Botox^® FAQ

What causes wrinkles and frown lines?

Frown lines, forehead lines and crows feet are caused by the constant movement of muscles underneath the skin. For example, a wrinkle in the area between the eyebrows may appear and persist because of the repeated, often unconscious action, of frowning. These lines can produce an angry or frustrated look on the face. This is the same for lines by the eyes, often called crows feet, which are caused by smiling or squinting. Raising our eyebrows often will result in forehead lines.

What is BOTOX Cosmetic^™?

Botox is a purified product produced by a bacterium call Clostridium botulinum. This drugs works by weakening the muscles that causes wrinkles. Used in its purified form, in tiny amounts, injection of BOTOX Cosmetic^™ with relax muscles, lessening the appearance of frown lines, forehead lines, and crows feet.

What benefits can I expect?

BOTOX Cosmetic^™ can decrease the strength of the muscle of which it is injected. By relaxing these muscles, frown lines, forehead lines, and crows feet become less visible. The lines seem to disappear or diminish dramatically. It may take a few days to notice the moving affect.

How is BOTOX Cosmetic^™ injected?

Botox is injected into the muscle. Your doctor will determine what muscle to treat to give you the result that you wish to achieve.

How is BOTOX Cosmetic^™ injected?

The treatment itself takes only a few minutes and a very tiny needle is all that is needed. Some patients report minor and temporary discomfort from the injection.

Is there any danger of botulism from BOTOX Cosmetic^™?

No. Given by a trained physician in the correct amount, there is no danger of botulism from BOTOX Cosmetic^™. Botulism is caused by very large amounts of the toxin in the system usually from eating contaminated food. Very high doses, often 100 times more than would normally be used, would have to be injected to cause harm.

How long will it last?

The improvement you will achieve from BOTOX Cosmetic^™ will last anywhere from 3 - 6 months. You will notice a gradual fading of its affect, at which point, you will have to return for re-injection. Some find that it last longer after having multiple treatments and will last months more than it had in the past.

When does it start to work?

You will notice BOTOX Cosmetic^™ beginning to work in 2 - 4 days. It will improve over the following 7 - 10 days.

Where can BOTOX Cosmetic^™ be used?

The most common areas are frown lines, forehead lines, and crow feet. Other areas include the neck and upper lip.

What side effects can be expected?

The side effects are related to the injection of the solution. This may be a slight discomfort from the needle and a chance of a small bruise. A rare side effect, is a temporary drooping of one eyelid. This is short lived and very uncommon in the hands of experienced doctor.

Are there any reasons not to have BOTOX Cosmetic^™?

Botox should not be used on patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a neurological disease.

BOTOX^® and BOTOX Cosmetic^™ are trademarks owned by Allergan Inc.

How is Botox^® done?

This treatment is done by putting very small amounts of this liquid in to the area that is causing the wrinkles or lines.

Is it painful?

In our clinic we prepare the Botox^® with a very mild anesthetic and administer this with the smallest needles available. This allows for very little discomfort when having the treatment, and none immediately after it is done. First time patients always say it was so much easier then they every thought it would be.

What happens after the treatment?

Immediately after you will feel exactly the same as you did before. There is little to no downtime. The improvement you get will usually start on the second to third day after treatment, and gradually improve for the next 10-14 days. This results in a slow natural improvement.

How safe is Botox^®?

Botox has been used as a medical treatment for over 25 years. Typically the doses used in cosmetic treatments are much less than the doses used for medical reasons (such as for muscle spasms, migraine headaches, sweating...). There have been hundreds of studies over many years that have proven how effective and safe this treatment is.

Why do some peoples Botox^® look better than others?

As with most things improvement depends on many variables and one of the most important variable is the person who is administering it. It is often said, "it is not the paint that makes the painting it is the painter". It is very important to see someone who not only has a lot of experience treating patients with Botox, but who is a specialist, is performing the procedure in an approved facility and available to see you for any concerns or questions you may have after the treatment is done.

We believe it is important for this area to look natural when treated. Seeking treatment from an expert will help ensure that results meet your expectations while maintaining a natural result. We don't want people to recognize you had anything done, we just want them to think you look refreshed, well rested and never seem to age.