Gone (mostly) are the days of the post-injection frozen face, the seemingly emotionless Botox-bot shopping its way down Madison Avenue. As highly trained plastic surgeons in Manhattan’s upper east side beauty mecca, our needlework is getting much more subtle, “smarter”, and more customizable! Over the past year, I have seen a huge increase in younger patients, hoping to incorporate a little Botox into their regular beauty regimen to help prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles, and to set the stage for lovely, natural, beautiful wizening (I don’t like to say “aging”). My patients, both men and women, want to look natural, just a little more refreshed and less stressed. They want to be able to express themselves with their faces- to laugh, get mad and even cry.
Introducing Protox
Often, as part of their jobs, they must be able to express themselves with their faces to be effective and successful. Lucky for us all, with some experience and knowledge, Botox is highly customizable! Introducing what I’ve dubbed “Protox” – custom Botox designed with your professional goals in mind. A personal brand identity is key to one’s career and the face often says it all.
The Case of The Lawyer
Attorneys must have the ability to look disapproving. This patient always needs to maintain a little corrugator movement (this is the muscle group that give you the vertical “11 lines” between the eyebrows, and furrows the brow) in order to successfully argue a case or negotiate a mediation.
When The Psychiatrist is the Patient
A Psychiatrist needs to maintain a sympathetic demeanor without displaying a disapproving, “frozen” look. In contrast to the lawyer, this patient needs to seriously weaken movement in the corrugators so they can relax and listen to what their patients are saying without looking judgy, but keep a little movement in the frontalis muscle (the muscle that raises the eyebrows) so they can still look like they care about what they’re hearing.
Let The Teacher Teach
He needs to maintain the ability to look surprised and to be sympathetic. This patient needs to retain almost all movement of the frontalis muscle that raises the eyebrows, but can often benefit greatly from Botox used to soften the crow’s feet and raise up the arch of the eyebrow.
The Poker Player
This patient needs Botox to retain her poker face and help eliminate the look of surprise (frontalis muscle) and some of the most common facial “tells” such as clenching the jaw and flexing the masseter muscle at the angle of the jaw. (masseter muscle Botox) It’s important for poker players to be able to keep all emotion under wraps.
The Actor Needs to Emote
Performers need to be able to express all emotions, but must also look permanently airbrushed with subtle touches of Botox in a number of areas.
No matter your personal or professional goals, subtle, natural, customized Botox is possible in the hands of an experienced injector!