Botox^® Cosmetic injections

Since its approval in 2002 by the Food and Drug Administration, BOTOX® Cosmetic has become an incredibly popular way to minimize lines and crows feet. In fact, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are performed more often than any other cosmetic procedure in the country. There is little pain and no down time involved with the procedure. You can have the procedure done in just a few minutes and get back to your everyday life right away.

BOTOX^® Cosmetic injections work on what are called "dynamic" wrinkles. These are wrinkles that form as a result of a frequent facial expression such as a frowning or squinting. After time, areas affected by those expressions have wrinkles that don't go away. Forehead lines and crows feet are often targeted areas for BOTOX^® Cosmetic. By relaxing those muscles, BOTOX^® Cosmetic smooths the appearance and eliminates that "tired" or "angry" look. By preventing those muscles from contracting and creating the wrinkles, you may be able to prevent wrinkles from progressing.

How it works

BOTOX^® Cosmetic is a trade name for botulinum toxin A, which is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. BOTOX^® Cosmetic is related to botulism, which is know for its role in food poisoning. It binds to the receptors in muscle and prevents the nerve impulses that would cause that muscle to contract from being received. The result is a smoother looking appearance. The product's ability to paralyze muscles has proven useful since 1980, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in treating eye muscle twitching disorders.

Safety

While the thought of purposely putting a toxin in your body may sound dangerous, these injections use a very dilute concentration that does not move to other parts of the body. BOTOX^® Cosmetic is actually safer than many over-the-counter drugs.

The procedure

Using a very small needle, Dr. Alexander injects BOTOX^® Cosmetic directly into specific muscles in the face, neck, or forehead. The injections feel like a regular needlestick and do not require any sedation or additional treatment. Ice is sometimes used at the site of the injections before you have them.

While you will see some of the effect within hours, the full effect of the injections may take three to seven days to show up, and the final effects will last anywhere from three to eight months.

Consultations

Anyone considering facial plastic surgery should take the time to learn as much as possible about the procedures. Ask about a free cosmetic consultation with Dr. Alexander to discuss the procedures that might help you attain the appearance you want.