Botox

Smooth and Soften your Look with Botox

What Is Botox and How Does It Work?

BOTOX Cosmetic® is a protein substance injected into specific muscles of facial expression to soften expression lines in the face.  Botox interacts with the muscles' nerve endings and inhibits the release of the chemical that is necessary for muscle contraction. As the muscles in the treatment become unable to fully contract, the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles will soften and diminish.  Results are not immediate but you will begin to notice softening facial lines within a few days and full effect in 10-14 days. The effects of a single Botox treatment lasts an average of three months.

Benefits of Botox

In addition to factors such as age, sun exposure, and heredity, one of the primary causes of facial lines and wrinkles is repetitive muscle contraction.  Since its FDA approval for cosmetic use in 2002, BOTOX Cosmetic® has helped millions of patients get rid of nagging facial lines and wrinkles.  BOTOX Cosmetic® injections have become the single most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States, with approximately 4 million BOTOX® treatments performed in the US in 2006 alone.

Used properly, BOTOX Cosmetic® dramatically decreases the facial lines caused by repeated facial expressions such as Frown Lines (Between the eyebrows), Forehead Furrows (horizontal lines on forehead) and Crow’s Feet (squint lines on lateral aspect of eyes).  Additionally, Botox can inhibit sweat glands and is an effective, approved treatment under the arms for Hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating)

Botox Side Effects and Recovery

Side effects of Botox are not common but may include headache, nausea, flu-like symptoms and redness and pain at the injection points.  Infrequently, patients may experience muscle weakness of upper eyelid muscles. This side effect usually resolves itself within days, or in rare cases, months after the procedure.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires a warning label on Botox and similar products to warn of a rare, but potentially life-threatening complication if the toxin spreads beyond the injection site.  None of these complications have occurred in people using Botox for cosmetic reasons and the FDA states that cosmetic use of Botox appears to be safe.

You can resume normal activities immediately, but your doctor may advise you to avoid lying flat and avoid vigorous activity for 2-3 hours after the procedure.

Consult a Qualified Physician about Botox

Authentic BOTOX Cosmetic® is produced only by the Allergan company in California.  It must be shipped properly, mixed properly, stored properly, utilized in a concise time frame, and administered by an experienced medical professional within the manufacturer's parameters.

If you are considering Botox injection, consult a qualified doctor about your goals and expectations from the treatment. Many doctors (and even assistants and nurses) perform the Botox procedure. Not all of them have extensive expertise with the injection, proper dosage, or a medical setting that can offer the highest level of quality care. Some may not have knowledge or training in the complex anatomy of facial muscles.  At Dermacare Cosmetic Surgery, Botox® injections are only performed by our board certified medical director.