BOTOX COSMETIC

Before Botox	After Botox
Before Botox	After Botox

Botox Cosmetic is a sterile, purified protein which can be used to temporarily smooth out wrinkles of the face and other parts of the body. It is approved in the treatment of the glabellar (frown) lines, which are those lines that appear between and above the eyebrows with frowning. It is very effective in the treatment of the laugh lines or crow’s feet which are those lines that appear around the outer corners of the eyes with smiling or laughing. It can be used to treat the horizontal wrinkles of the forehead. In short, it is a non-surgical means of facial rejuvenation. Other uses are under investigation, such as treatment of migraines and excessive axillary (armpit) sweating.

How long has it been in use?
Botulinum toxin type A has been used for 15 years by ophthalmologists in treating strabismus (crossed eyes), blepharospasm (uncontrolled spasms of the eyelids), and hemifacial spasm (uncontrolled spasms of one side of the face). Its use in cosmetics is a more contemporary development.

Is it safe?
It is very safe. Botox Cosmetic is a protein derived from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is not the actual bacterium, only a purified by-product. It comes vacuum-dried and packaged in a sterile container.

How does it work?
The formation of wrinkles is a complex topic. A simple explanation is that muscle contraction (for example, knitting your brows together in a frown) causes the overlying skin to wrinkle. Constant muscle contraction over a long period of time can lead to more permanent wrinkling of the skin

With normal muscular activity, a nerve impulse results in the release of a special chemical called a neurotransmitter from the end of a nerve terminal The neurotransmitter causes the muscles to contract. Botox Cosmetic works by preventing the release of the neurotransmitter, so the muscles cannot contract. While Botox Cosmetic can be used to treat existing wrinkles, it can also be used for prevention of wrinkles.
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How is Botox Cosmetic administered?
Botox Cosmetic is a non-surgical means of facial rejuvenation, administered by a doctor in an office-setting. It is a simple procedure, usually taking a few minutes. A few tiny injections are all that are required.

How quickly does it work and how long does it last?
The effect begins within days, with a maximal effect by about 2 weeks, with a duration of up to 4 months. It can be repeated as often as every 4 months.

Is there any downtime?
There is no downtime. You can resume activities right away! Unfortunately, you can go back to work immediately.

Is the procedure painful?
No anesthesia is required. Any discomfort is minor and brief. Most patients describe the sensation of a pinprick. Your doctor may offer the option of an anesthetic gel to numb the skin; very few people ask for this.

Is Botox Cosmetic only for women?
Absolutely not! Men can benefit just as much as women, for all the same reasons noted above. It’s no secret that men want to look good, and Botox Cosmetic can help ward off the signs of “maturity”. Botox Cosmetic is not an exclusive club just for women; anyone who wants to look better can join.

Why is there so much variation in what is charged for Botox Cosmetic?
Allergan, the company which makes Botox Cosmetic, recommends a specific dilution of the vacuum-dried drug. The company also recommends a minimum dosage of 20 units (a unit is the smallest increment of drug) to be used for the frown (glabellar) lines of the face. If you see advertisements for Botox Cosmetic that sound too good to be true, it’s probably because the amount of Botox Cosmetic being offered at that price is less than the recommended. This means that you will not have the same effect, and the effect will not last as long. When you ask about price (and that’s the last thing you should ask about), find out how many units are included in the price. Properly given, at the recommended dosage (some people may require more), Botox Cosmetic works well, so much so that it is the most commonly perfomed cosmetic procedure in the U.S. Its attraction is that it is much cheaper than a face-lift, without the risk that surgery entails.

Who is qualified to perform the Botox Cosmetic procedure?
Proper use of Botox Cosmetic depends on the skill of your doctor. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons perform Botox Cosmetic procedures. Ophthalmologists are highly, and arguably uniquely qualified to administer Botox Cosmetic. Ophthalmologists have been using Botox for non-cosmetic applications for some time, and the areas of the face where Botox Cosmetic is most efficient are in the natural arena of the ophthalmologist.