BOTOX® injection is a revolutionary wrinkle reduction procedure that can reduce or eliminate wrinkles in the upper third of the face, including forehead lines, frown lines between the eyes and crow’s feet around the eyes. It is not surgery. There is no chance of scarring.
BOTOX® is a protein that weakens and inactivates muscles that wrinkle the skin. When BOTOX® is injected in extremely small doses directly into a specific muscle, it blocks the signals from the brain from reaching the muscle. As the muscle weakens, the skin overlying the muscle relaxes and the wrinkles caused by muscle contractions soften and often disappear. The effect can last from 4 to 5 months. BOTOX® injection is for those who want to reduce or eliminate facial wrinkles.
Before Your Treatment
Ask your doctor to determine if you are a candidate for BOTOX® injection. Together, you will determine the number and regularity of treatments best for you.
What to Expect On Procedure Day
Your treatment can be performed in an examination room environment. Since it isn’t a surgical procedure, it does not require a surgery center. Your doctor will inject an extremely small dose of BOTOX® into designated facial muscles using a micro-needle. It will only take a few seconds. You might feel a stinging sensation that will subside quickly.
You won’t see the effects of the initial injections for three or four days, and improvements will continue for several days after that. If you experience any discomfort after the procedure, you can use ice compresses or over-the-counter pain medication. You may have a little bit of bruising. Because this procedure is non-invasive and non-surgical, you may return to your normal activities immediately.
Realistic Expectations
BOTOX®, when used in these extremely small doses, has a high level of safety. Since Botox proteins are only attracted to muscles, it has no effect on the central nervous system. It does not cause numbness in the area of the injections, and muscles related to other facial expressions are rarely affected. One or two patients in every hundred may experience a temporary drooping of the eyelid, but this usually goes away in a week or two.
Serious complications with BOTOX® injection are extremely rare, but like any medical procedure, it does have some risks. Going to a specialist experienced in Botox injection can significantly minimize the risks. The vast majority of our patients are extremely happy with their appearance after BOTOX® injection, however, we cannot guarantee you will have the results you desire.
If you decide that Botox injection is an option for you, you will be given additional information about the procedure that will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Be sure you have all your questions answered to your satisfaction. BOTOX® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.
