BOTOX® Cosmetic

What is BOTOX Cosmetic?

BOTOX Cosmetic is an injectable treatment made from a purified protein, botulinum toxin type A.

How does BOTOX work?

When injected into the muscles that cause frown lines and crow’s feet, BOTOX blocks the release of acetylcholine, a body chemical that signals the muscle to contract. This relaxes the muscles in the injected areas—and gives you a more rested, refreshed look.

How do you develop a treatment plan for BOTOX Cosmetic patients?

I can determine where to administer BOTOX injections by testing your ability to move certain muscles in your face and neck area. This helps me see the location, size, and use of the muscles that have created the lines in your forehead, between your eyebrows, and around your eyes. This varies quite a bit from person to person.

In some cases, I can use BOTOX to achieve an effect like a mini-brow lift. I put just a dot of BOTOX at the corner of the eyebrow and the brow comes up a bit. It’s a nice effect when you get just a little bit of a lift so the brow, instead of being straight across or slanted downwards, has a hint of an arch to it.

It is also possible to turn the corners of the mouth up with BOTOX. The idea is that there are muscles that pull the corner of your mouth down—so if you inject those muscles to relax them, the corners of your mouth come up a little.

Do you ever use BOTOX Cosmetic in combination with other products?

Yes. BOTOX can be a great adjunct to a lot of different procedures. For example, if a person has a deep frown line between the eyebrows—an area known as the glabella—I might use a facial filler like JUVÉDERM® or Restylane® to fill in the furrow. And then I’ll use BOTOX to relax the muscle that caused that frown line in the first place to help keep it from coming back.

Do you administer BOTOX injections, or does a nurse do them?

I do all BOTOX injections myself; there are no nurse injectors in my office. These are my patients and they are entrusting me to take care of them, so I do all of the injections in my office myself.

Do you do anything to numb the area before a BOTOX treatment?

I can apply a topical anesthetic cream, but any discomfort you may experience during a BOTOX Cosmetic treatment will be minimal and brief.

How would you describe your approach to BOTOX Cosmetic?

I like to use BOTOX in moderation. You definitely don’t want to be over-treated. My philosophy is that patients should look naturally better, not overdone or frozen.

Do you ever use BOTOX in areas other than the face?

Yes. We can make your armpits maintenance-free. BOTOX, when injected into the armpits, prevents them from sweating at all. Between laser hair reduction and BOTOX, you won’t have to worry about your armpits for close to a year.

Is there normally any downtime after a BOTOX treatment?

No. You can literally come in on your lunch hour for a BOTOX treatment and go right back to work. This convenience appeals to both men and women—and it’s a nice little pick-me-up emotionally for a lot of people.

How soon after a BOTOX treatment can you see the results?

This is important: it takes anywhere from two days to two weeks to see the full effect of a BOTOX treatment. Improvement may continue for as long as a month. You need to be patient after your BOTOX treatment and allow it time to work.

I have had a couple of people come back to me a week later and say, ‘Oh, there’s no effect.’ I have to ask them to just give it a little more time because I don’t want to overtreat them. And every time, it has worked out.

With facial fillers like JUVÉDERM, the effect is immediate. You’re adding volume to the face, and what you see is what you get. BOTOX takes a little bit longer because it’s working on the muscles, but it is effective.

How often do you need BOTOX Cosmetic treatments to maintain the results?

In my experience, patients need a BOTOX treatment about every three or four months. In some cases, the longer you get BOTOX treatments, the less you need them. That’s actually been documented.

For instance, if you’ve been coming in for five years, you probably need it only once every six months—and eventually, maybe not at all. Basically, when the muscle isn’t stimulated for so long, it atrophies and you don’t need BOTOX anymore.

What would happen if a person had BOTOX treatments more often?

I’ve read about patients who actually go to several physicians to get BOTOX treatments more often than they should. That’s probably a mistake because you can develop antibodies to it. You really shouldn’t have a BOTOX treatment more often than every two months. You can, but your body will become resistant and BOTOX won’t work for you anymore.

What results can you expect from BOTOX?

I find that patients look generally refreshed and more attractive overall after treatments. There is a reason why it’s so popular!