What Is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age for a short period of time (temporary).
BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered by Dr. Kirwan as a nonsurgical treatment that is injected directly into the muscles. It works by blocking nerve impulses to the injected muscles. This reduces the muscle activity that causes the moderate to severe lines.
Botox has been used for wrinkle therapy since the early 1990’s. A small amount of Botox is injected into the muscles responsible for making wrinkles. Botox inactivates the muscles, causing the lines to disappear appreciably.
The most common areas treated are the crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead wrinkles. Other areas are the masseter muscle to slim the jaw line and for jaw clenching, and the depressor anguli oris (DAO) to lift the corners of the mouth. The platysma muscles in the neck are injected to soften the bands below the chin. Botox can also be used to lift the tip of the nose, for bunny lines on the bridge of the nose, to flip the upper lip and to soften lines in the lower eyelid. Wrinkles in the front of the chin can also be treated.
A Botox treatment is quick and results usually last three to six months. After that you may return for a follow-up injection. Some doctors report that after several treatments, the effect of Botox appears to last longer, often up to several months.
The most common complication is a slight, temporary drooping of the eyelid. Botox is used in extremely small amounts and does not spread throughout the body so you can return to full activity immediately.
Botox can be used by almost anyone, however, patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or who have a neurologic disease should not use Botox.
