Botox Cosmetic

Controlled, small doses of Botox Cosmetic are injected with a very fine needle directly into the muscles that cause frown lines, the corrugator muscle. Frown lines are caused by the bunching of skin from facial muscle contraction, producing a constant furrow, or frown line. Injecting Botox Cosmetic directly into the corrugator muscle weakens it, stopping your ability to draw your eyebrows together when you frown. Since the specific muscles no longer contract, the action of frowning is stopped, and the frown lines soften and diminish, giving you a youthful appearance.

Neurotoxins cause these muscles to relax by blocking the nerve impulse to the muscle. Just a few small injections into the muscles by a licensed Botox injector at Riverchase can reduce the lines associated with different facial expressions. Botox can also raise the lateral eyebrow, lift the corners of the mouth, and reduce turkey bands under the neck and dimpling in the chin. This injectable product can also be used to stop underarm sweating.

While it varies from person to person, it typically can take anywhere from two to 10 days to see the full effects of the neurotoxin. You will start to notice that the wrinkles will soften and the muscles are weaker.

The effects of neurotoxins typically last around three to four months. At this time, you will start to notice that full movement of the muscles will return. We typically tell patients to come back in at this time for evaluation and re-treatment.

Botox Cosmetic has been used since 1980 for the treatment of strabismus (lazy eye) and blepharospasm (uncontrolled eye blinking). Since 1989, it has also been used for hyperfunctional facial lines. There have been many scientific articles showing the positive effect of Botox on facial lines.

In 2002, the FDA approved Botox for the cosmetic treatment of frown lines in the midface, known as glabellar furrows.

As with any injection, there can be temporary swelling, redness, bruising, headache or local discomfort. Rarely, patients have been reported to develop a slight lowering of the eyelid (ptosis), or a slight lowering of the forehead. This is temporary and resolves in a few weeks. Some patients may have an uneven or incomplete response to treatment. Botox®Cosmetic does not reduce the action of the muscles of facial expression distant from the site of treatment.

Patients with neuromuscular disorders should inform their doctor before therapy. Botox treatment should not be administered to women who are pregnant.