Botox and neuromodulators in Salinas and Carmel

How it works

Neuromodulators relax the small muscles that fold the skin when you frown, squint, or raise your brows. Relax the muscle a little and the line softens; relax it too much and the face goes still. The skill is in the dose and the placement, and in leaving the movement that makes you look like you.

• Forehead lines, frown lines between the brows, and crow's feet
• Subtle brow lift, lip flip, softening of a gummy smile, and jaw slimming for clenching
• Results begin in three to seven days, settle at two weeks, and last three to four months
• About twenty minutes, then back to your day; a two-week check is included

Where we treat, and what each one does

The classic three are only the beginning. Small, precise doses in the right muscle can change how a face rests, smiles, and ages. Not every face needs every area; at your visit we'll map what will actually help.

• Forehead linesSoftens the horizontal lines from raising your brows, while keeping enough lift that your eyes stay open and awake.
• Frown lines, the "elevens"Relaxes the muscles between the brows that make you look worried or tired when you aren't.
• Crow's feetSmooths the lines that fan from the outer corners of the eyes when you smile, without changing the smile.
• Brow liftA few units placed under the tail of the brow let the lifting muscles win, opening the eyes a millimeter or two.
• Bunny linesThe diagonal creases on the sides of the nose when you scrunch, often noticed after treating the elevens.
• Nose tip liftRelaxing the small muscle that pulls the tip down when you smile, so the tip sits slightly higher and the smile reads lighter.
• Lip flipTiny doses along the upper lip roll the border outward for a fuller-looking lip without filler; subtle, and popular before events.
• Gummy smileLowers how far the upper lip lifts when you smile, showing less gum and more lip.
• Downturned corners, the "resting face" fixRelaxes the muscles that pull the mouth corners down, so a neutral face reads content instead of stern. Yes, this is the RBF treatment.
• Pebble chinCalms the chin muscle that dimples and creases when you speak or purse your lips, for a smoother, softer chin.
• Facial slimmingTreating the masseter muscles at the jaw narrows a square lower face over a few months and eases clenching and grinding.
• Nose slimming and nasal flareSmall doses relax the muscles that flare the nostrils or pull the nose wide when you smile, for a narrower, calmer nose.
• Neck slimming, the "trap tox"Relaxing the upper trapezius muscles softens the slope between neck and shoulder, lengthens the neckline, and eases tension.
• Nefertiti neck liftRelaxing the vertical neck bands and the muscle that pulls the jawline down sharpens the jaw and smooths the neck, named for the profile it echoes.
• Neck bandsSoftens the cords that stand out when you tense or speak, on their own or as part of the Nefertiti lift.
• Excessive sweatingUnderarms, palms, or hairline. Blocks the sweat glands' signal for six months or more, and changes summers.

Several of these areas are off-label uses of FDA-approved products, which is routine in aesthetic medicine; we'll tell you which is which and what to expect from each.

Not cookie-cutter Botox

We carry a full complement of FDA-approved neuromodulators, Botox among them, because they behave a little differently in how they spread, how quickly they start, and how they suit different faces. We choose the best option for your anatomy and your individual needs, explain the pros and cons truthfully, and dose for the result you want rather than a standard number of units.

Baby Botox and MesoTox

Baby Botox uses smaller doses across the same areas for a softer effect and more movement. It suits people who are starting early, who want prevention more than correction, or who work in front of a camera. MesoTox places tiny droplets of neuromodulator superficially across the skin rather than into the muscle, which refines pores, reduces oil and redness, and gives the skin a smoother finish, especially paired with microneedling.

Botox for men

More men come in every year, and for the same reasons women do: to look younger and more rested, whether for a camera-heavy job in tech or simply the mirror. Men's faces carry heavier brow muscles and different proportions, so dosing and placement differ, and results are subtle by design. MesoTox can also calm the flushing and redness of rosacea. If you've heard it called Brotox, that's what this is. More on men's care at Mona Medical.

Medical Botox

Neuromodulators have a long history in medicine, and several of the most useful indications are ones we treat here. Because these are medical rather than cosmetic uses, HSA and FSA funds may be eligible; check with your plan.

• Chronic migraine: injections around the head and neck that reduce how often migraines come and how hard they hit
• TMJ and jaw clenching: relaxing the masseter and related muscles to ease pain, grinding, and tension headaches
• Excessive sweating: underarms, palms, or hairline, for six months or more of relief
• Neck and shoulder tension: treating the trapezius muscles, which also slims the neckline

What a first visit looks like

We talk before we treat: what bothers you, how you like to look in photographs, how much movement you want to keep. Then we map the muscles, agree on a plan and a price, and treat the same day if you're ready. Two weeks later we look together and refine anything that needs it.