Botox / Dysport Injections
Botox and Dysport are the cosmetic forms of botulinum toxin used as an injectable procedure that temporarily reduces or eliminates facial fine lines and wrinkles. I have developed a special technique of injecting Botox that can reshape the face, create natural looking softening while keeping facial expression, or customize it to each patient to their specific aesthetic.
Dr. Cat Begovic is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, California. She is a three-time winner of Best of Beverly Hills Award in the cosmetic surgeons category.
What is Botox / Dysport?
Botox and Dysport are the cosmetic form of botulinum toxin and are popular injectables that temporarily reduce or eliminate facial fine lines and wrinkles. However, I have developed a special technique involving detailed facial muscle analysis and a method of injection that does more than just reduce wrinkles. With my technique, I can re-shape the face, create natural looking softening while maintaining facial expression or create a custom look specific to each patient.
Injections of Botox or Dysport block the nerve signals to the muscle in which it was injected. Without a signal, the muscle is not able to contract and therefore cannot make a wrinkle. There is artistry involved when determining where to inject it, the amount, and also how to preferentially alter the movement of certain facial muscles and produce overcompensation of others to alter the shape. This can help create a brow lift, specifically and precisely targeting how a patient wants to frown or smile, or even asymmetries. As I have many patients who are in the entertainment industry, I have developed methods that allow my patients to look smooth and youthful while maintaining their ability to move their faces and have facial expressions that are critical to their work. For all my patients, I also create a plan for the timing of the treatments and the spacing of them based on their work schedule, and events, as well as how much expression they want to have, or the degree to which they desire maintenance.
I also have many young patients that use Botox in Beverly Hills for wrinkle prevention. I personally started using it in my 20s as a preventative measure. If you think about your skin as a piece of paper – if you don’t fold it, you won’t make deep creases in it. There have been some studies looking at twins, one who received injections routinely 2-3 times a year for over 10 years and the other twin who didn’t. They found significantly fewer fine lines and deep lines in the patient who used BOTOX® Cosmetic injections.
Botox and Dysport procedures require true artistry and meticulous technique. For that reason, I do Botox or Dysport injections myself into my own face. For myself, I use it to slightly lift my brow to open my eye, use it to slightly lower my hairline, prevent crows feet around my eyes when I smile, and have a smooth and wrinkle-free forehead while being able to frown, slightly raise my eyebrows and show emotion – as I am also on camera a lot. I absolutely hate “bad Botox” where the person is over-frozen and has droopy eyebrows, or the opposite, where they have crazy Joker-like eyebrows from the sides going up. My philosophy is that it should take out the wrinkles but allow movement. I do have some patients who like to be more frozen, and some like to have more movement, everyone is different and everyone deserves to have their Botox treatment create the aesthetic they like. I make sure to take the time to understand what every single patient wants and tailor their treatment to them.
Good To Know Before Botox / Dysport Procedure In Beverly Hills
Botox and Dysport injections are true technical art. There are 43 muscles in your face and I take the time to do a detailed analysis of those muscles as well as spend a lot of time in communication with you to create the best aesthetic shape and results for you. Injections may seem like a simple procedure, but having seen patients who have had Botox elsewhere with less than ideal results – heavy brows, joker eyebrows, creation of strange lines or movement, or even worse, incorrect placement resulting in eye movement restriction and double vision, Botox and Dysport procedures are both an art and a science.
To minimize the possibility of bruising, you will need to avoid taking drugs containing aspirin, anti-inflammatories, alcohol, or herbal medications a week before the procedure. Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding cannot have Botox treatments.
What Happens During Botox / Dysport Procedure
Every treatment will start with a detailed facial analysis and discussion at our Beverly Hills location. If it is your first time having Botox or Dysport with me, this consultation and analysis will be extensive. I will take into consideration not only your anatomy, but also any corrections you may want to your facial structure, any asymmetries, or sensations of your face you may want to improve, your preferred aesthetic and degree of movement, as well as any important work or life events you have coming up. For your comfort, you will be numbed with topical anesthetic so you feel no pain. I will also use ice and a special probe that also reduces the possibility of pain. Sterility is extremely important so I will be cleansing your face with different solutions to make sure there is no possibility of infection. A very thin needle is used to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin into specific muscles to create your desired shape and aesthetic based on all things we have discussed and considered. Botulinum toxin treatment injections usually take 30-60 minutes based on complexity and discussion.
Botox / Dysport Results & Recovery: What To Expect
There is no downtime or recovery time for botulinum toxin injections. However, it is important not to rub or massage the treated areas after the procedure because it can cause the botulinum toxin to migrate to another area of your face. If this happens, you could have temporary facial weakness or drooping. Also, you must refrain from using makeup or placing anything that could have bacteria on it on your face for 24 hours. No strenuous activity or exercise for 24 hours.
You may notice results within a few days, but it can take up to 2 weeks to see the full effect. The maximum effect is at around 1 month. Although everyone is a little different, the effects of Botox and Dysport slowly fade over the next 3-5 months. When the effects of botulinum toxin begin to fade, your muscle reactions and the wrinkles slowly start to return. We will create a long-term maintenance plan for you from our Beverly Hills office, and at the end of each treatment plan when the next treatment will be in order to maintain your ideal results.
About Dr. Cat
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Cat Begovic is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. She graduated from Harvard University with Honors in Molecular and Cellular biology. From there she was awarded her medical degree at UCLA, where she also finished two surgical residencies. Dr. Cat has been in private practice since June 2010.
Dr. Cat’s passion for plastic surgery and for women’s transformation, her meticulous attention to detail, and her unique skills have positioned her as a leader in the field of cosmetic surgery.
