At Cynthia Salter-Lewis MD Anti-Aging and Cosmetic Medicine in Marlboro, NJ, we offer the most effective neuromodulators to help patients treat expression lines on the upper half of the face. Our treatment options temporarily eliminate those lines that can affect your confidence and make you look older, tired, or unapproachable. With a customized treatment plan, you can achieve smoother and younger-looking skin and enjoy long-lasting results.
What Are Neuromodulators?
Neuromodulators are popular cosmetic injectables that work on the muscular level to treat expression lines. When injected into specific facial muscles, the active ingredients, which are called neurotoxins, inhibit communication between the brain and the nerve signals.
When this occurs, the nerve signals don’t tell the muscles to contract, and as a result, the skin can rest. Those expression lines will slowly fade and become less noticeable. In some cases, they can disappear altogether, restoring the skin of your youth.
What Are Neuromodulators Made From?
The active ingredient in neuromodulators is botulinum toxin type A, a protein derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. The formulation used in cosmetic treatments is carefully processed and administered in small, purified, and controlled doses. This allows for targeted muscle relaxation without affecting surrounding areas. The effects are temporary, with gradual nerve signal restoration over time, allowing for retreatment as desired.
Concerns Commonly Treated With Neuromodulators
Crow’s Feet
The fine lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes, known as crow’s feet, develop from repeated squinting, smiling, and sun exposure. These wrinkles tend to appear earlier than other expression lines due to the thin, delicate skin around the eyes. Small amounts of neuromodulator injections placed at the outer corners of the eyes can soften these lines.
Frown Lines
Frown lines, or glabellar lines, form between the eyebrows due to repeated furrowing, concentration, or squinting. Over time, these vertical creases can become more prominent, creating an aged or tense appearance. A neuromodulator treatment in this area relaxes the underlying muscles, smoothing the skin and reducing the severity of deep-set lines.
Forehead Lines
Forehead lines form from years of raising the eyebrows and natural aging. Some people develop fine, horizontal creases, while others may notice deeper folds that remain even at rest. Strategically placed anti-aging injections along the forehead can soften dynamic forehead lines while still allowing you to lift your eyebrows.
Excessive Sweating
Neuromodulators can be used for patients who are experiencing excess sweating that is unrelated to temperature or activity. If you are suffering from this condition, schedule a consultation with us to discuss how these injections can help.
TMJ Pain
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction can cause jaw tension, teeth grinding, and discomfort in the surrounding muscles. This issue often leads to soreness, headaches, and difficulty with jaw movement. Neuromodulator injections in the masseter muscles help relax excessive clenching, reducing pain and relieving pressure on the TMJ.
What Are the Benefits?
Those with expression lines, whether mild, moderate, or more severe, know that these lines are very difficult to treat with topical skin care products alone. Even the highest quality, most expensive anti-aging serums can’t smooth expression like these neuromodulators can. Some other treatment benefits include the following:
- Treatments are quick and take less than 30 minutes to complete
- You can schedule your appointment during your lunch break
- Treatments are comfortable and virtually painless
- Results are long-lasting
- The products are safe and FDA-approved for cosmetic use
- There’s no social downtime
- Maintenance treatments can extend your results
- You’ll look more youthful and completely natural post-treatment
What Types of Neuromodulators Do We Offer?
BOTOX®
BOTOX® is one of the most popular cosmetic injectables available. We can use it for aesthetic and medical treatments to help patients improve their appearance and quality of life. BOTOX® contains an active ingredient called botulinum toxin A that works by relaxing the muscles in the treatment area to accomplish aesthetic, aging-related, and medical goals.
After initial treatment, patients typically see results within the first week, and the best results are visible 30 days post-treatment. Results can last anywhere from three to four months, but some patients metabolize the active ingredient at a slower pace, which makes the results last even longer.
What It Treats
We can use BOTOX® to treat the most common expression lines on the upper half of the face, including frown lines between the eyebrows, lines that run horizontally across the forehead, and those etched crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes. We can also use it to treat TMJ. Injections into various muscles of the jawline and surrounding area can temporarily relax them to alleviate pain and promote an improved quality of life.
We can also use BOTOX® to treat hyperhidrosis, a condition in which patients sweat profusely, typically from the armpits. This condition can cause patients to feel self-conscious about their appearance, but with a customized BOTOX® treatment plan, we can use the active ingredients in the product to block the sweat glands from producing excess sweat temporarily. Regular injections can treat hyperhidrosis long-term and promote patient confidence.
Dysport®
Dysport is a neuromodulator similar to BOTOX® that uses botulinum toxin A as the primary ingredient to relax the muscles responsible for the most common expression lines. This injectable treats frown lines that form between the eyebrows. Injections into the muscles around the eyebrows and in the forehead can prevent muscular contractions, softening the skin and restoring a youthful appearance. Dysport is known for having a formula that diffuses through the injected area more easily. This can create natural-looking results and it may even begin working a little faster than Botox.
After an initial treatment, results are visible within the first few days, and the best results are evident 30 days post-treatment. Typically, results last three to four months, and when you see your frown lines reappear, you can schedule a follow-up treatment to avoid their complete re-appearance.
Xeomin®
Xeomin® is similar to BOTOX® and Dysport®, but what sets it apart is that it’s a highly purified product that doesn’t contain any additional proteins. Its purified formula is specifically designed to treat frown lines between the eyebrows. It can naturally smooth the skin in the area without compromising the integrity of your appearance.
After an initial Xeomin® treatment, results are typically evident within the first two to three days and will continue to improve within the first month post-treatment. Results last approximately three to four months, and regular treatments can help you maintain a frown-line-free appearance long-term.
DAXXIFY®
DAXXIFY® is a revolutionary peptide-driven cosmetic injectable that contains peptides that smooth expression lines for significantly longer than other similar treatments. It’s specifically formulated to treat frown lines between the eyebrows, and after an initial treatment, the results can last six to nine months.
Once injected into the area between the eyebrows, DAXXIFY® results will slowly develop within the first few days, with the best results visible at the 30-day mark. Patients looking for a long-lasting solution for frown lines make good candidates for DAXXIFY®.
Which Product Is Right for Me?
Since we offer a variety of neuromodulators, it may be overwhelming to determine which one is right for you. The good news is that it requires zero guesswork on your part because our injectors can evaluate your skin and primary concerns and then, after asking you some questions about your medical history, determine which is right for you.
All of these injectables make good options for adults with healthy skin and who are not allergic to the ingredients in the injectables. After determining that neuromodulators are a safe choice, we can give you more details about each product and determine which will best meet your needs.
Combining Your Neuromodulators With Other Cosmetic Treatments
These injectable treatments can be paired with other professional skin care treatments and injectables like dermal fillers for enhanced results. Neuromodulators work on the muscular level to treat expression lines, also known as dynamic wrinkles. Dermal fillers add volume back into the skin to treat volume loss, which is why they work so well together.
Neuromodulators can give you younger and smoother-looking skin, but they can’t give you healthier skin. When you combine your neuromodulator treatments with other skin care treatments, like RF microneedling or the PDO thread lift, you can improve the quality and health of your skin and eliminate those dynamic wrinkles.
The Neuromodulator Treatment Process
Evaluation and Mapping Treatment Areas
Before getting started, we assess your facial anatomy and muscle movement to determine the best placement for the injections. Some muscles are stronger than others, and overuse in certain areas leads to deeper lines. By observing your expressions in motion and at rest, we can map out precise injection sites for a natural-looking result.
Injection Procedure
A fine needle is used to place small amounts of neuromodulator directly into the targeted muscles. The number of injections depends on the area being treated—forehead lines typically require several rows of injections along the forehead while crow’s feet involve smaller injections at the outer corners of the eyes. The process takes only a few minutes, and discomfort is minimal. Most patients don’t require numbing to tolerate the pinch of injections, but a topical anesthetic can be applied if needed.
Post-Treatment Expectations and Guidelines
Mild redness or small bumps at the injection sites may appear but usually fade within an hour. The neuromodulator takes time to settle, so schedule your appointment several weeks before any special events. Avoid rubbing or pressing on the treated areas to prevent the product from spreading to unintended muscles. Intense exercise, exposure to heat, and lying flat should be avoided for several hours to allow the injections to set properly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Neuromodulators
How Much Do Neuromodulator Treatments Cost?
Pricing depends on the number of units used, which varies based on the treatment area and the strength of your muscles. Some patients require more units to achieve the desired effect, especially if they have deep-set lines or stronger muscle contractions. During your consultation, we provide a personalized treatment plan with cost estimates based on your goals.
Are Neuromodulator Results Reversible?
While there’s no immediate reversal, the effects of anti-aging injections naturally wear off over time as nerve signals regenerate and muscle movement returns. If adjustments are needed, we can fine-tune future treatments to better match your goals. While dermal fillers can be dissolved, patience is required if you decide not to continue treatment.
What Are the Side Effects of Botox?
In addition to the common side effects of redness, swelling, or bruising, some patients have reported a mild headache or a feeling of tightness in the treated area, which typically resolves within a day or two. In rare cases, unintended muscle relaxation can lead to temporary asymmetry or a drooping eyelid, but this fades as the neuromodulator wears off. Following post-treatment guidelines, such as avoiding pressure on the area, and receiving injections in a reputable clinic with experienced physicians and licensed aestheticians reduces the risk of side effects.
Why Choose Us for Neuromodulator Treatments?
- Physician-Led Care: Treatments are overseen by Dr. Cynthia Salter-Lewis, a physician with over 20 years of experience in cosmetic and anti-aging medicine. As an expert in injectables, she has trained physicians nationwide in the art of facial rejuvenation through injections and is recognized by Allergan as a Platinum Injector.
- A Focus on Natural, Graceful Aging: Every neuromodulator treatment is designed to enhance your natural beauty rather than freeze or overcorrect facial expressions. We specialize in a conservative approach that allows for subtle, youthful refinement.
- Comprehensive Aesthetic Experience: Our expertise extends beyond neuromodulators to include a full range of non-invasive cosmetic treatments. From dermal fillers to laser resurfacing, we create customized treatment plans that address multiple aspects of facial aging.
- Convenient Location: Located in Englishtown, NJ, we proudly serve patients from Marlboro, Manalapan, Freehold, Old Bridge, Morganville, Monroe, and Shrewsbury. Our practice offers a welcoming environment where patients can receive expert care without the need to travel far.
Eliminate Your Expression Lines With Neuromodulators in Englishtown, NJ
If expression lines, TMJ pain, or hyperhidrosis are affecting your quality of life and your confidence, there is another solution. Our customized treatment plans at the office of Cynthia Salter-Lewis, M.D. can help improve your appearance and quality of life. If you want to learn more about these safe and FDA-approved injectables, we can schedule your initial consultation to answer all your questions and design your customized treatment plan. Request a consult online or call us at (732) 724-1294.
