BOTOX® Cosmetic
Performed solely by Dr. Patricia Wilcox, M.D.
BOTOX® Cosmetic performed exclusively by Dr. Patricia Wilcox, M.D. at Sanger Avenue Medical Aesthetics in Waco, Texas.
At Sanger Avenue Medical Aesthetics, BOTOX® Cosmetic is our most requested treatment - and for good reason. It's the most studied, most trusted, and most widely performed cosmetic treatment in the world, with decades of clinical evidence behind it and results that speak for themselves.
Botox works by temporarily relaxing the overactive facial muscles responsible for dynamic wrinkles (the lines that form from repeated expressions like squinting, frowning, and smiling). The result is a smoother, more rested appearance that looks entirely natural when administered with precision and artistry.
At Sanger Avenue, every Botox treatment is performed exclusively by Dr. Patricia Wilcox, M.D. Not a nurse or esthetician, but a physician who understands facial anatomy at the deepest level. A distinction that matters when it comes to results.
Key Differences
What Botox Does
Botox targets dynamic wrinkles - lines caused by repeated facial muscle movement and expression. By temporarily relaxing the specific muscles responsible for those movements, Botox smooths existing lines and prevents new ones from deepening over time. Results are visible, natural-looking, and temporarily (typically lasting 3-4 months before a touch up is needed).
What Botox Doesn't Do
Botox does not add volume, fill in static wrinkles, or lift sagging skin. Those concerns are better addressed by dermal fillers or skin tightening treatments. It also won't make you look frozen or expressionless when administered correctly. The goal is always a refreshed, natural appearance that still moves naturally.
Treatment Areas
Most Common Treatment Areas:
- Forehead lines
- frown lines between the brows (glabellar lines/"11's")
- Crow's feet around the eyes
- Brow lifting
- "Bunny lines" on the nose
- Neck bands (platysmal bands)
Additional Treatment Areas Can Include:
- "Lip flip" (upper lip definition and mild eversion)
- Chin dimpling (mentalis muscle)
- Jawline slimming (masseter reduction)
- Gummy smile
What to Expect:
Treatment Experience:
Your Botox appointment at Sanger Avenue should generally be straightforward and efficient and most treatments take 15 to 30 minutes from start to finish.
Dr. Wilcox will assess your facial anatomy and muscle movement at rest and in motion before treatment, ensuring the injections are precisely place for your specific anatomy rather than following a generic template. A topical numbing cream can be applied beforehand if preferred (not available for 9 AM appointment times), though most patients find the injections very tolerable without it.
After treatment, you can return to normal activities immediately. There are a few things to avoid in the first few hours (lying down, strenuous exercise, and touching the treated areas) but most patients resume their full routine the same day.
Results begin appearing within 3-5 days, with full effect visible at 2 weeks.
Treatment Timeline:
- Days 3-5: Initial effect begins (lines start to soften)
- Week 2: Full effect visible (peak smoothing achieved)
- Months 2-3: Results are at their best, and gradual softening begins
- Months 3-4: Treatment begins to wear off as muslce activity gradually returns
- Month 4+: Time to schedule your next appointment
Frequently Asked Questions
BOTOX® Cosmetic is an FDA-approved injectable treatment containing botulinum toxin type A, a purified protein that temporarily blocks the nerve signals responsible for muscle contraction. When injected into specific facial muscles, it prevents those muscles from contracting, which smooths the overlying skin and softens the lines and wrinkles caused by repeated expression. The effect is temporary and wears off gradually as nerve signal transmission naturally recovers.
The most common treatment areas are the forehead, the frown lines between the brows, the crow's feet around the eyes, and the platysmal bands in the neck, and all four of these are the FDA-approved areas for BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Beyond those, experienced injectors like Dr. Wilcox can also treat bunny lines on the nose, lip lines, chin dimpling, jawline (masseter), and gummy smile.
Dr. Wilcox will discuss appropriate treatment areas based on your specific anatomy and goals at your appointment.
No, not when BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered correctly. The frozen appearance that many patients worry about is generally the result of over injection of neuromodulators and over-filling with dermal fillers. Dr. Wilcox's approach is conservative and aims to achieve a natural, refreshed result that softens lines while preserving natural expression and movement. The goal is that you look like you - just more rested.
Results typically last 3-4 months for most patients, after which muscle activity gradually returns and lines begin to reappear. With regular treatment over time, many patients find their results lasting slightly longer as the treated muscles become conditioned to relaxing. Some patients (particularly those with very active facial muscles or faster metabolism) may find their results wearing off closer to the 3 month mark, while others maintain results closer to 4-5 months.
Results begin to appear within 3-5 days of treatment as the botulinum toxin takes effect. Full results are visible at 2 weeks (this is why follow-up appointments and photos are typically scheduled at the 2 week mark).
If you feel your results are uneven or insufficient at 2 weeks, that is the appropriate time to discuss a touch-up with Dr. Wilcox.
BOTOX® Cosmetic has one of the most extensive safety records of any cosmetic treatment available and has been FDA-approved for cosmetic use since 2002 as well as being studied in thousands of clinical trials. When administered by a qualified physician like Dr. Wilcox, it is a safe and predictable treatment. As with all botulinum toxin products, there are potential side effects including headache, bruising at the injection site, and in rare cases temporary eyelid drooping. The full safety information is listed below, but can also be discussed with you at your appointment.
Safety information
Most patients find Botox injections to be very tolerable. The needles used are extremely fine and the injections are quick. A topical numbing cream can be applied beforehand if preferred (not available for 9 AM appointments). Many patients describe the sensation as a mild pinch at each injection point. Discomfort is brief and resolves immediately.
Botox is typically priced per unit, and the number of units needed varies by patient depending on muscle strength, anatomy, and the areas being treated. Dr. Wilcox will give you a specific unit estimate and cost at your consultation. We encourage patients to focus on the total treatment plan rather than seeking out the lowest per-unit price as the skill and experience of the injector has a direct impact on the quality of your results.
All three are neuromodulators that work through the same fundamental mechanism of temporarily relaxing facial muscles to smooth dynamic wrinkles. The differences lie in their formulations and how they perform.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most established and widely studied option with the most predictable, well-documented results.
Dysport® has a slightly faster onset and wider spread, making it well-suited for certain larger treatment areas.
DAXXIFY® is the newest option, powered by a proprietary peptide formulation that produces faster onset and significantly longer duration than BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport®.
Dr. Wilcox will discuss which is best suited for your goals at your consultation.
Botox is not recommended for patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, patients with certain neuromuscular disorders, patients with hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin or any components of the formulation, or patients with an active skin infection at the planned injection site.
Certain medications can interact with botulinum toxin products, so tell Dr. Wilcox about everything you're currently taking at your consultation, and she will review your full medical history to confirm candidacy.
Absolutely! Botox is one of our most natural combination treatments.
Dermal fillers are the most common companion. Botox addresses dynamic lines while fillers restore volume and smooth static wrinkles. Together, they produce a comprehensive facial rejuvenation result.
Botox also pairs well with Morpheus8, SkinPen, NouvaDERM, HydraFacial, and medical-grade skincare from our SkinCeuticals and Hydrinity lines.
Botox can be done same-day after laser treatments or after VI Peels in their ToxBooster protocol.
Many patients incorporate Botox into a broader treatment plan that keeps their skin looking its best year-round. Dr. Wilcox and her team will help build the right combination approach at your consultation.
Ready to refresh your appearance with the world's most trusted wrinkle treatment? Book your consultation at Sanger Avenue Medical Aesthetics in Waco.
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