BOTOX®
IS BOTOX® COSMETIC RIGHT FOR ME?
IT"S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION...
Having a treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic is one way that you can invest in your appearance. Talking with your physician will help determine if BOTOX® Cosmetic is right for you. BOTOX® Cosmetic was the most popular physician-administered aesthetic procedure in the United States for the fourth year in a row (surgical and nonsurgical combined). The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) estimates that almost 3.3 million treatments were performed in 2005 alone—that's an increase of almost 16% over 2004. BOTOX® Cosmetic is the only treatment approved by the FDA for the temporary relief of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age. With one simple 10-minute treatment, results can be seen within a couple of days and can last for up to 4 months. Individual results may vary.
photo courtesy of botoxcosmetic.com
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What exactly is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines between the brows. The 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.
How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles of those stubborn frown lines between your brows that form over time as a result of muscle activity. 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.
When will I see results from a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment?
Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows. Lines continue to improve for up to a month, and results can last for up to 4 months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better 1 month after treatment. Results may vary.
How long does BOTOX® Cosmetic last?
Results from treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can last for up to 4 months. If you discontinue treatment, the frown lines between your brows gradually will look like they did before treatment.
Is treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic painful?
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your physician may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people are in and out of the physician’s office without downtime following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.
Is there anything I need to tell my doctor?
Your doctor should know of all your medical conditions, including if you have a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease - myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome). Tell your doctor about any and all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
What are the possible side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic can cause serious side effects. See “what is the most important information I should know about BOTOX® Cosmetic?” in Medication Guide. Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic 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, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to BOTOX® Cosmetic may include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.
Will I still be able to make facial expressions?
Although the results are visible, a treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic 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 to the frown lines between my brows if I choose not to continue treatments?
If you do not continue treatments, the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows will gradually look like they did before treatment.
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic affordable?
For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery survey, BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the low-entry-cost facial aesthetic procedures in the United States. Consult your doctor for further information.
Do treatment results differ?
To get the best results, it's important to go to a doctor who is experienced in administering BOTOX® Cosmetic. You may want to consider choosing a doctor from the BOTOX® Cosmetic Physicians' Network. Members of the Network have medical practices that focus on facial aesthetics, as well as detailed knowledge of facial anatomy and experience injecting BOTOX® Cosmetic.
