BOTOX® Cosmetic
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a therapeutic muscle-relaxing agent that is commonly used to reduce or eliminate the appearance of facial wrinkles. It is injected under the skin into areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth to smooth crow's feet, frown and worry lines, and lines on the neck to improve or eliminate those lines and wrinkles associated with muscle contraction. Made from a purified protein, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections block nerve impulses, weakening muscles to relax wrinkles and give the face a rejuvenated look.
The vertical lines between the eyebrows are the direct result of repeated muscular action of the corrugator and procerus muscles of facial expression. Years of squinting and frowning leave deep wrinkles in the skin between the eyebrows. After many years of frowning combined with the weathering action of the sun, the skin is left with deep vertical lines that persist even when the face is at rest. There has never been an easy solution to this problem ... until now! Once BOTOX® Cosmetic has immobilized the muscles for several weeks, virtually all of the noticeable lines between the eyebrows will disappear.
What are the alternative treatments?
Conventional surgery involves a large incision, raising the hairline and cutting the muscles. Newer endoscopic surgical techniques avoid the large incisions, but still involve prolonged healing and the expense of major surgery. Collagen injections can fill some of the wrinkle, but as long as the underlying muscles continue to move, the fold will quickly reappear. Both surgery and collagen injections carry there own unique risks as well.
What are the risks and complications?
The most common problem with injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic is that the muscle is missed, resulting in no change and a need to retreat. If you don't see a difference in your ability to bring your brows together after one week, please call and schedule a follow-up treatment. Rarely (less than 1 in 500 cases), some of the BOTOX® Cosmetic may temporarily weaken some muscle fibers that help raise the upper eyelid. Eyedrops can be used to reverse the effect, although it will spontaneously resolve in a few weeks. Prior skin testing with BOTOX® Cosmetic is not needed, as allergy to the medication has not been reported. Rarely a headache lasting a couple of days has been reported.
What can one expect immediately?
Minimal bruising may occur at the injection sites. Usually there is virtually no sign of treatment within an hour or so of the injections. Makeup may be used directly after treatment, but care should be taken not to press or massage the area for several hours after injection. Heavy physical exercise should be avoided for several hours.
When will BOTOX® Cosmetic take effect?
You will not see the effect for a few days. Generally it takes about 2 weeks for the full effect. There is no change in sensation in the skin, only the ability to wrinkle the brows.
How long will BOTOX® Cosmetic last?
The range that we have observed is 3 to 8 months. After the muscles have been inactive for several weeks, they actually shrink. By keeping the muscle inactive for several months you ease the habit of frowning, preventing lines from coming back. However, should one wish to regain the ability to furrow the brows, one only has to wait until the effect of the BOTOX® Cosmetic has worn off and all voluntary muscle action will return.
Where else can BOTOX® Cosmetic be used?
Although BOTOX® Cosmetic is only FDA-approved to treat the wrinkles of the lower forehead, the horizontal forehead lines, "crows feet" at the corners of the eyes, muscle bands of the neck ("turkey" neck or "string" neck), lines under the eyes, and lateral eyebrows can be treated as well. Although some have tried, BOTOX® Cosmetic should not be used on the smile lines or folds around the mouth - you need all the muscle action you have around the mouth!
If you would like more information on BOTOX® Cosmetic For Wrinkles, please contact our office for an appointment or visit: www.botoxcosmetic.com
Any and all references hereinafter to "BOTOX® Cosmetic" refer to "BOTOX® Cosmetic Purified Neurotoxin Complex", which is a registered trademark of Allergan.