Botulinum neuromodulators use keeps increasing because when injected and dosed properly they provide fantastic results, and many benefits beyond wrinkles. This includes such exciting areas as depression, excess sweating, headaches and others. Dr. Burroughs has been injecting neuromodulators for reconstructive reasons such as benign essential blepharospasm for about 20 years and for cosmetic about 18 years.
Fortunately, both patients and injectors have moved beyond trying to over “freeze” faces. There is a growing trend to relax the wrinkles without over-freezing to the point that others cannot detect one’s emotions very well. There are now micro-dosing techniques whereupon a higher number of injections are placed yet with smaller amounts of botulinum per site, which one of Dr. Burroughs’ colleagues and friend Dr. Kenneth Steinsapir has pioneered. This allows movement to occur, but for the wrinkles and frowning to appear more relaxed at rest.
Dr. Burroughs was a lecturer for botulinum toxin injection techniques at the 2017 Vegas Cosmetic Surgery meeting, and enjoys contributing and teaching others, but also learning from his colleagues and friends both from the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Joseph has been experimenting with giving mega-doses of botulinum toxin (BT) to the frown muscles areas, and showing that not only is the effect more robust, but lasts much longer. These greater unit injections require the dosing volume to be halved to avoid over dissemination of the BT and potential unwanted effects like drooping of the eyelids.
Alternatively, greater dilution of the BT gives a greater spread of effect and in some areas a more natural relaxation of the area with the same number of units, but a shorter duration of effect. This can be helpful in areas like the forehead and lips. Dr. Burroughs has long used this technique to treat the wide horizontal forehead lines many patients have without causing the eyebrows to droop and while maintaining some natural expressions.
Another evolution in the injection BTs is to treat undesired expression patterns such as the “resting bitchy face” or “Spock or Mephisto” eyebrows. This can improve symmetry, and allow patients to have a more natural relaxed look. Rarely, Dr. Burroughs also helps patients with partial facial paralysis with BTs to help the face look more natural and symmetric. This is a very advanced technique that requires intimate appreciation and understanding of facial musculature anatomy.
Neuromodulators can be helpful adjuncts prior to surgery. An example would be to relax the brow depressor muscles prior to a forehead lift. Botulinum toxins also works great in combination with resurfacing of the skin especially around the lips and crow’s feet areas as it relaxes the areas so they are not “crinkling” while the resurfacing areas are healing.
Wrinkle blockers and wrinkle fillers work great in tandem providing results that help the face look more youthful, beautiful, and natural. The use of these two approaches together also helps the dermal fillers last longer. Springs Aesthetics has become the leading BT injector for all of Colorado for Merz. Dr. Burroughs recommends when it comes to wrinkle blocker and wrinkle filler injections that patients seek out experience. Though results are temporary, waiting for a wrinkle blocker problem to resolve over several months can be an unpleasant and trying experience. He is proud of his results and techniques that he has developed over the last two decades. Many of his techniques he has taught at aesthetic conferences and he has published in cosmetic and surgical textbooks. Dr. Burroughs’ passionate mission as a cosmetic surgeon is to help patients feel better about themselves and their appearances through non-invasive, minimally invasive, and surgical approaches. Call us at 719-473-8801 if you would like a consult to go over your options.