Botulinum Toxin A

BOTOX® Cosmetic targets one of the underlying causes of frown lines and crow’s feet—the repeated muscle contractions from frowning and squinting over the years. Your specialist will inject these muscles with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce muscle activity. You will begin to notice a visible smoothing of your crow’s feet lines and frown lines between your brows.

Wrinkles result from a combination of many factors. It’s not just about cellular changes that can occur over time, reduction of collagen, or damage caused by free radicals in the sun and the environment. When you frown or concentrate, the muscles between your brows contract, causing your skin to furrow and fold. And when you squint, the muscles around your eyes contract and cause crow’s feet.

BOTOX® Cosmetic works beneath the skin’s surface and targets the underlying muscle activity that causes frown lines and crow’s feet.

What is BOTOX®?

BOTOX® Cosmetic contains tiny amounts of a highly purified botulinum toxin protein refined from the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum – a source that exists in nature.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the most extensively studied medical aesthetic treatments and is approved for cosmetic use in 78 countries. BOTOX® Cosmetic has a record of experience that aesthetic specialists know and trust. And, the safety and efficacy of BOTOX® Cosmetic have been evaluated in both Allergan sponsored clinical trials as well as in 417 peer-reviewed articles in scientific and medical journals.

Approximately 10.9 million vials of BOTOX® Cosmetic have been sold in the United States since 2002, and millions of people have already made BOTOX® Cosmetic a part of what they do for themselves. Today, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the #1 selling product of its kind in the world.

How does BOTOX® work?

BOTOX® blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract or tighten as forcefully, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften.

Will BOTOX® Cosmetic make me look like I’ve had work done?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive treatment. You should not lose the ability to show expression when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained, and a medical expert in facial anatomy. It is important to talk to your practitioner about the results you want from treatment.

What other conditions can BOTOX® treat?

The FDA approved BOTOX® usage in the late 1980s when it was discovered that BOTOX® could stop ailments such as blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking) and strabismus (lazy eye). Since then, aesthetic practitioners have been using BOTOX® for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. BOTOX® is approved for treatment of frown lines on the forehead, crow’s feet, and axillary hyperhidrosis (increased sweating of the armpits). Within the past few years, some off-label indications that have shown an improvement when treated with BOTOX® are migraines, teeth-clenching, stuttering and urinary incontinence.

Who should not have BOTOX®?

The use of BOTOX® during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding is not recommended.  If you have a neurological disease or are allergic to albumin or a constituent (part) of the preservative, you should also not have BOTOX®. Be sure that your practitioner knows about all medications you are currently taking, especially aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, neomycin), aspirin, anti-inflammatories, Gingko Biloba and St John’s Wort.

Are there any side effects?

Side effects associated with the injection may include localised pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising. Rest assured, this will go away within a few hours to a couple of days after your treatment.  Occasionally you may have a small bruise that will take a bit longer to go, but it can easily be covered up.  In very rare instances, heaviness of the eyebrows may be experienced.  This may take up to three weeks to improve.

Although rare, other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may 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 and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes. Contact your practitioner immediately should you experience any of the above-mentioned.

Pre-treatment Care:

It is best to avoid alcohol at least one week before treatment. Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications should be stopped 2 weeks before treatment (if given permission by a physician) in order to reduce the risk of bruising.

Post-treatment Care:

Do not lie down for 4 hours after the treatment. Do not apply make-up for 12 hours after the treatment. Your practitioner may apply safe, treatment-specific camouflage for you if needed. Please avoid strenuous exercise, extreme facial expressions, alcohol consumption and rubbing/massaging the treated areas for 24 hours after your treatment.   Also avoid extreme sun exposure, UV light, freezing temperatures and saunas for two weeks after the treatment.

• Some patients report that being injected with BOTOX® Cosmetic feels like a pinch
• Your practitioner may use ice to numb the treatment area. If you are concerned about discomfort, your practitioner may apply a topical numbing cream before administering your treatment.
• The actual injection process takes about 10 minutes
  Your practitioner will discuss your treatment goals and perform a facial analysis to determine the appropriate treatment areas for you.
• You’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable frown lines and crow’s feet
  BOTOX® Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive treatment. You should not lose the ability to show expression when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained, and a medical expert in facial anatomy.
• Return to your daily routine
  Treatment requires minimal downtime or recovery; it’s often called a lunchtime procedure. You’ll be able to go about your normal routine immediately after you leave your practitioner’s office.
• Real, noticeable results
  You may begin to notice results within 24 to 48 hours for moderate to severe frown lines, with results lasting up to 4 months.