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Home / Treatments / Botox & Neuromodulators
Smoother skin, still your face. Often called Botox, the treatment is a neuromodulator, and there’s more than one.
RESERVE YOUR APPOINTMENTBotox and neuromodulators
“Botox” has become the catch all name for wrinkle relaxing injections, but it’s actually just one brand among several. The category is called a neuromodulator: an injectable treatment that temporarily reduces the nerve signals that tell specific muscles to contract. When those muscles relax, the skin above them smooths out, because repeated movement is one of the primary contributors to these expression lines.
At Astra, neuromodulator treatments are performed by Molly Muecke, MSN, NP-C, a board-certified Nurse Practitioner and national aesthetic educator, using Daxxify and Jeuveau rather than the original Botox brand. Treatments are performed at Astra Aesthetics in Knoxville’s Old City and are customized to each patient’s facial anatomy, movement, and goals.
Daxxify is the newer of the two: it’s formulated with a proprietary peptide excipient and is designed with longer duration in mind. In clinical studies of frown lines, Daxxify demonstrated results lasting approximately six months for many patients, although individual duration varies.
Jeuveau, another botulinum toxin type A neuromodulator, offers an additional option based on a patient’s treatment history, goals, and individual response. Some patients begin noticing results within the first several days.
The most commonly treated areas include the vertical lines between the brows (the “elevens”), the horizontal lines across the forehead, and the fanning lines at the outer corners of the eyes (crow’s feet). These are called dynamic wrinkles because they develop from repeated facial movement and are often most noticeable during expression. Left untreated over years, the constant folding can etch those lines into the skin even at rest, which is why some patients choose preventative treatment before those lines become more deeply established.
The vertical lines between the brows.
The horizontal lines across the forehead.
The fanning lines at the outer corners of the eyes.
Results
Real patients, shared with their permission. Individual results vary.
Filler and neuromodulators
Dosing
Dosing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Muscle strength, the depth of existing lines, facial symmetry, and what the patient wants to preserve (some patients want to keep some expression in the forehead, others want it fully smooth) all factor into how many units go where. At Astra, Molly evaluates the face both at rest and in motion before determining placement and dosing. Rather than applying the same injection pattern to every patient, treatment is designed around the individual face and the amount of movement each patient wants to preserve. The goal is to soften what is distracting while maintaining balance, expression, and a result that still looks like you.
The appointment itself is quick, typically fifteen to thirty minutes. A series of small injections is placed at carefully selected treatment points based on the patient’s individual facial anatomy and movement using a very fine needle. Most patients describe the sensation as a brief pinch rather than significant pain, and treatment is generally well tolerated without topical numbing. There’s minimal downtime: patients typically return directly to work or errands afterward, though Molly reviews individualized aftercare instructions with each patient before they leave.
Results aren’t immediate. The neuromodulator needs time to take effect at the nerve-muscle junction, so patients may begin noticing softening within the first several days, with results continuing to settle over the following one to two weeks. This is why Astra recommends allowing adequate time for the treatment to fully settle before evaluating the final result or considering an adjustment.
Fifteen to thirty minutes of small injections with a very fine needle.
Minimal downtime. Molly reviews individualized aftercare instructions before you leave.
Softening may begin to show.
Results continue to settle.
Duration varies by product, dose, treatment area, and individual response. Molly recommends treatment intervals as part of your care.
Most people describe it as a series of quick pinches. It’s generally well tolerated without numbing cream, and the injections themselves take only a few minutes once the treatment plan has been established.
Results generally begin developing within the first several days and continue to settle over approximately one to two weeks. Duration varies by product, dose, treatment area, and individual response. Daxxify demonstrated approximately six-month duration for many patients in clinical studies of frown lines.
Downtime is minimal. Most patients resume normal activity immediately, although temporary redness, swelling, or bruising at an injection site can occur. Molly provides individualized aftercare instructions following treatment.
Botox is one specific brand within the neuromodulator category. Astra uses Daxxify and Jeuveau, two FDA-approved botulinum toxin type A products with different formulations and clinical characteristics. Molly can recommend an option based on your treatment history, anatomy, goals, and preferences.
That isn’t the goal at Astra. Treatment is customized to your anatomy and to how much movement you want to preserve. Some patients prefer noticeable movement and subtle softening, while others want a smoother result. Molly tailors placement and dosing to the individual face rather than applying a fixed formula to every patient.
Yes. Neuromodulators and filler address different things (muscle movement versus volume loss) and are commonly incorporated into the same overall treatment plan when appropriate. Patients interested in improving skin quality may also combine injectables with treatments such as SkinPen microneedling, RF microneedling, VI Peels, or the Glo2Facial with RF Pro.
Botulinum toxin type A products have an established history of medical and aesthetic use, but they are prescription medications and aren’t appropriate for everyone. Molly reviews medical history, contraindications, treatment goals, and appropriate treatment intervals as part of each patient’s care.
What makes Astra's approach different
Neuromodulator treatment at Astra is anatomy-driven and highly individualized. I evaluate the face both at rest and in motion, taking into account muscle strength, symmetry, facial proportions, existing lines, and how much movement each patient wants to preserve. I don’t believe in applying the same injection pattern or dose to every face. My goal is to soften what bothers the patient while preserving balance, expression, and the characteristics that make them look like themselves. As a Nurse Practitioner and national aesthetic educator, I approach every treatment with the same emphasis on anatomy, intentional dosing, and natural looking results that I teach to other aesthetic providers.
A common consultation conversation
One of the most common concerns I hear from new patients is “I don’t want to look frozen.” That conversation is an important part of how I plan treatment. Some patients want significant movement preserved, while others prefer a smoother result, and the treatment plan should reflect that individual preference.
