What is BOTOX® and is it safe?

BOTOX® is a purified protein that blocks the muscles from contracting. It only affects the area where it is placed. The action of BOTOX® typically lasts from 3 to 4 months. The doses used are a fraction of a percent that might be harmful. BOTOX® has been used in safely cosmetic applications for 10 years and in non-cosmetic uses for over 20 years. It has been FDA approved for facial wrinkles since 2002.

BOTOX®, Microdermabrasion and Skin care

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BOTOX® is now more than just treating wrinkles. For example, the face can be “sculpted” by raising or lowering eyebrows to enhance your look. BOTOX® is an excellent complimentary procedure to overall facial rejuvenation. It can be used alone or in combination with facial fillers and skin care from home treatments to laser resurfacing. Most BOTOX®-related problems reported by the media are rare and generally more common with inexperienced physicians. The number of applications is ever increasing. However, glabellar lines (those between the eyebrows) are the only cosmetic use currently approved by the FDA. Any other places are at the discretion of the treating physician and patient.

BOTOX® may help with the following:

Dynamic lines (lasers and peels treat the overlying skin)   Glabellar lines: Deep furrows between the eyebrows Horizontal lines on the forehead Crow’s feet Platysma bands--the thick bands of muscle in front of the neck, BOTOX® may help stave off a facelift Dimpling of the chin from overactive muscles Raise drooping of the corners of the mouth Fine lines around the lips Fine wrinkles under the eyes BOTOX® Browlift: BOTOX® can also be used to raise your eyebrows to create a more pleasing shape and even mimic a browlift without surgery (see photo below, this patient had no surgery, only treatment with BOTOX®)

How is BOTOX® used?

BOTOX® treatments typically have minimal discomfort. We use the tiniest needles available. Plus, each area is pretreated with a strong topical anesthetic that we have formulated for our patients. It is even stronger than EMLA or ELA-Max when applied for at least 15 minutes. BOTOX® usually lasts from 3 to 5 months. Patients may elect to repeat BOTOX® treatments when it fully wears off. However, if the face is re-treated as soon as the muscles start to move, the facial muscles never regain their “memory”. After a number of re-treatments the interval between may become longer.

BOTOX® for neck “platysma bands”

There are a number of potential side effects to BOTOX® treatments. Since a needle is being used, there may be a small “black and blue” spot which is minimized if pressure and ice are used right away. True drooping of the eyelid is rare, and is most often avoided by proper planning of treatments. More likely, relaxing the forehead to smooth lines may eliminate the habit of raising one’s eyebrows. For patients with heavy eyebrows or eyelids, they may actually need to hold their brows up to relieve heaviness from the eyes. In these patients, the brows may appear to fall from the BOTOX® treatment. This may be avoided by treating only the upper brow lines. Patients with this condition may be more appropriately treated by facial surgery.