Botox & Dysport for Cedar Grove, NJ

The lines that laughing leaves

Crow’s feet are the small creases that spread outward from the corners of the eyes. They are drawn by the orbicularis oculi, the ring of muscle that closes each eye and tightens whenever you squint into the sun, peer at small print or laugh hard. Of all the expression lines they are the friendliest, since smiling makes them, yet over the years many people find the fan stays etched long after the smile has gone. At Montville MedSpa & Pain Center they are one of three areas where neurotoxin treatment most often begins, along with the forehead and the frown lines between the brows.

What treatment changes, and what it keeps

Botox and Dysport are both FDA-approved forms of botulinum toxin type A. Placed at the outer edge of the muscle around the eye, either one blocks the chemical signal that tells it to contract, so the creases relax and the eye area looks more rested. The aim is not a blank stare. The practice’s providers put natural movement first, aiming for a laugh that still reaches your eyes without carving the same deep lines. Over the following months your body breaks the product down and the muscle gradually returns to full strength.

Close to the eye, precision matters

The skin around the eye is thin and the muscles there are small and close together. Rarely, product that drifts from where it was placed can cause a slight droop of an eyelid or brow, and careful placement based on your anatomy is how that risk is kept low. Injections are given by Dr. Donna D’Alessio, MD, whose board certification in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation centers on muscles, nerves and movement, or by nurse practitioners Amy Natalicchio and Tanya Santoro. Dr. D’Alessio reviews and oversees every neurotoxin treatment given here.

Not every line near the eye is a crow’s foot

• Creases that show only when you smile or squint come from muscle, and they are what Botox and Dysport are for.
• A hollow or dark shadow beneath the eye is lost volume in the tear trough, which dermal filler treats rather than a neurotoxin.
• Lines worked into the surface texture of the skin respond better to skin treatments such as microneedling or Sciton’s MOXI laser.
• The forehead and the “11s” are often treated in the same visit, because the upper face moves as one.

From Cedar Grove

Take Route 23 north to Mountainview Boulevard, join Route 202 across Lincoln Park, and stay with it into Towaco, where it turns into Main Road. The office at number 624 is about 16 minutes from Cedar Grove without traffic.

Cedar Grove patients ask

How soon do crow’s feet soften? The first change usually appears between day three and day five, and the full effect settles by days 10 to 14, so allow two weeks before a wedding or photographs.

How long does the smoother look last? Around three to four months for most people, depending on the product, the area and how quickly your body processes it.

Will there be marks? A little redness, swelling or a small bruise where the needle went in usually clears within hours to a few days, and an ice pack helps.

Is there anything to do beforehand? Avoiding alcohol and blood-thinning medicines for up to a week is advised. If a doctor prescribed your blood thinner, ask them first rather than stopping it yourself.

Photos of the practice’s work are on the before & after page, and the full treatment is described on the Botox and Dysport page.

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