Botox Injections
Why Botox with an oral medicine specialist?
Precise injection starts with knowing what lies beneath the skin. Dr. Andra Rettman, an oral medicine specialist and Chair of the Israeli Society of Oral Medicine, works every day with the muscles, nerves and blood vessels of the face and mouth – and this is the foundation of the Botox treatments at her clinic on Ramban Street in Jerusalem.
Daily anatomical expertise
Precise placement of every injection point and individually tailored dosing, for a natural-looking result: relaxed, not frozen.
Less pain, more control
Full command of anesthesia and pain-reduction techniques. Injections are given with a fine needle, with numbing cream or cooling as needed.
A medical assessment first
Before every treatment, your medical history and medications are reviewed – the same meticulous care that guides her work with complex patients at Hadassah Ein Kerem.
What is Botox?
Botox treatments are non-surgical aesthetic treatments administered by injection. They reduce excessive activity of the facial expression muscles, which softens and can even eliminate wrinkles.
What are the leading Botox treatments?
1. Softening and smoothing wrinkles.
2. Treating expression lines in the upper face, such as between the eyebrows, around the eyes and on the forehead.
3. Brow lift.
4. Treating asymmetry.
Safety First
Botulinum toxin has been used in medicine for decades. The substance has been tested and proven safe and effective, and is approved for use in most developed countries. The treatment itself is short and quick, and is performed without anesthesia and without significant pain. Nevertheless, it is important that the treatment be performed by a licensed physician who specializes in the field.
Frequently Asked Questions About Botox Injections
The treatment must be performed by a licensed physician, since this is a toxic substance that can cause harm at high doses.
An accurate injection procedure requires someone who specializes in the field – both in terms of quantities and dosing, and in terms of injection experience.
In general, the effect of Botox can last 3–4 months. Some patients experience a longer effect, but still in the range of a few months.
In many cases, the effect lasts longer after the second treatment.
Botox is a substance that blocks signals traveling from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle cannot contract after the injection, which softens and relaxes the wrinkles.
Botox injections are most commonly used for forehead lines, lines around the eyes and other wrinkles.
Absolutely. Unlike plastic surgery, the treatment simply enhances your natural features.
The substance works with the body, not against it, and therefore blends well with your current appearance. Note that some redness may appear immediately after treatment.
In most cases, treatment is on the face, with an emphasis on the forehead. The injection is performed with a micro-needle into the muscle(s) or areas you need, as approved by the physician. On average, one to three injections are given per area, as needed.
In the United States, the FDA has approved Botox injections for adults aged 18 to 65.
However, if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of the injection or to botulinum toxin, or have experienced side effects in the past, you must inform the treating physician and obtain approval before treatment.
Generally, yes! There is no age limit for Botox.
Effectiveness depends on the condition of your skin, and every person responds differently.
It is usually recommended to start injections when changes appear in the forehead lines or in the lines around the eyes.
An oral medicine specialist works routinely with the facial and masticatory muscles, nerves and blood vessels of the face, and is skilled in advanced anesthesia techniques. This anatomical knowledge allows precise injection placement, and experience in treating patients with complex medical backgrounds allows a full suitability assessment before treatment.
Injections are performed with a very fine needle. If needed, numbing cream or local cooling can be used to reduce discomfort.
On the day of treatment, it is recommended to avoid lying down for the first few hours, massaging the injected area and strenuous physical activity. Full instructions are provided at the end of the treatment.
Dr. Andra Rettman is an oral medicine specialist, Chair of the Israeli Society of Oral Medicine and a lecturer at the Hebrew University Faculty of Dental Medicine. A graduate of the Hebrew University–Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, she completed her residency in oral medicine at Hadassah Ein Kerem and serves as a senior physician in the hospital’s Department of Oral Medicine, Sedation and Maxillofacial Imaging. The Society operates within the framework of the Israel Dental Association.