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What is BOTOX?

BOTOX© is one the most exciting developments to hit the cosmetics industry in decades. Tiny injections, done in minutes, can fade away lines that have been present for years.

BOTOX© is the brand name for a natural, purified protein toxin produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. We believe this is a perfect therapy solution for individuals seeking to decrease wrinkles, or expression lines, better known as frown lines or crow's feet.

Unlike surgery, BOTOX© is fast, simple, and minimally invasive, with no down time or recovery. Most people return to work or normal activity following treatment. Within days, they report looking and feeling more natural and relaxed. The actual treatment takes only a few minutes to perform and the BOTOX© takes effect in four to ten days.

Gradually over three to five months the BOTOX© effect will fade and the muscle action will return. When the frown line starts to reappear, a simple repeat treatment is all that is necessary to maintain the desired results. Subsequent treatments may provide more of the desired effect than the previous treatments.

Side Effects

While there are some possible side effects, BOTOX© medical research shows that BOTOX© injections are safe for most people. Even though BOTOX© is a toxin, there have been no known severe side effects. The amount of BOTOX© used in therapy is miniscule and will not spread throughout the body.

BOTOX© is the only Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment of its kind. Cosmetic BOTOX© injections have been approved by the FDA for use by people between 18 and 65 years of age.
 

Patient Pre and Post Treatment Instructions

Pre-Treatment Instructions

There are a few precautions you should take prior to your BOTOX© treatment.

• Avoid using aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicines, St. John's Wort, or high does of Vitamin E supplements for one week prior to your treatment because they may increase bruising or bleeding at the site of your injections.
• Do not consume alcohol leading up to and after your BOTOX© treatment because alcohol can effect the circulation and blood flow in your body, which could impact the effectiveness of your treatment.
• You should avoid receiving BOTOX© injections if you have an infection in the site where the infection will be placed.
• The safety of BOTOX© for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding has not been established.
• You should NOT receive BOTOX© injections if you have a hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the drug formula.
• You should NOT receive BOTOX© injections if you have neurological disorders, such as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease), myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

Post-Treatment Instructions

While there are limited side effects from the use of BOTOX©, there are a few post-treatment instructions you should be aware of.

• The patient is NOT to lie down for 3 to 4 hours following treatment.
• Facial exercise in the area of treatment is recommended (frown/smile for 1 hour).
• Avoid manipulation of the area for 4 hours.
• Avoid touching the treated area within six hours of your treatment. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water.
• Until any initial redness and swelling have disappeared, avoid exposure of the treated area to intense heat (sunlamp or sunbathing).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a wrinkle, and what creates it?

Wrinkles are tiny ridges or furrows on the surface of the skin. They are caused by the gradual loss of elasticity in the skin, which is a gradual reduction in the amount of elastin, and the elastic properties of collagen. Most wrinkles develop as creases because of continuous use of facial expressions over an extended period of time. Frequent exposure to sunshine and smoking has been shown to be contributory factors to early onset of wrinkles.

How is BOTOX© Therapy used?

A few drops of BOTOX© are injected with a tiny needle into the muscle which forms a wrinkle. When BOTOX© is injected, it works on blocking the nerve impulse from reaching the injected area. As a result, the muscle weakens and the skin overlaying the muscle relaxes, which allows the wrinkle in the skin to gradually soften and often disappear.

Does a BOTOX© injection hurt?

When BOTOX© is injected, there is an initial sting for a few seconds. Once the injection is complete any discomfort would subside.

Where is BOTOX© injected?

The most common area of injection is the frown lines between the brows, horizontal forehead lines, and crow's feet near the eyes.

Does BOTOX© affect facial expressions or create numbness?

BOTOX© injections do not affect the nerve; occasional numbness may occur which resolves without any treatment within a short period of time. The effect of BOTOX© is only in the immediate area of the injection, therefore muscles related to facial expressions are unaffected.

How long does BOTOX© Therapy last?

The effects of BOTOX© have been observed to last three to five months after treatment. A touch-up may be necessary in 1-2 weeks, if the desired effect has not been reached. After about 4 months, typically another round of injections is required. After several treatments, the effects may begin to last longer, often six to eight months after treatment.