Injectables
Atlanta, Georgia

Woman Receiving Injectable TreatmentInjectables are anti-aging treatments made from a safe form of botulinum toxin, which are injected into the face to reduce the appearance of certain facial wrinkles. Cosmetic botulinum toxins are common and millions of treatments are performed every year. Many happy patients continue to seek out these treatments long-term.

Botulinum toxin injections (also known as neurotoxins) have been used for decades to treat various issues including eye spasms, excessive sweating, and migraines, but these products are now mostly used for cosmetic purposes. We offer many types of brands of botulinum toxin. All of these products treat “dynamic” wrinkles, in other words, the furrows and lines caused by normal, repetitive facial movements such as laughing, smiling, frowning, or furrowing the brow. Over time, these movements cause permanent wrinkles that remain even when the face is at rest.

Injectables work by partially limiting the movement of specific facial muscles to ease these wrinkles, sometimes eliminating them entirely. The treatment is minimally invasive and brief, requiring only a simple injection session, and the results last for about 3-4 months on average.

The most common areas to be treated with injectables are the “elevens” or frown lines between the eyebrows, the laugh lines or “crows’ feet” at the corners of the eyes, and the horizontal furrows that form on the forehead.

Injectables FAQs

Whether you’re interested in injectables for a special event or you’re planning to start a long-term plan of reoccurring treatments, you will need to meet with the aesthetic team. Our experts will walk you through how the treatment works, what to expect, and discuss your goals for treatment with you. You will also get the opportunity to ask specific questions and voice any concerns you may have. While most people are eligible for injectable treatments, you will also have your candidacy for the procedure assessed.

Injectables are an ideal anti-aging solution for a wide variety of people, but not everyone is a candidate for the procedure. The basic requirements are simple: patients must be healthy adults who wish to temporarily improve the appearance of facial wrinkles. Injectables offer powerful treatments that can provide significant improvement in facial wrinkles, patients also need to be realistic about the limitations of the products and realize that another treatment may be more appropriate for some people. Some health problems may also disqualify prospective patients from receiving injectable treatments, including weak facial muscles, high blood pressure, infection, facial skin disorders, and heart disease. Only a cosmetic surgeon can determine individual candidacy.

The injection process for botulinum toxin treatments is quick and fairly straightforward. After the treatment plan has been discussed, the surgeon may numb treatment areas with a topical anesthetic to make the process more comfortable for the patient. After this, the surgeon will carefully inject the product, taking care to preserve a natural appearance and allow normal facial movements. Each treatment typically lasts only 10 to 20 minutes with our expert cosmetic surgeons, and discomfort should be minimal.

Injectables involve minimal discomfort and absolutely no downtime following the treatment. As with any vaccination or needle treatment, the injection site may become slightly sore, red, swollen, or bruised, but these side effects are temporary and subside within a few days. Many people even undergo treatment on their lunch break, then return to work immediately afterward.

Because of the way botulinum toxin works to ease facial wrinkles, some patience is required to see the results, with the effect usually appearing within 2-7 days after treatment.

The FDA has approved for cosmetic purposes, though that approval is specific to certain areas of the face.

Injectable treatments are very safe, and there are few side effects associated with their use. Aside from the normal side effects at the injection site, rarer complications can include:

  • Headaches
  • Droopy eyelids
  • Tiredness
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Dry eyes
  • Allergic reaction
  • Eye problems
  • Neck pain

Any signs of rare side effects should be reported to your cosmetic surgeon immediately.

The use of injectables, neuromodulators, fillers or fat, have become quite sophisticated over the years. It is important that the injector, whether a nurse or physician, be properly trained and have a lot of experience. Many practitioners of all kinds have entered the injectable market. Be very certain that you are a wise consumer. Staying up to date with the vast numbers of injection products and techniques requires someone dedicated to these treatments. The casual injector can never be as good and safe as one specializing in this type of care.

Because it takes a few days for the product to start affecting the facial muscles, results will not become apparent right away. Patients can expect to start seeing improvement within 48 hours and full results a few days after that, depending on the product used and the severity of the facial wrinkles.

Many people are concerned that because injectables affect the movement of the facial muscles, they will not be able to form facial expressions normally, and the results will look unnatural. This is an exaggerated perception of how much the treatment will affect the muscles. Injectables offer natural-looking facial rejuvenation when administered by a qualified provider.

A unit isn’t a typical measurement: it’s a measure of biological activity and number of molecules. Botulinum toxin treatments generally come in 100 unit bottles, and your plastic surgeon will be able to determine how many units you will need in each area to be treated. This amount can be adjusted in future treatments if necessary.

Yes! More and more men are recognizing the benefits of looking more youthful and rested in both professional and personal contexts. Cosmetic treatments for men are on the rise as stigma and suspicion start to fall away. Injectable treatments for men and women work in exactly the same way.

There is no certain age at which you should start injectable treatments, as everyone ages at a different rate, and in different areas of the face. With that said, the average age that people start becoming bothered by dynamic wrinkles is usually during the mid-to-late thirties or early forties. There is no upper age limit on botulinum toxin injections, and many people continue to undergo treatments for years with no ill effects.

Dr. Vincent Zubowicz Headshot

Dr. Vincent Zubowicz is one of the Atlanta areas top plastic and reconstructive surgeons. He is an expert in cosmetic surgery, with years of experience performing many plastic surgery procedures. He offers a personal, customized approach and is dedicated to helping patients achieve the most natural looking results.

Call our office at 470-462-2917 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Vincent Zubowicz.

  • Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

  • Over 30 Years Experience

  • Serves as Clinical Professor of Surgery at Emory University

  • Named Newsweek’s America’s Best Plastic Surgeons 2021