Botox® is a toxin produced by bacteria called botulinum. Although in very large doses it can cause botulism, Botox® is safe in the doses used for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. It has been used safely for decades in the United States. Originally Botox® was used to restore a normal voice for people with a vocal cord condition called spasmodic dysphonia. It has also been used to treat eye twitches, excessive palm or armpit sweating, and headaches. In the mid 1990’s, plastic surgeons began using Botox® injections to treat facial wrinkles.
Wrinkles that Botox® will target
Botox® is only effective for dynamic wrinkles Botox® will dramatically improve (and often eliminate) horizontal forehead creases, scowl lines between your eyebrows, crow’s feet, and vertical wrinkles of your upper lip. Botox® is ineffective for fine wrinkles because they are not due to facial expression. Botox® is also ineffective for wrinkles around your mouth that are due to sagging cheeks.
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Dynamic wrinkles, such as crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles, are due to repetitive facial expression. Weakening the muscles responsible for these facial expressions can dramatically improve these wrinkles. With Botox®, these muscles can be weakened without detracting from your facial expressiveness.
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Botox® can be injected by your plastic surgeon in the office. You may experience brief mild discomfort as you are being injected. Following injection, recovery is immediate: you may place make-up and return to work immediately. A few experience mild bruising that improves within a few days. You will begin to see improvement in your wrinkles within 24 hours and continue to see improvement for 5 days.
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Botox® results may last about six months, although the range varies from 3 to 12 months.
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Expect to pay an amount every six months to maintain your results.
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No negative long-term effects have been observed. Very few short-term problems have arisen. If Botox® is injected too close to your upper eyelids; temporary upper eyelid droop may result. This can take months to improve. Injection of your forehead will diminish your ability to raise your eyebrows. This is not a problem for most, but those with marked eyebrow droop may find that their droop worsens following injection. Risk of allergic reaction is extremely small. Women who are pregnant or who have nervous system diseases such as ALS should not receive injections of Botox®.
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