BOTOX is a wonderful product in skilled hands. BOTOX can easily be used to effect a reduction in frown lines, forehead wrinkles, bunny nose, jaw, and crow's feet. This product can also elevate the eyebrow area effecting a non-surgical brow lift. In the neck, it is very effective in the reduction of horizontal neck lines and in the relaxation of vertical mid neck cords, i.e., thickened bands of the underlying platysma muscle. It can also reduce lip lines, enhance lip fullness and reduce marionette lines.

The frown lines between the eyebrows are caused by the action of muscles called "the corrugators". These are located just under the inner aspect of the eyebrows and can be felt as a thickening in this area when you frown.

Injecting BOTOX directly into this muscle relaxes it, stopping your ability to bring your eyebrows together in a frown. Once the muscle is relaxed it cannot contract and the frown lines fade away.

Likewise, when injected into the platysma muscle and bands of the neck, it causes them to relax, thus improving horizontal lines, and vertical neck cords that develop over time. This effect can simulate a neck lift in those individuals who do not have a lot of excess neck skin.

This product can be injected into the frontalis muscle of the forehead to reduce and smooth out forehead lines.

Relaxation of the muscles around the eyebrows can effect a nonsurgical brow lift. It can be used around the mouth to lessen the depth of upper lip smile lines, and the lines and downward tilt of corners of the mouth. The chin can be injected to reduce dimpling.

Botulinum Toxin type A, is a purified toxin produced by the bacteria clostridium Botulinum. Large amounts of toxin blocks the nerve impulses to multiple muscles causing a form of paralysis called Botulism.

By using extremely small doses when injected directly into a specific muscle, only the action of that muscle will be relaxed and paralyzed.

When injected into the muscle with a very fine needle during a simple office visit. The actual treatment takes only a few minutes and takes effect in three to ten days. Gradually over four to six months the muscle relaxation will fade, and its action will return. When lines start to reappear, a simple treatment is all that is necessary to maintain a desired benefit.

These treatments should be performed only by a physician.

A small amount is injected via a fine needle into the desired area. The sensation is likened to an insect bite and no local anaesthetic is required. Several injections are needed for each treatment. Treatment takes approximately 15-30 minutes depending on the area treated. You can resume normal activities immediately.

The effects last for 3-6 months. The results are usually evident about three days after treatment although can take up to 1-2 weeks. If you have a repeat treatment, the results generally last longer than the first time. The more treatments you have, the longer the effects of subsequent injections.

Wrinkling the injected muscle and using it, helps the compound to bind to the injected muscle and take effect faster. It is important not to rub the injection site for several hours after treatment as this may cause the compound to spread into adjacent muscles. You must not lie down for four hours after treatment.

There may be slight discomfort from the needle entering the skin and a small chance of a bruise at the site of the injection. To my knowledge, there have been no reports of damage to the eye, with injections to the eyelid. There have been no permanent side effects.

The risks associated are minimal, very unlikely to occur, and generally resolve over several weeks. Rarely an adjacent muscle can be weakened for several weeks after an injection. This can manifest as a temporary droop of an upper eyelid in 1-2% of patients whose frown lines were injected. Occasionally, upon injection of frown or forehead lines, numbness of the forehead or discomfort may occur and last a few weeks.

With crow's feet injections, there may very rarely be a temporary lower eyelid droop or double vision. Neck injections may very rarely result in temporary neck muscle weakness manifesting as temporary difficulty in articulating and/or swallowing.

Injection around the mouth can cause an asymmetry of the smile lines, or corners of the mouth, and injections into the lips can cause weakness in pursing of the lips or sucking on a straw, as well as asymmetry.

This product is only effective for wrinkles that are caused by muscle contraction, other treatments can be used concurrently, such as dermal fillers to achieve the results you desire.