Botulinum toxin A, also known by the brands Botox®, Dysport® or Xeomin®, has been used for more than 30 years with a demonstrated safety record for effectiveness in treating medical and cosmetic problems.
Our dermatologists or dermatologic surgeons may recommend Botox® injections in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, such as chemical peels, soft-tissue fillers or microdermabrasion, to potentially improve the results and possibly prevent new wrinkles and lines from forming.
Botox® injections do not require advance preparation. However, we require that female patients verify that they are not pregnant before receiving Botox injections.
What is Botox?
Botulinum toxin A or Botox®, is a popular, minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that involves small injections of a purified pharmaceutical substance to temporarily reduce or eliminate facial wrinkles. These injections diminish wrinkles that may create a fatigued, angry or sad appearance or other problems such as:
- Crow's feet
- Fine lines around the eyes
- Forehead furrows
- Frown lines
- Neck creases
Many wrinkles on the face, like those around the eyes and forehead, are caused by facial muscles beneath the skin. Botox quickly and safely blocks muscular nerve signals in the muscles so they can't contract, which is the cause of the wrinkled appearance.
What To Expect
Botox does not require anesthesia and patients do not have any "down time" or a recovery period.
During the procedure, a dermatologist will administer small injections of Botox into specific wrinkle-producing facial muscles to obtain the desired results.
The correct use of Botox requires experience and sound medical judgment because improperly injecting Botox could result in unwanted muscle relaxation or facial asymmetry.
After treatment, it may take up to seven days before the full effects of the treatment become noticeable. Botox is temporary and the effects last for three to four months.