Menopausal Makeover Series: Part 2 – Botox

Botox is definitely your friend as you try to minimize the effects of aging. We all know men and women who have those permanent “11’s” – vertical lines running upwards between their eyebrows. These stem from years of contracting those “glabellar muscles” from such activities as staring at a computer screen or squinting in the bright sunlight. The good news is that those deep lines do not have to be permanent! If you get 20-25 units of Botox every 3.5-4 months for a year, those lines will soften tremendously. If you want to fast track this, you could also get a small amount of filler injected when you get your Botox.

There is another difference with getting Botox when you are post-menopausal. As you age, those transverse forehead lines that you may not be in love with are caused by the same muscles that hold up your eyebrows. This means that you will be much more prone to getting a descent of your eyebrows, particularly if Botox is injected into the lines extending directly above your eyebrows, all the way up to your forehead hairline. Sometimes it is better to accept the transverse forehead lines above your eyebrows, rather than to also get a descent in your eyebrows. It can be impossible to predict if this will occur for you. Therefore, if you elect to inject Botox into your forehead, it is always better to start with a low dose and see how you respond. If there are no concerns, you can always add more after two weeks.

The crow’s feet often become deeper as you age and frequently, I like to increase the amount of Botox I inject into the crow’s feet from 20 units total for both sides to 25 units total per side, along with 3 small injections per side.This will help with the dynamic lines of movement, as with smiling for example. If you want to decrease those lines when your face is static, you could also do a series of 3 Picosure Laser Facials.

Stay tuned for additional topics in my Menopausal Makeover Series, designed to address the special considerations of women in this time in their life.

If you have any questions, or would like to talk about your specific concerns, please call my office at 703-406-2444 to schedule a private, Consultation with me!