What is Botox® Cosmetic?

Botox® is a medication for injection approved by the FDA to temporarily reduce muscle contractions causing facial expression lines. It reduces frown lines between the brows, crow’s feet, forehead lines, some lines around the mouth and neck, and lifts the eyebrows in a “Botox® Brow Lift”. It is a quick, non-surgical office procedure offering improvement with little time and expense.

What kind of results can I expect?

Forehead lines are softened, the angry look is gone, eyebrows are raised opening up the eyelid, and crows feet are smoothed. You look more rested and less stressed or angry.

When will see results?

In 5 - 14 days.

How is Botox® injected? Does it hurt?

Botox® is injected with a very small needle. Anesthetic cream may be applied before treatment to reduce discomfort.

How long do the results last?

Results last an average 4 to 6 months then treatment is repeated.

What will I look like immediately after the procedure?

Patients return to regular activities immediately. A small bruise at the injection site may occur but disappears quickly.

What are the possible side effects of Botox® Cosmetic?

There are no noted long term side effects. Uncommonly temporary eyelid or eyebrow droop occurs 1-2 weeks after injection, worsens late in the day, and usually lasts less than 1 month. If needed, prescription eye drops may be used to improve it. Headache may occur after treatment. Very rarely, temporary double vision may occur. If the neck is treated, neck weakness may occur. If the area around the mouth is treated, occasionally a temporary lip droop or weakness is possible. Occasionally, antibodies may develop which will make further treatment ineffective, but which have no other known adverse effects. Approximately 3% of patients do not respond to treatment.

Is it safe?

There have been rare reports of heart problems, breathing/swallowing problems and allergic reactions most of which occurred during treatment for medical rather than cosmetic problems. Since many occurred months after injection and many patients had other risk factors the relationship, if any, to the injection is unclear.
Patients with ALS, Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not be treated.
Remember the majority of physicians who administer Botox® have treatments themselves. Believe me they wouldn’t do it if they weren’t comfortable with its safety record.

What’s this scary stuff in the news? Will it freeze my brain?

An Italian medical journal published a study using a compound which was not Botox®, treating rats with doses 150 times more per body weight than used in cosmetic treatment. They didn’t find Botox® or their compound in the brain but rather fragments of a different protein. This study was blown way out of proportion.
Some patients have suffered serious health problems after receiving substances which were fraudulently represented as Botox®. Neither Botox® nor Botox® Cosmetic were in any way involved with these unfortunate events.

Can I have Botox® Cosmetic treatment if I have already had or are planning to have other cosmetic procedures?

What about Juvederm™ - Botox® combination or Restylane® - Botox® combination?

Yes, it is compatible with most cosmetic procedures. Especially effective is a Botox®-Juvederm™ combination or Botox® - Restylane® combination. The Botox® weakens the muscle to reduce the muscle action, and the Juvederm™ or Restylane® fills in any etched leftover line.

I have heard about Botox® migraine treatment?

Although not specifically approved by the FDA, BOTOX® migraine treatment is often effective.

Why is there such a difference in price of Botox®?

Botox® is diluted in the physician's office before treatment. Sometimes to encourage patients to try it or to win price shoppers, it is diluted more or a smaller dose is given. This decreases cost but often gives a less complete response and shorter duration of effect.
International Units are the standard dose measurement system for Botox®. It is priced by the unit not by the site treated. The actual price by unit varies very little among physicians. There may be a slight differential for expertise, numbing and additional complimentary treatments. Ask how many units are used and compare price by the unit and the degree and duration of improvement to the cost.

Any other tips to get the best results?

The experience of the physician injecting the Botox® and whether that physician is trained in one of the core aesthetic specialties (Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Opthamology and Oculo-Plastics) also plays a significant role in the results you will achieve. In our office I do all Botox® injections. I feel that it is a procedure that should only be performed by physicians.