What does Botox Cosmetic do?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple, nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that
can temporarily smooth moderate to severe wrinkles and lines. Since its FDA
approval in 2002 for cosmetic use, over a million people have been treated with
Botox Cosmetic. In the field of ophthalmology, Botox has been used by our skincare specialists
since the 1980s.
What areas can be treated?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is used to smooth the wrinkles and lines in the forehead, brow
area and crow’s feet around the eyes.
What exactly is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum
bacterium. It is a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can
temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18
to 65 years of age. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are
administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those
stubborn lines. The treatment is usually done in about 10 minutes, and no recovery
time is needed. Within days, you may see an improvement that can last up to 4
months. Results may vary.
How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
Those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows form over time as the
result of muscle activity. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles
between your brows. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the
injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those
persistent lines to form.
When will I see results from a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment?
Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown
lines between your brows. Lines continue to improve for up to a month, and results
can last for up to 4 months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated
the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better 1 month after
treatment. Results may vary.
How long does BOTOX® Cosmetic last?
Results from treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can last for up to 4 months. If you
discontinue treatment, the frown lines between your brows gradually will look like
they did before treatment.
Is treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic painful?
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your physician may
choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire
procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people are in and out of the
physician’s office without downtime following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.
Who should not use BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic should not be used in the presence of infection at the proposed
injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in
the formulation. Patients with neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia
gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.
Will I experience any side effects?
The most common side effects following injection include temporary eyelid droop
and nausea. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness,
and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection. Patients with certain
neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton
syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.
Will my facial expressions continue to look natural?
Although the results are visible, a treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic will not
radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you "had work
done." The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply
reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases
between your brows.
What will happen to my frown lines if I choose not to continue treatments?
If you do not continue treatments, the moderate to severe frown lines between
your brows will gradually look like they did before treatment.
What should I tell my aesthetic specialist before using BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Only your skincare specialist can decide if BOTOX® Cosmetic is right for you. Before starting
treatment, tell your skincare specialist if you: have any diseases that affect your nerves and muscles. These diseases may increase your chance of side effects with BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment are breastfeeding have an infection where BOTOX® Cosmetic will be injected, are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or planning to become pregnant soon.
Can any of my medicines interact with BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Be sure that your skincare specialist knows the names of all the medicines you are using,
including: aspirin, antibiotics used to treat infections, such as gentamicin, tobramycin,
clindamycin, and lincomycin medicines used to treat heart rhythm problems, such as quinidine
medicines used to treat different conditions, such as myasthenia gravis or Alzheimer’s disease.
As with all prescription medicines, you should also notify your skincare specialist if you are
taking any over-the-counter medicines or herbal products.
Will I be able to make facial expressions?
After treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic, you may look in the mirror and see a
marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows. But BOTOX® Cosmetic will not radically change your facial appearance. You can
still frown or look surprised—without the wrinkles and creases between your brows.
What does FDA Approval mean?
You've heard it many times before: A product is advertised as "FDA-approved." But
what does that really mean? In the United States, prescription drugs and biologics are required to undergo rigorous laboratory, animal, and human clinical testing before they can be put on
the market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the results of these
studies to: verify the identity, potency, purity, and stability of the "ingredients," and demonstrate that the drug is safe and effective for its intended use.
BOTOX® Cosmetic received FDA approval in 2002 for the temporary treatment of
moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is available by prescription only.
What should I expect on the day of treatment?
Here's what you might expect from the moment you arrive
until your procedure is done.
The day of your appointment. Allow time before your appointment for filling out
forms and for consulting with your aesthetic skincare specialist. Many
offices have on-staff licensed aestheticians who are trained in skin care
and skin care procedures who can answer many of your questions.
You may also be asked about your expectations for treatment and if you have any
allergies or any condition that wouldn't make you a good candidate for BOTOX®
Cosmetic.
Before the procedure. You'll be seated in a reclining chair. No anesthesia is
required, although your skincare specialist may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or
anesthetic cream.
The procedure. Your skincare specialist will determine where to administer the injections by
examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The entire
BOTOX® Cosmetic injection procedure takes approximately 10 minutes.
After the procedure. There's no recovery time needed. You're ready to get on with
your day! The most common side effects following injection include temporary
eyelid droop and nausea. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness,
swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection.
Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or
Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.
Seeing results. Within days, you may notice an improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows that can last up to 4 months. Results may
vary
Need additional information?
For more information, please contact our office at 832-300-5593, email us at , or visit our website at
Information obtained from www.botoxcosmetic.com