What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a chemical made by a bacteria named clostridia. Botox is produced for medical use by Allergan.

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into particular facial muscles to weaken them, so that they do not contract when you smile, laugh, or frown.

Am I a good candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic?
The best candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments are those who:

• have wrinkles in the face or neck,
  
• are in good physical and psychological health, and
  
• want to improve their appearance

Some of my friends are attending BOTOX® Cosmetic parties. Is this risky?
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are simple and relatively painless, but they must be administered by an experienced professional. Another important factor is having enough time with the doctor to talk about your expectations and what you want to accomplish. Even with extremely experienced physicians, BOTOX® Cosmetic parties rarely allow enough time for the doctor and patient to discuss all the possibilities.

Are there any age limits to having BOTOX® Cosmetic injections?
BOTOX® Cosmetic can be used on people in virtually any age group.

Are there people who should not have BOTOX® Cosmetic injections?
You should not have BOTOX® Cosmetic injections if you have a neuromuscular or bleeding disorder or a skin disease in the treatment area. Woman should not have BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments if they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How is the procedure done?
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are fast, easy, and essentially painless. Dr. Markus will discuss what you would like to achieve through BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment and then he will target specific facial muscles. Using an ultra-thin needle, Dr. Markus will inject a very small amount of BOTOX® Cosmetic into the specific muscles. The BOTOX® Cosmetic will weaken or paralyze the nerve controlling the muscle, preventing it from contracting.

How long does the procedure take?
BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments generally take about 10 minutes. What is more important is the time you spend with Dr. Markus discussing how best to accomplish your goal.

Do BOTOX® Cosmetic injections require anesthesia?
No. For patients that are particularly sensitive, Dr. Markus may use a numbing cream prior to injection.

What causes wrinkles?
Wrinkles are caused when the muscles contract below your skin. Each time you smile, laugh, or frown, the muscles contract, and over time these contractions can cause wrinkles. For example, if you frown a lot, you may develop wrinkles between your eyebrows, and if you smile or squint a lot you may develop crow's feet.

Does BOTOX® Cosmetic work on all wrinkles?
BOTOX® Cosmetic works for "dynamic wrinkles," those caused by facial movements. BOTOX® Cosmetic cannot treat wrinkles caused by sun damage or normal aging. BOTOX® Cosmetic is most commonly used to treat frown lines, crow's feet, forehead wrinkles and neck bands.BOTOX® Cosmetic may also be used to treat vertical lip lines.

Will BOTOX® Cosmetic make my face expressionless?
No, you will still have facial expressions, but you may not have as much movement. BOTOX® Cosmetic weakens the muscle causing the wrinkles and softens your facial lines.

Will anyone be able to tell that I've had BOTOX® Cosmetic injections?
No one will be able to tell. You will look completely natural.

Do I need to do anything special after the injections?
After your injections, you should avoid lying down for at least four hours. You should not touch or rub the treated area, because rubbing can cause the BOTOX® Cosmetic to migrate to nearby muscles. Dr. Markus will also give you some facial exercises to perform.

How long before I can return to normal activity?
You should avoid exercise or other strenuous activities for 24 hours after your treatment.

Are there any complications or side effects with BOTOX® Cosmetic injections?
There are no permanent side effects with BOTOX® Cosmetic injections. Some patients may experience slight, short-term bruising at the injection site. The bruising can be treated with ice and covered with make-up. In some cases, the BOTOX® Cosmetic can migrate to other muscles and cause temporary weakness. BOTOX® Cosmetic may also cause an eyelid to slightly droop or cause facial expressions to be slightly out of balance, but these are short-term, temporary side effects.

Can I get botulism from BOTOX® Cosmetic?
No. Botulism is caused by very large amounts of the toxin-at least 100 times the dose of any BOTOX® Cosmetic injection. Botulism is usually contracted from eating contaminated food.

When will I see results?
You should begin to see results in 2 to 7 days.

How long will the results last?
Your initial BOTOX® Cosmetic injections should last between 4 and 6 months. When the muscles begin to regain their strength, you can return to Dr. Markus for another treatment. Repeat treatments tend to last longer than the initial treatment.

Is there a more permanent solution?
Dr. Markus will be happy to discuss more permanent solutions with you such as, laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion, and face and forehead lifts.

Can BOTOX® Cosmetic really treat headaches?
Botox is used to treat migraine headaches, and some patients with persistent headaches report that the number and severity of their headaches are significantly reduced. The BOTOX® Cosmetic relaxes the muscles, which seems to relieve some of the tension that can cause headaches.