Botox® is the most recognizable name in cosmetic medicine, and for good reason — when properly administered, it softens the dynamic lines that form with repeated facial expression without changing what makes your face yours. A well-placed treatment relaxes the furrow between the brows, smooths the horizontal lines across the forehead, and softens the crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes, leaving the face more rested and less tense rather than frozen or altered. The key phrase, though, is “properly administered” — and this is where the distinction between an injector and a plastic surgeon becomes most visible.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs Botox injections at his Athens, Greece practice with the depth of facial anatomy expertise a plastic surgeon spends decades acquiring. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), he presented “Botox and Chemical Peels: Treatment, Care, and Complications” at The Kirklin Clinic of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and delivered Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds at UAB on aging mechanisms and anti-aging practices — academic credentials that inform every injection he performs. He has been featured across Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, Good Morning America, LA Confidential, Vogue Greece, and Elle Greece on emerging trends in facial rejuvenation, and appeared on the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck. Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, Dr. Anastasatos brings surgical-level understanding of facial muscle dynamics to every Botox treatment at his dual practice in Beverly Hills and Athens.

Understanding Botox Cosmetic

Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin type A, a neuromodulator that temporarily blocks the nerve signals responsible for muscle contraction. When injected in precise, small doses into specific facial muscles, it relaxes those muscles just enough to soften the dynamic wrinkles they create with repeated motion. The doses used for cosmetic applications are minute and have an extensive safety record built over more than three decades of clinical use since the treatment first became widely available in the 1990s.

What matters most is not whether Botox is used, but where, how much, and by whom. The facial muscles work in interconnected pairs and balances — over-treat one and the result looks heavy or asymmetric; under-treat another and the desired effect never materializes. A plastic surgeon who has spent decades operating on these muscles understands their relationships in a way that a non-surgical injector often does not.

Common Areas Treated With Botox

Dr. Anastasatos uses Botox to address dynamic lines and selected aesthetic concerns, including:

• Horizontal Forehead Lines: The lines that form across the forehead when raising the brows soften as the frontalis muscle is selectively relaxed.
• Glabellar Lines (11s): The vertical lines between the brows — often called frown lines or “11s” — relax as the corrugator and procerus muscles are treated.
• Crow’s Feet: The fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes soften as the orbicularis oculi muscle is gently relaxed.
• Bunny Lines: Horizontal wrinkles across the bridge of the nose that appear with smiling or squinting are smoothed.
• Gummy Smile: Excessive upper gum exposure during smiling can be softened by relaxing the muscles that elevate the upper lip.
• Non-Surgical Brow Lift: Strategic placement under the lateral brow elevates the tail of the brow for a subtly more awake appearance.
• Jawline Slimming (Masseter): Botox placed into the masseter muscles can narrow the lower face and reduce jaw tension from clenching.

Why Patients Choose Botox

Botox continues to lead the cosmetic treatment industry because it solves a specific problem well, quickly, and discreetly. Common reasons patients pursue treatment include:

• Early Signs of Aging: Addressing the first dynamic lines before they become etched into the skin at rest.
• Event-Driven Refinement: A subtle refresh before a wedding, reunion, professional milestone, or photographed event.
• Preventive Aesthetic Care: Slowing the progression of lines by relaxing the muscles that create them before they become permanent.
• Quick, Discreet Treatment: A fifteen-minute appointment with no downtime fits easily into a lunch break or between meetings.
• Pairing With Fillers or Surgery: Botox complements injectable fillers and surgical procedures as part of a comprehensive rejuvenation plan.
• Functional Benefits: Some patients receive Botox for medical concerns such as excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), migraines, or jaw clenching, often alongside cosmetic treatment.

“Botox is one of the most elegant tools in aesthetic medicine when it is used precisely. My goal is never to erase expression — it is to soften the tension that has accumulated with years of repeated motion, so the face looks rested rather than altered. The patient should still look like themselves, just a little more relaxed.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

What to Expect From Your Botox Treatment

A Botox appointment is quick, comfortable, and requires no recovery. After a brief review of the patient’s anatomy, muscle movement, and aesthetic goals, Dr. Anastasatos marks the injection points and delivers the treatment in approximately ten to fifteen minutes. Most patients return to work or normal activity immediately afterward.

Mild swelling or a small bruise at an injection site is possible but resolves quickly. Results begin to appear within three to four days, with the full effect typically visible at one week. The smoothing lasts approximately three to four months for most patients, though results can last up to six months depending on individual metabolism, muscle strength, and the area treated. Maintenance treatments at three to four month intervals preserve the result.

Frequently Asked Questions About Botox

Will Botox make my face look frozen?

Not when properly administered. Dr. Anastasatos’s approach is to relax the muscles that create unwanted lines without eliminating natural expression. A well-done Botox result is visible to you and to your closest mirrors, but looks simply like a rested version of your own face rather than an altered one.

How soon will I see results?

Most patients notice softening within three to four days, with the full effect visible at approximately one week. The final result depends on your individual muscle strength and metabolism.

How long do Botox results last?

Results typically last three to four months, though some patients see effects persist up to six months. Regular maintenance treatments keep results consistent. Some patients find that their muscles respond to long-term treatment with slightly longer intervals between appointments.

Is there any downtime?

No. Most patients return to work or normal activity immediately after treatment. Light exercise is generally fine after a few hours, and Dr. Anastasatos provides specific guidance to minimize the small chance of bruising — including avoiding alcohol and blood-thinning medications on treatment day when possible.

Can Botox be combined with other treatments?

Yes, and it often is. Botox pairs naturally with injectable fillers, which address static lines and volume loss that Botox cannot affect. It is also commonly used alongside chemical peels, laser treatments, or as a refinement after surgical procedures such as a brow lift or facelift.

Why choose a plastic surgeon for Botox rather than a medical spa?

The injection itself takes seconds, but the judgment behind where to place it — and how much to use — takes years to develop. A plastic surgeon with decades of operating experience on these exact muscles understands their relationships, risks, and nuances in a way that non-surgical injectors often cannot. The result is more predictable, more natural, and less prone to over- or under-correction.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Botox

• Academic Botox Expertise: Delivered “Botox and Chemical Peels: Treatment, Care, and Complications” at The Kirklin Clinic and Grand Rounds on anti-aging practices at UAB.
• Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and FACS designation reflect rigorous, verified surgical training.
• Surgical-Level Anatomical Precision: Two decades of operating on facial muscles inform the exact placement and dosing of every treatment.
• Featured in National Media: Profiled in Reuters, Forbes, FOX News, Good Morning America, Vogue Greece, and LA Confidential on emerging trends in facial rejuvenation.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.
• Dual-Continent Practice: Offices in Beverly Hills and Athens accommodate patients traveling internationally for consistent, surgeon-performed injectable care.

Schedule Your Botox Consultation in Athens, Greece

If you are considering Botox and want the precision of a plastic surgeon rather than the convenience of a medical spa, Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes you to the Athens, Greece office at Palas Kefalari, Kolokotroni 23, Kifisia. A brief consultation will cover your facial anatomy, treatment goals, and the areas where Botox — alone or alongside other treatments — can produce the refreshed, natural result you are looking for. Contact the practice to arrange your appointment with Dr. Anastasatos.