By Dr. Gregory Alan Wiener

Is there such a thing as the "perfect BOTOX"? One need look no further than glowing, smooth-faced celebrities like Vanessa Williams to see that some BOTOX injections are truly works of art. How can patients achieve similarly perfect BOTOX results?

First, be realistic. A wrinkle-free face would be a dream come true for most patients, but it is also a very unrealistic dream for a patient of 40+ years old. An older woman with absolutely no wrinkles appears artificial, and it is very easy to see that she has had 'work done.' Instead, aim for subtle but realistic changes, with minimal and age-appropriate amounts of BOTOX.

Second, remember your individual needs. Depending on your age, facial structure, long-term goals, and collagen, the amount of BOTOX you receive and the location where it is injected will differ. Just because your friend Linda receives BOTOX monthly, this doesn't necessarily mean that you will need the same treatment. BOTOX application differs from patient to patient-after all, you wouldn't use the exact same shade of makeup as your friend, so why would you receive the same BOTOX treatment?

One easy way that doctors can determine a patient's BOTOX needs is to take pictures of their face with a digital camera. Your doctor may try many different angles, and dim and increase the amount of light with each different shot. (Wrinkles will appear differently when the light alternates, which will help to guide your doctor's decision-making process.) He may also ask you to make a range of facial expressions-from smiling to frowning to grimacing. As you examine the pictures later, you will no doubt see a trend in the wrinkle formation. These little facial clues can help guide you and your doctor in deciphering what your problem areas are and how best to treat them.

Third, remember that you will need less BOTOX as the years go by. During your first year of receiving BOTOX, you should come into your doctor's office once every 3 months. After you have received BOTOX for 12 months, you only need to come in once every six months. Not only will you need to receive BOTOX less often, you will also need less BOTOX than the previous year. Return patients generally need 20% less BOTOX. As the face becomes accustomed to the treatment, the wrinkles will decrease and slow in growth. Thus, maintaining a youthful, smoother appearance is really quite simple over time-just two office visits a year with minimal BOTOX each time.

Fourth, don't neglect preventative measures. Research has shown that patients who receive BOTOX when they are younger are more likely to have smoother, natural-looking results than patients who wait until the wrinkles have become fully formed. Preventative BOTOX can actually prevent wrinkles from ever completely forming, meaning that patients need never worry about trying to "undo" wrinkles when it is too late.

Last but not least, the most crucial step in achieving the perfect BOTOX is making sure that you visit only aestheticians and doctors who are licensed in the use of BOTOX. Don't be fooled into the fun or convenience of receiving BOTOX at a "BOTOX party" from a doctor whom you don't know. Credentials and a portfolio of the doctor's work should always be on hand, and all BOTOX should be administered in a sanitary, medical environment.

As long as you take the proper precautions, wrinkle-free, glowing skin can be yours! Turns out, there is such a thing as the "perfect" BOTOX!

Gregory Alan Wiener, M.D.
Chicago Plastic Surgery
7447 W. Talcott, Suite 451
Chicago, IL 60631
773-763-3990 p
www.TheArtofPlasticSurgery.com