Botox & Dermal Fillers

Dr. Shiflet underwent extensive training to become certified by the American Academy of Facial Esthetics to provide treatments using both botulinum toxin (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport) and dermal fillers (Juvederm, Belotero, Revanesse Versa). Both are minimally invasive, fast-acting, and require no “down time”. As a dentist, Dr. Shiflet is experienced in the anatomy of the head, neck, and oral cavity performs dozens of injections each day and can make recommendations that compliment your beautiful smile.

BOTOX TREATMENT

Botulinum toxin is a versatile therapy – it can not only reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but also help with headaches, clenching/grinding, and some facial & jaw joint (TMJ) pain. Botox is an FDA-approved treatment that works specifically on muscles, and the wrinkles or pain associated with them.

Botulinum toxin (brand names Botox, Xeomin, Dysport) is NOT in fact a “toxin”. It is a purified protein that is injected into a muscle to decrease how intensely the muscle contracts. If you’re experiencing any of the below, this may be a treatment for you:

  • Fine to moderate lines on the forehead

  • Wrinkles around the eyes (“crow’s feet”)

  • Wrinkles between the eyebrows (“anger lines”)

    Chronic migraines

    TMJ pain

    Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)

The treatment can be confidence-boosting and life-changing, especially when it comes to treating facial pain.  Effects are not seen immediately, but rather take effect anywhere from 2-14 days after injection.   While there is no “downtime”, the most common side effect is mild to moderate bruising around the injection sites, so we recommend scheduling your visit at least two weeks before any major event (wedding, photo shoot, etc). We recommend a two-week follow-up appointment to evaluate results, especially for those who are first-timers. Results last from 3 to 6 months on average and depend on several factors including how quickly your body metabolizes the product, age, and severity of the wrinkles.

DERMAL FILLERS

Dermal fillers can help to reduce moderate to severe facial wrinkles and skin folds that are not caused by muscle action. Dermal fillers, such as Juvederm, Versa, and Restalyne can be used to:

  • Enhance lips

  • Remove lines from nasolabial folds

  • Soften “marionette lines” around the mouth and chin

Dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, which is naturally produced and broken down by our bodies. When the dermal filler is injected, the patient can see immediate results. The most common side effects are swelling and bruising that resolve in a few days to weeks. This is also why we recommend getting dermal filler at least two weeks before any major event. We recommend a two-week follow-up appointment to evaluate results, especially for those who are first-timers. Results last from 3 to 6 months on average.

Trigger Point Therapy

A trigger point is a hyperirritable spot in a tight band of muscle that causes pain that radiates or spreads to other locations. For example, a patient may have a tender spot on a neck muscle that when compressed causes pain that radiates to the top of the head. This pain can sometimes be debilitating for patients and greatly limit their range of motion, causing everyday tasks like turning the head and eating to be uncomfortable. Trigger points are treated with injections, either with local anesthetic or botulinum toxin (Botox, Xeomin). The injection itself breaks up the tight band of muscle that makes up the trigger point, and the addition of Botox or Xeomin can help those effects last longer. Either way, patients tend to get relatively immediate relief that continues to improve over the following days to weeks. To determine whether a patient is a candidate for trigger point injections, an in-depth examination is done beforehand. Generally speaking, most patients are candidates if they are in good overall health and suffer from:

  • Facial pain

  • Pain from TMJ disorder

  • Neck or shoulder pain

We recommend a follow-up visit two weeks after treatment to evaluate results, especially for first-timers. Results last from 3 to 6 months on average.

If you would like to learn more about veneers, please contact our practice to schedule an appointment.