BOTOX® FAQs
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 between the brows. 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.
Who is a candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic?
- Patients with coarse wrinkles of the forehead
- Patients with wrinkles around the eyes (crows feet)
- Patients with frown lines between the eyes
- Patients with wrinkles around the mouth
- Patients with downward turning of the corners of the mouth
- Patients with bands in the neck
- Patients with drooping eyebrows
- Patients with excessive sweating
The above are a lot of common uses of BOTOX
® Cosmetic. BOTOX
®
Cosmetic is also used to treat a multitude of other condition such as migraine headaches and spasms around the eyes.
How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX
® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles of
those stubborn frown lines between your brows that form over time as a
result of muscle activity. 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, Dr. Rawji 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.
Is there anything I need to tell my doctor?
Your doctor should know of all your medical conditions, including if you have a
disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -
ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease - myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome). Tell your
doctor about any and all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and
herbal products.
What are the possible side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX
® Cosmetic can cause serious side effects. Side effects of
BOTOX
® Cosmetic include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the
injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision,
decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes. Symptoms of an
allergic reaction to BOTOX
® Cosmetic may include: itching, rash, red itchy welts,
wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help
right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.
Will I still be able to make facial expressions?
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 the frown lines between my brows
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.
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic affordable?
For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery survey, BOTOX
® Cosmetic is one of
the low-entry-cost facial aesthetic procedures in the United States. Consult
your doctor for further information.
