever-evolving world.

Margot Robbie (age 28) – Unlike the Jenner brood, Ms. Robbie has remained tightlipped about her cosmetic regimen. She rose to fame in Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street before becoming an international celebrity and all around style symbol. Margot’s mug is one of the most bankable faces in Hollywood (via Australia); her beauty is unparalleled. Although Robbie is reticent to divulge her beauty secrets, experts have speculated that her dazzling glow can be attributed, in part, to the occasional Botox injection. Her porcelain façade was photographed on every major red carpet event during a whirlwind awards junket in support of Margot’s Oscar nomination for I, Tonya. The world saw every angle, every expression, and every gleaming triumph of Ms. Robbie’s appearance. To withstand that scrutiny, it helps to have some support from a knowledgeable and skilled team of experts who can strategize your ideal look to win over any crowd.

Lala Kent (age 29) – She rocketed to reality TV fame on the hit show Vanderpump Rules before embarking on a big-screen acting career. As the scream queen in the Lionsgate Studios feature film The Row, Kent faced off with a house of horrors without losing face herself. Her visage is iconic, expressive, and endlessly beautiful. In fact, Lala has launched her own beauty line called Give Them Lala, which specializes in creams, highlighters, and makeup products to accentuate the striking beauty in us all. Ms. Kent is open and honest about her affinity for Botox, preferring touch-ups along her jawline and eyebrows. “I feel like,” explains Kent, “if you feel comfortable and you feel beautiful, then you do you, boo.” Spoken like a true ambassador of awesome. That’s la-lovely, Lala!

You (ageless) – That’s right, you’re the final entry on our list of fabulous faces! Your beauty is unquestionable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shape it and present yourself however you see fit. No matter what your ID says, age doesn’t define you. The under-30 celebrities on the list above are just examples of people living their best lives, perhaps with the assistance of Botox, but the compound has a myriad of disparate applications. 

Whether you hope to reduce your facial lines, alleviate migraines, or just polish the perfection that already simmers beneath your surface, Botox is one option in your cosmetic toolkit. To explore the many choices that you face, contact a member of our compassionate care team today. Together, we can strategize the look that’s right for you and show the stars mentioned above that they’ve got some major competition nipping at their high heels!

Positive Life Changes With Plastic Surgery For Women Over 50

Lifestyle, Motivation, Facial Liposuction, Face Lifts, Botox, Skin Treatment

The benefits of facial surgery are more than just skin deep. Of course, there are aesthetic enhancements to these procedures, like the fact that an improved outlook often garners increased visibility from others. Once you are truly seen, then your self-esteem inevitably swells, thus adding to your overall sense of worth.

It’s an upward spiral, especially for women over the age of 50.

As you enter the next phase of your maturity, you take control of your look and your legacy. But the superficial and social ramifications of plastic surgery are merely the most obvious positives outcomes. There are a host of other residual benefits that result from a smart and successful cosmetic strategy for women over 50.

Empowerment

It’s the oldest cliché in the proverbial book: when you look good, you feel good. But there’s a reason why some adages become clichés; it’s because they have a streak of truth running through them.

Case in point: one groundbreaking study indicates that the way you perceive your golden years can actually extend them. Respondents were surveyed over a span of 23 years to gather their opinions on aging, wellness, and happiness. The individuals who had a negative outlook toward getting older tended to succumb to the ravages of age more quickly than those with a more positive disposition. In fact, the optimists in the study lived an average of seven and a half years longer than the more pessimistic group.

It’s a matter of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you dread something, then that something will become more dreadful to you, but if you face your fears, you might be able to overcome them.

Plastic surgery is the ultimate way to confront your feelings about age. When you turn 50, it’s a chance to reassess your values, your goals, and your approach to the outside world. Are you on the right track? What’s your next big move? And what are you doing to treat yourself?

By empowering yourself to grow more independent, you never really grow old.

Confidence Yields Results

Gaining a spring in your step is beneficial for more than just your inner sense of joy. Confidence pays dividends in the workplace. Employers look for a team with energy, professionalism and, yes, confidence – in fact, those are the three traits cited most often by bosses when they are seeking new employees. A decisive 61% of those surveyed ranked confidence as an essential factor in someone they are considering for a potential job.

In other words, by looking the part, you might just get the part.

It’s important to give yourself every advantage you possibly can, especially in the cutthroat corporate world of today. As it stands, women only earn 80.5 cents on the dollar when compared to men’s salaries. This wage gap is unacceptable, and we should all work together to overcome it by any means necessary. A boost in your confidence might just be another tool in our collective toolbox when it comes to conquering gender inequities, one job at a time.

Defying Ageism

Now let’s transition from the wage gap to the age gap. Another factor that affects income levels and overall workplace satisfaction is the maturity of a given group of employees. Americans are working later and later into their lives. Statistics show that the percentage of workers over the age of 65 rose from 12% in 2000 to almost 17% today.

But as workplace age demographics rise, so too do incidents of ageism.

About half of workers over 50 were laid off from their full-time jobs before they were ready to leave them. Of these newly unemployed individuals, only about 10% were able to find a new job that paid the same or more than the one they had just left.

Don’t be a statistic. Take control of your destiny by transcending age and focusing on the ageless. Your beauty is an asset that conveys your strength, wisdom, and commitment. Any employer would be lucky to have you, so don’t be afraid to put your best face forward.

Psychological Benefits

As we get more mature, our psychology also changes. We reflect on our life experience and draw lessons, triumphs, and regrets from years gone by.

We might also accumulate reserves of anxiety and depression as a result.

Turning 50 presents an especially pointed occasion to assess our life’s trajectory. For some, it may be a welcome meditation, but for others it’s daunting. If psychological distress sets in, be sure to consult a trained professional, but also consider the benefits that facial surgery could offer.

One report indicates that cosmetic procedures could actually alleviate the need for antidepressants in some patients. A group of 61 research participants admitted to taking such prescription meds before their plastic surgery, but that number dropped to 42 just six months after their successful procedures. In other words, almost one-third of the study no longer reported the need for antidepressants after undergoing cosmetic surgery.

The Ripple Effect

As you get older, your social circles expand. You have loved ones far and wide, class reunions filled with familiar faces, and a family that loves you no matter what.

By enhancing your own sense of beauty and assuredness, you are sharing your best self with those around you. Your acquaintances will notice your renewed confidence and appreciate the fact that you take pride in yourself then, now, and forever.

Turning 50 can be inspiring. Harness everything that’s great about yourself and don’t be afraid to try something new. Whatever your cosmetic curiosities or ambitions may be, we want to hear all about them. Contact us today and together, we’ll make 60 the new 50.

Trends in Underage Girls Getting Botox

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Growing up and aging are vastly different processes, but they are indelibly linked. Maturing involves more than just getting taller and bigger; it is a psychological process as well.

As we age, we choose how we want to look. We style our hair once it starts sprouting from our heads, we might experiment with makeup, jewelry, or tattoos, and we can explore the world of cosmetic surgery to supplement our natural beauty as it evolves.

But how young is too young for Botox?

We’re taking a closer look at the reasons why some women (and girls) are considering this process at earlier and earlier stages in their lives. No matter what the number on your driver’s license might say, your age is determined by your attitude as much as your duration on this planet, so let’s count down the most common reasons for Botox according to your age bracket…

40’s and Above

As the old saying goes, “Smile and the world smiles with you.” But when that smile fades, sometimes the laugh lines linger. This phenomenon occurs increasingly often for people in their mid to late 40’s, and it is exacerbated if you have endured excessive exposure to the sun.

Thirtysomethings

Many individuals choose to start their Botox regime earlier than age 40, especially if they are exceptionally expressive. Frowning and worrying add lots of unwelcome lines to the face, and may accelerate a cosmetic surgery strategy as needed.

20’s and Younger

Many patients don’t wait for a magic number before they experience the benefits of Botox, opting for preventative injections before they “need” them. This may begin in your 20’s, but trends have indicated that some clients are starting even before that milestone.

Botox: By the Numbers

While many perceptions of cosmetic surgery focus on older generations, the all-important millennial demographic has embraced Botox in greater numbers in recent years. In 2015, the total tally of people in their 20’s who underwent the procedure eclipsed the 100,000 mark in the United States alone. These statistics indicate a 33% increase in that same age group from the year 2010.

Fast forward to 2016, when the age of Botox adoption kept dropping while the number of those using it grew anew. Over 20,000 teenagers (from 13-19, to be precise) received injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A (the scientific name for Botox).

Star Struck

The reasons for this youth-skewing trend for teenage Botox are myriad. Kids spend an inordinate amount of time on social media, which amplifies and complicates one’s relationship with beauty and perception. Add to that the presence of influencers and celebrities, and you have the ingredients for an epic conversation in which users are constantly comparing themselves to an idealized image of what they think they should look like and how they plan to achieve those lofty goals.

While we often hold Hollywood stars to an unattainable standard of perfection, we all dream of being our most striking selves. It’s important to keep our feet grounded in reality, even as we have our heads in the proverbial clouds. Celebrity is largely an illusion, so we can’t try to capture an image that is partially smoke, mirrors, and airbrushing.

Going to Extremes

Botox is a safe and well-regulated option for anyone considering the many benefits that the compound offers its patients. But despite the fact that the procedure is minimally invasive, it’s still invasive. The age of the recipient should be taken into account before embarking on such a directive.

One of the youngest documented cases of Botox use was in a San Francisco girl named Britney. Her mother Kerry wanted to give the youngster an advantage in an upcoming pageant, so Britney’s mom administered the injections herself. Kerry claimed that her daughter was complaining about the wrinkles on her face, so she began delivering five shots at a time to Britney on three parts of her face.

That was when Britney was only eight years old.

This is an extreme case in every sense of the word. It is unclear how Kerry procured the solution in the first place since no doctor would go on record as approving Botox for a child under 10 years old. Britney’s mother took a cavalier attitude toward cosmetic alterations, and that should never be the prevailing attitude in healthcare nor childcare.

The Age of Consent

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Botox in 2002, and they haven’t yet set an age limit on its application. That means that you don’t need to wait until 18 or 21 or any other delineated age to get your parents’ permission to receive the injections.

It is up to the discretion of a doctor whether or not to administer Botox to his or her clients. This is more than a matter of checking an ID; it’s a serious consideration of who the patient is and who he or she wants to become.

The Age of Reason

Any reputable medical staff must not only take into consideration the age of a person visiting their clinic, but also the holistic picture of his or her wellbeing. Is this individual seeking cosmetic surgery for the right reasons, both physically and mentally? Are they mature enough to make decisions about the procedures they desire? How well can they advocate for their own health needs?

These are questions we ask (and answer) every day. No matter how old you are, in years or at heart, we want to guide you forward as openly and honestly as possible. Whether you are considering Botox now or further in the future, it’s worth calling one of our trained, caring professionals to start the conversation. Talk to you soon.

New Trends for Botox

Lifestyle, Botox

The term “botulinum toxin” doesn’t exactly roll off of the tongue, but it is far more common than you think. Going by the brand name Botox, these safe and effective injections are often used to smooth wrinkles along the patient’s skin by relaxing the musculature that creates crow’s feet, laugh lines, and other unwanted facial imperfections.

Over 7 million such procedures take place in the United States every year. Contrary to popular assumption, however, they aren’t all prescribed above the neck, nor are they merely for cosmetic application.

The demographics of Botox users are also shifting rapidly, so we wanted to stay ahead of the latest trends by breaking down a few of them in the following list…

Botox for Nipples

Shaping one’s face is a delicate and intricate process. Every line and pore is precious and unique, so finding the right surgeon is essential. This is more than just a simple process of choosing a name off the internet; you are beginning a conversation that will evolve with every nip and tuck that you strategize with your doctor.

And the nipples are arguably even more delicate than many facial features. They are sensitive, small, and yet vulnerable to the same elements of age and gravity that affect the rest of our bodies and faces.

That’s why Botox might be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to perking up your chest features. A simple injection can make the nipples fuller and more pronounced, fending off the body’s natural tendencies to sag and wrinkle. However, the botox isn’t so stringent that it hardens the region; instead, it provides a natural firmness and yield just like youthful nipples should.

While Kendall Jenner has inspired this latest current craze for Botox breast enhancements, we must advise you to embark upon your own cosmetic journey for your own reasons. The attempts to shadow others’ looks or emulate your favorite celebrity are often fruitless.

Botox for Migraines

Over 3.3 million Americans suffer from chronic migraine pain, but about two-thirds of them haven’t yet received a proper diagnosis. This leads to extended periods of discomfort, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, nausea, and other persistent symptoms of the insidious condition.

Some people suffer from migraine episodes for 8 days out of the month, which is a huge detraction from their work, lives, and general health.

But there may be a simple and effective way to whisk those headaches away. Botox injections along the bridge of the nose, upper back, forehead, and temples can work to alleviate the pain transmitters that exacerbate migraines. The procedure only takes about 15 minutes to conduct, but it should be administered a second or even third time to fully get the benefits of the solution.

And the results speak for themselves: patients who received two rounds of Botox reported having half as many migraines in a given month, and the success rate was about 50%. When the number of sessions rose to five Botox injections, that figure of satisfied patients rocketed to 70%.

While Botox may not be the perfect fit for all migraine sufferers, the data is certainly compelling enough to investigate further with your medical team.

Preventative Botox for Millennials

The aging process doesn’t miraculously begin when you hit age 50 or 60 or (fill in the blank). It starts the moment we’re born and follows us through every day, minute, and second of our lives.

Twenty- and thirty-somethings are the latest demographic to recognize this reality, making them the fastest growing sector of Botox recipients in the cosmetic field. The injections have become yet another tool in the grooming toolbox, just like hair products and selfie sticks.

Speaking of selfies, social media may be a contributing factor when it comes to the rise of millennial Botox use. We live our lives increasingly on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, so why wouldn’t we want to look our best online?

Preventative Botox to the rescue! This is a practice by which young adults begin to tailor their look by manipulating the muscles that will eventually create wrinkles. By tweaking them at a young age, it pushes off the ravages of Father Time even further down the road.

One major benefit of starting the Botox process at a young age is that it melds more naturally with your overall look. For instance, if you wait until your 70th birthday to try cosmetic surgery, then the “before and after” juxtaposition will be stark and sudden. Everybody will notice that you dropped ten years overnight. However, if you gradually incorporate Botox and other such procedures into your beauty regimen, then the results will be more subtle. By shaving off a few years over the course of decades, your evolution is natural; it merely looks like you age less rapidly than everyone around you.

A Doctor for All Ages

No matter where you are in life, from adolescence to mid-life to octogenarian, you always want to look your best. Regardless of your specific cosmetic needs and desires, our multitalented team has you covered.

Headed by the unparalleled Doctor Binder, our experts have the knowledge and experience required to bring your vision to life in a safe, responsible, and effective manner. Call us today and we can discuss any of the concepts above, along with so many other options that meet your unique requirements.

Botox Innovative uses

Surprising Applications of Botox

Botox

 

Ever since its FDA approval back in 2002, Botox has been the go-to injection for people looking to unfurl their wrinkles and eradicate their crow’s feet. But its effectiveness goes beyond the brow; Allergan (the pharmaceutical company that holds the patent on Botox) sees hundreds of potential uses for the wonder drug.

ADDITIONAL COSMETIC APPLICATIONS

Botox immobilizes certain muscles that lead to age lines in the brow, but this functionality can also help reverse several other facial abnormalities.

  •    Cleft Lips – Over 4,000 babies are born with cleft palates and/or lips annually. By introducing Botox to the affected area, doctors can alleviate the scarring process by allowing the afflicted muscles to heal.
  •    Facial Tics – Similarly, a small dose of Botox can reduce the facial spasms that lead to nervous ticks, delivering relief to its recipient.
  •    Crossed Eyes – The FDA has also approved Botox to help the approximately 4% of Americans who suffer from a condition called Strabismus or crossed eyes. The injection helps relax the surrounding tissue so the eyes can properly line up without stressing the muscles.
  •    Jaw and Lip Musculature – A strong jaw can have its benefits, but it may result in a silhouette that looks bulky and misshapen. By injecting these muscles with Botox, you can relax the face and slim down the profile. Also, injections into a “short lip” can help relax it and cover up what is perceived to be a “gummy smile”.

NO PAIN, YOUR GAIN

If you are experiencing chronic pain, be sure to consult a medical professional right away. You may be surprised at his/her diagnosis: Botox. This serum was discovered to be an effective treatment for migraine headaches all the way back in 1992 by a pioneer named Dr. William Binder. It took the FDA almost two decades to catch up, but they finally approved the use of Botox to alleviate migraines in 2010. The procedure involves approximately 30 injections around the head and neck and its benefits last for up to three months.

But headaches aren’t the only pains that can be treated with Botox. Lower back spasms may be reduced with these injections, as can mogigraphia, commonly known as writer’s cramp. The repetitive use of the hand and forearm creates tension in the muscles, but Botox can relax this region and bring relief to the suffering scribe.

Botox is also useful to patients suffering from coldness or tremors in their extremities. Patients could use the injections to counteract their painful esophagus spasms during the process of digestion.

PROFUSE SWEATING

One unexpected by-product of Botox injections is the reduction in perspiration. When doctors began noticing this trend, they started treating patients with severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis, aka profuse underarm sweat, with the aforementioned serum.

BLADDER CONTROL

For people suffering from OAB (overactive bladder), Botox presents a source of relief. A series of targeted injections can relax the spasms of the bladder, providing a treatment for incontinence, especially in patients recovering from spinal cord damage.

PARKINSON’S AND A.L.S.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (A.L.S., also commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease) sometimes trigger excessive drooling by those afflicted. Botox can help curb the salivation process and help restore the patient’s facial control temporarily.

ANAL FISSURES

When the human sphincter spasms excessively, it can overexert the tissue of the rectum. This often leads to anal fissures: painful tearing of the internal rectal walls. Traditional treatment of anal fissures involves nitroglycerin ointment or surgery, but Botox presents a less invasive (and often more effective) third option. By relaxing the sphincter, the fissures are allowed to heal organically.

HEART RATE

One possible future application of Botox injections could be seen in the realm of heart surgery outpatient programs. After enduring an open-heart procedure, some patients suffer from atrial fibrillation or an abnormal heartbeat. Botox could help regulate these palpitations when the heart is at its most vulnerable, giving the subject a much-needed boost on the road to recovery.

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

Another experimental use of Botox involves the treatment of premature ejaculation. By injecting the penis, the surrounding tissue relaxes and delays the subject’s urge to climax. The same material could also aid in female patients who suffer from pain during intercourse. Botox can reduce the spasms in a woman’s pelvic floor, which can lead to discomfort when overactive and/or pronounced.

EMOTIONAL BENEFITS

There is a burgeoning theory in some medical circles called the facial feedback hypothesis. This is the idea that Botox can make a patient look happier, which in turn can actually make them feel happier. It’s impossible to accurately quantify joy or sadness, but we have been trying for millennia. That’s why such clichés as “mind over matter” and “put on a happy face” have endured for so long. Perhaps there is some validity to the psychological benefits of using Botox to battle depression, but the statistical data is still inconclusive.

For more information on the benefits of Botox, consult a true maverick in the field: Dr. William Binder. His friendly and helpful staff can schedule a consultation to discuss your specific needs and guide you forward in your quest for a healthier, happier you.

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How Much Does Facial Plastic Surgery Cost?

Lifestyle, Face Lifts, Procedure Overviews, Botox

For something as important and personal as the appearance of one’s face – arguably the most memorable and distinct feature that each one of us has – there are many people who would like to improve some aspect of their facial appearance, knowing they would like the way their face looks better if they could improve or enhance one or more of its features.

Many others are happy with their facial structure and features but would like to rejuvenate their facial appearance to look more like they did when they were a little younger.

For some, the desire stems from an insecurity about their looks that a facial cosmetic procedure can correct, giving them a valuable boost of confidence and self-esteem. For others, the motivation is simply a desire to look their best.

Whatever the reasons for seeking plastic surgery, one relevant factor in a patient’s decision to undergo a facial plastic surgery procedure is the cost involved, and in the beginning stages of researching the pros and cons of plastic surgery, potential patients want to get an idea of the price of a facial plastic surgery procedure.

You may have found that it’s difficult to get an accurate assessment of the cost without an in-person examination of your face and medical history by a cosmetic surgeon, and an in-depth consultation about your specific goals and desired outcomes for undergoing facial plastic surgery.

Because your face is as unique as your fingerprint, and because the facial enhancements ought to vary by patient, cosmetic surgery to alter facial features is an individualized plan and operation for every patient based on their face and their aesthetic desires.

No two facelifts are the same, each rhinoplasty will be different for each patient, and each eyelid or earlobe procedure is unique. Facial surgery to correct a medical problem (such as rhinoplasty to improve breathing) may be covered by some insurance policies.

There are also multiple procedures to achieve the same result and multiple surgical methods for performing the same procedure:

  • Each with their own pros and cons,
  • Each more or less invasive and prone to complications for a given patient,
  • Each with different requirements for anesthesia,
  • Each with their own typical recovery times,
  • And each with varying limits on the extent of the results that can be achieved.

All of these different factors and the surgical plan you and your doctor choose will determine how much a facial plastic surgery operation will cost for each different patient.

In helping patients to come to a decision about their plastic surgery, a modern, professional cosmetic surgeon will help the patient assess how each separate aesthetic feature of their face contributes to their overall facial appearance. The surgeon will also help determine what enhancements to the brows and eyelids, nose, cheeks or mid-face, lower face and chin, neck and/or the composition of the facial skin, fat, and muscle will achieve the most aesthetic overall result in line with the patient’s goals.

Subsequently, the cosmetic surgeon and patient will develop an individualized surgical plan that addresses the patient’s concerns and desires. Therefore the price of the operation will depend on what each person needs and the amount of time it will take the surgeon to perform the operation.

For something that will affect your life as much as facial plastic surgery, it is important to take your time researching plastic surgeons, reviewing their credentials and experience, reading over their websites, viewing before and after photos, and calling to ask any questions you have after researching online.

The High Cost of Impatience

As the old saying goes, haste makes waste – and it can also be costly. When patients require a second or even third visit to the surgeon, each of these revisions could cost as much as the initial operation. That’s why it’s important to be diligent with your research before undergoing any procedure. Communicate your concerns and questions to your doctor. If he or she doesn’t respond to your satisfaction, then it’s time to ask for a second opinion.

Medical professionals must be just that: professional. They should never rush you into a procedure for which you are not ready.

The ramifications can be dangerous and pricey.

Take, for example, breast augmentation surgery. Last year, the cost of this operation averaged $3,718. Now consider the fact that somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of all breast augmentation patients sought additional surgeries within eight to ten years of their first procedure. This leads to soaring healthcare costs, not to mention the discomfort and inconvenience of repeated recuperation times. In addition to the price of the actual operations, you must also factor in lost salary from work as you take time to heal, not to mention the consultations and residual medical costs involved with each follow-up visit.

Caution is advised for any cosmetic procedure, not just the one detailed above. Rhinoplasty, for example, is a delicate operation that requires an equally delicate touch. Of course, you want a skilled doctor in the O.R., but you also want that exacting attention to detail long before the date of your procedure. Planning ahead is essential, and your physician should map out your unique facial structure before formulating any plans when it comes to reconstruction.

Your cartilage is as individualized as your bone structure. Some people have thick, sturdy reserves of cartilage that is more difficult to reshape. Others have thinner nasal shapes that are extremely vulnerable to change and must be treated as such.

Also, once the cartilage has been reconstructed, your skin must be assessed for its elasticity. Will it conform to your new face? How conducive will it be to breathing and general functionality? Are your cosmetic goals attainable given the parameters of your cartilage and skin, as detailed above? If not, how can you and your doctor work together to re-imagine your plans and move forward safely and effectively?

It’s important to answer these questions before the day of your procedure to avoid the need for a repeat visit. After all, the average rhinoplasty costs somewhere in the vicinity of $5,125 according to recent studies. That’s a price tag you only want to encounter once, so let’s work together to get it done right the first time.

When it comes to facial surgery, the most important consideration is safety and the quality of the results you will achieve. USA Today personal finance correspondent Regina Lewis has sound advice to offer regarding the costs of cosmetic surgery. “Don’t cut quality corners,” she said. “Regardless of the procedure you’re interested in, always look for a top board-certified surgeon. Certification standards can vary.” Lewis outlined the following questions to consider when choosing a surgeon:

  • What is the doctor board-certified in?
  • Is the doctor licensed? Are there any state disciplinary actions?
  • How often has the doctor performed the surgery you are considering?
  • Is the facility where the surgery taking place accredited?

Lewis concluded, “Just because you’re getting a nip and tuck, you never want to cut corners on quality.”

Be wary of plastic surgeons who advertise discounts on their fees. “Bargain” and “surgery” are two words that do not look good together. Discounting the value of any specialized, professional service, especially surgery shows very poor judgment in marketing and calls into question the quality of the face-altering surgery you may receive.

When consulting with your prospective plastic surgeon about the cost of your operation, pay attention to whether your surgeon is carefully listening to you, make sure they truly understand the aesthetic results you hope to achieve and gauge your sense of how available and attentive they will be to you after the operation has been completed. Don’t hesitate to look elsewhere if you have any concern that an operation with them might cost you more than their fee.

About Dr. William J. Binder

Dr. William J. Binder is a facial plastic surgery specialist with over three decades of experience with facial plastic surgery.

For almost three decades, his individualized philosophy and approach to facial plastic surgery has led him to pioneer new techniques for facial surgery procedures and earned him international acclaim for his results.

If you want your facial plastic surgery performed by one of the world’s leading cosmetic surgeons, contact Dr. Binder’s office today to schedule an initial consultation.

Botox for Migraines

What’s the Difference Between a Migraine and a Headache

Health Basics, Botox

Many migraine sufferers have their problems compounded when they don’t fully understand the difference between a migraine and a simple headache. Many people believe that a migraine is “just” a really bad headache, which is an oversimplification that leaves out many of the symptoms that make migraines a nearly unbearable malady for the millions of people who suffer from them.

The good news for migraine sufferers is that in the 1990s, Dr. Binder helped pioneer the effective use of BOTOX treatment for migraines, helping many who suffer from chronic migraines to find the relief they desperately need.

Below is a quick rundown of the important differences between headaches and migraines. Included in the list are some of the most effective treatments for each, including BOTOX treatment for migraines.

 

What Exactly is a Headache?

Headaches are fairly common, and can affect anyone at any age. They can be a mild to intense pain that typically affects both sides of the head.

Headaches are typically most intense around the temples, forehead, and the back of the neck where the spine connects to the skull.

Headaches happen for a number of reasons, including sinus pressure, high stress, muscle tension, dehydration, poor nutrition, and many other causes.

 

What Exactly is a Migraine?

A migraine on the other hand is a severe headache that occurs with a number of other acute symptoms that can include:

  • Intense Nausea
  • Severe pain behind one eye or ear
  • Severe pain in the temples
  • Seeing spots or flashing lights
  • Sensitivity to light and/or sound
  • Temporary vision loss
  • Vomiting

Migraines range from moderate to severe on the pain scale and can make performing everyday tasks difficult or impossible. Many people end up seeking emergency room care for severe migraines, especially if they’ve never experienced one before.

Migraines are also more difficult to treat, and typically last longer than a tension or sinus headache. The extra symptoms such as nausea and vomiting can make it difficult to keep medicine down as well.

 

Differences Between a Migraine and a Headache

A migraine is not just a really bad headache. It is an incapacitating neurological disease with neurological symptoms. In terms of the sufferer’s experience the primary difference between a migraine and a regular headache is the severity of the pain. A full-fledged migraine will involve pain that is much more severe than a typical headache.

Migraines can also present with severe nausea and/or a migraine “aura,” a neurological symptom which includes other sensory issues such as sensitivity to lights or sound, “pins and needles” sensation in the extremities, seeing flashing lights, and even depression and mood swings.

 

Treating a Headache

Headaches can typically be treated very effectively with home remedies or over-the-counter medication, and only rarely require professional medical help.

Some effective medications include:

  • Acetaminophen
  • Aspirin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Caffeine

There are a number of other treatments that have been shown to help as well, including neck stretching, relaxation techniques, meditation, and warm compresses/showers. These are all fairly effective for treating stress or tension headaches.

If you have a sudden severe or unusually persistent headache, contact your doctor immediately as this may be the sign of a serious condition such as migraines, stroke, or some other neurological issue.

 

Treating a Migraine

Migraine treatment is typically much more involved than the treatment for a headache. Typical headache treatments will be minimally effective at best, and will do almost nothing to prevent a migraine.

Unfortunately, there’s not much that can be done to relieve a migraine headache at home, so chronic migraine sufferers learn to identify their migraine triggers and do whatever they can to avoid them.

Common triggers include:

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Aged Cheeses or other Aged Foods
  • Stress

Beyond the preventative measure of avoiding triggers, there are several medication options for treating migraines, but you’ll need to visit a doctor for them.

These include:

  • Antinausea medicines, such as promethazine (Phenergan), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), or prochlorperazine (Compazine).
  • Triptans, such as almotriptan (Axert), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or sumatriptan (Alsuma, Imitrex, and Zecuity).

 

BOTOX Treatment for Migraines

Finally, there have been several studies that have shown that BOTOX injections are extremely effective at preventing migraine headaches in chronic sufferers.

The exact mechanism of action is not yet fully understood. BOTOX has many cellular level inhibitory effects. It is believed that BOTOX actually inhibits pain pathways through multiple actions at the neurotransmitter level and pain fiber level.

BOTOX for migraines: Injection sites – To treat chronic migraines with BOTOX, your physician will make a series of small injections of BOTOX in specific areas across the frontal, temporal and glabellar regions of the forehead. In some instances, it is also injected into the back of the neck. The treatment takes about fifteen minutes.

BOTOX for migraines: Side effects – BOTOX has a considerably high safety profile for cosmetic and medical treatments. BOTOX has been used by patients with various conditions for over 20 years in over 60 countries.

BOTOX has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic migraines. The most common side effects are localized pain, tenderness or bruising at the site of injection. These side effects are normally local and transient in nature.

 

If you are interested in BOTOX injections for migraine treatment, contact Doctor William J. Binder today! Call us at: (310) 858-6749 or use our Contact Page.

Doctor Binder is the physician that pioneered BOTOX treatment for migraines, and is considered the foremost authority on the application of BOTOX for this purpose.

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Botox for Migraines

, Botox

For years, migraine sufferers have dealt with limited or ineffective treatment options for their condition. Sadly, medication options are few in number, and other alternative treatments are marginally effective at best. Fortunately, Botox for migraines can offer safe, effective, long-term relief.

Botox, long used as a way for cosmetic surgeons to bring youthful-looking skin to patients, can now also be used to combat chronic migraines and bring relief to patients that may not have another effective option for treatment. Doctor William Binder pioneered this technique after noticing that Botox patients who also suffered from migraines reported fewer and less severe migraines following their Botox treatment. The treatment has since been adopted by a number of physicians to help bring relief to their patients.

Migraines or Headaches?

There’s sometimes a bit of confusion about what exactly the difference is between a migraine and a regular headache. Neither are particularly fun, but migraines are considerably worse. Migraines can come with nausea, vomiting, pain behind the eyes or on one side of the head, sensitivity to light, smell, touch, and sound, lightheadedness, and blurry vision. Think of it this way: if a headache is an air horn, a migraine is a train horn. Some other migraine symptoms include:

  • Constipation
    ● Mood changes, from depression to euphoria
    ● Food cravings
    ● Neck stiffness
    ● Increased thirst and urination
    ● Frequent yawning

Causes of Migraines

There are a wide variety of things that can cause a migraine. These triggers can include hormonal changes, particularly in women on a hormonal contraceptive, or other individuals undergoing hormone replacement, aged cheese and other salty or overly processed food, food additives such as MSG and aspartame, alcohol (particularly wines with a high sulfite content), stress, skipping regular meals, changes in sleep habits/lack of sleep, and other physical factors such as exertion or head and spinal trauma. Many people also report migraines following changing the weather and rapidly shifting barometric pressure.

So, how have medical practitioners throughout history tried to alleviate their patients’ suffering? It’s been a long, strange trip indeed…

Failed Attempts from the Past

Science has come a long way over the past several centuries, and nobody is more grateful for these upgrades than those who suffer from migraines. Doctors in bygone eras took drastic (and often dangerous) measures to try and cure their wards, but the remedies were often more painful than the condition itself.

Some patients were subjected to the application of a scalding hot iron to try and sear the migraine away. Others were coated in a salve of opium and vinegar until their skulls were slick with the ineffective concoction. Perhaps most notable: one method of treating chronic headaches was to make an incision in the patient’s temple and insert garlic cloves into the fresh wound. Perhaps that would work to keep vampires out of your skull, but it was powerless to migraines.

The 1930s bore witness to a marked improvement in the treatment of this condition. Ergotamine was prescribed to constrict a patient’s blood vessels in an attempt to halt the spread of the headache.

An even more effective class of drug was engineered half a century later; triptans became the gold standard when it came to treating migraines. Even though they have proven beneficial to some patients, triptans can’t prevent the onset of an episode. They can only reduce the duration of a migraine once it has already taken hold, which is a mixed blessing for those who seek help yet desperately want to stave off the next dreaded flood of pain from an imminent recurrence of their condition.

That’s why the pharmaceutical field can really use some help from experts like Doctor Binder when it comes to delivering the treatment migraine sufferers are truly craving.

How Botox Works

Botox is the most commonly used brand of the industrially produced botulinum neurotoxin that is formulated from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Neurotoxin? Bacteria? It sounds a little scary when you think about it that way, but it’s actually completely safe when used by medical professionals. In fact, botulinum toxin is one of the most widely used and understood tools in a cosmetic surgeon’s arsenal, and it has been so for decades.

Botox works by essentially interrupting nerve impulses to muscles. This prevents individual muscles and muscle groups from contracting, which in turn causes wrinkles and frown lines to soften and smooth out. This treatment lasts 3-4 months and can be reapplied as necessary. The side effects for using Botox in this way are minimal and usually only include a bit of bruising at the injection site.

Botox for Migraines

Around 1992, Dr. William J Binder began conducting several studies to dig deeply into the usage of Botox for treating facial wrinkles. During this study, Dr. Binder noticed a pronounced improvement in patients that suffered from migraines who underwent cosmetic Botox. Since then, Doctor Binder has become one of the world’s foremost authorities on Botox usage, and is arguably the leading expert when it comes to treating migraines with Botox.

The exact nature of Botox’s effect on migraines is so far unknown, but it is theorized that Botox interrupts the very same nerve impulses that cause migraines, which is very similar to its effects when used for cosmetic purposes. When used to treat migraines, Botox is injected at several spots around the forehead and scalp, and occasionally on the back of the neck towards the base of the skull. This procedure takes less than fifteen minutes and can be performed during a regular office visit, with the patient returning to work immediately. Patients typically see improvements in 2-3 days and can experience relief for up to three months. The procedure is usually done again shortly before this deadline in order to extend the benefits.

Does It Work?

When you suffer from debilitating migraines, you want to skip all of the jargon and get to the bottom line: will Botox relieve my pain or not? According to recent studies, the answer is a resounding and triumphant YES.

Since pain mitigation is the metric by which we measure success in the realm of migraine treatment, it is important to note that the first such study showed an increase in so-called “crystal clear” days. This is the number of days in a given month when a patient experiences zero discomfort or distress due to migraines.

Even when migraines did occur in the survey group, they experienced a significant decrease in the duration of the wave, meaning that Botox offered a much-needed release from the grip of trauma that their condition.

In a related study, researchers attempted to analyze the benefits of repeat injections in the effort to subdue migraine effects more thoroughly. This pool of patients was asked to assess their progress after two rounds of Botox, and 50% of them responded that their number of days enduring headache pain each month was reduced by half.

When the same group was administered five rounds of injections, the number of them who experienced this measure of success rose to a staggering 70%.

Migraine Help from Doctor Binder

While Botox for migraines can be administered by many medical, and even non-medical professionals, getting help from the experts is much more likely to bring the targeted relief that migraine sufferers need. If you are suffering from migraines, contact Dr. William J Binder today to schedule a consultation and find out if you are a candidate for Botox-based migraine relief.

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