Why skin ages

In general, how skin ages and wrinkles is a complex process. It isn't just about cellular changes, collagen depletion, hormone loss and damage caused by free radicals; it's a combination of many factors. The lines that appear between your brows (glabella) actually result from muscle movement and the passage of time. After years of crinkling and wrinkling, those lines start to linger longer and can become more pronounced. For women, whose faces tend to be more animated than men's, and whose skin is typically more delicate, these lines may appear exaggerated and more permanent.

What is Botox?

Botox is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is a non-surgical, physician-administered treatment - by our plastic surgeon medical director - that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows and around the eyes. During treatment, very low doses of Botox are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines. Botox treatment is usually done in about 10 minutes, and no recovery time is needed. Within days, you may see an improvement that can last up to 4 months. Results may vary.

The facts about Botox

• In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women surveyed rated the improvement in the appearance of frown lines between their brows as moderate to better one month after Botox, though individual results may vary.
  
  
• Results can last for up to 4 months.
  
  
• Botox has been used to treat a million people in the United States since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 for the temporary treatment of moderate to severe frown lines.
  
  
• The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ranked Botox as the most popular of all physician-administered cosmetic procedures.

Botox FAQs

How does Botox work?
Those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows form over time as the result of muscle activity. Botox is injected directly into the muscles between your brows. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those persistent lines to form.

Is treatment with Botox painful?
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting Botox, your physician may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people return directly to work or normal activity following Botox treatment.

Who should not use Botox?
Botox should not be used in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. Patients with neurological disorders such as ALS, Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

Will I experience any side effects from Botox?
While side effects are rare, the most common side effects include headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea. Less frequently occurring (<3%) adverse reactions include pain in the face, erythema at the injection site, and muscle weakness. These events are thought to be associated with the injection and occurred within the first week.

Will my facial expressions continue to look natural?
Although the results are visible, a treatment with Botox will not radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you "had work done." The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases between your brows.

What will happen if I choose not to continue Botox treatments?
If you do not continue Botox treatments, the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows will gradually look like they did before treatment.

Is Botox affordable?
Certainly. When considering your facial aesthetic options, Botox is quite affordable. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery's 2003 survey, Botox is one of the least expensive facial aesthetic procedures in the United States. It's an investment in your appearence that can also eliminate the need for more expensive surgical procedures.