What is Botox® exactly ?
How does Botox® work?
How soon does one see results from Botox® treatment?
How long do Botox® effects persist?
Are Botox® injections painful?
What are the side effects?
Who should not use Botox®
Do facial expressions remain natural?
What happens if I discontinue treatments?
Is Botox® affordable?
Is Botox safe?
What are the alternatives to Botox®?
What exactly is Botox®?
Botox® is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum
bacterium. It is a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can
temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people
18 to 65 years of age. During treatment, very low doses of Botox® are
administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause
those lines.
How does Botox® work?
Those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows form over time as the
result of muscle activity. Very low doses of Botox® are injected directly into the
muscles between your brows. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve
impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that
cause those persistent lines to form.
How soon does one see results from Botox® treatment?
Within days, one usually sees a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown
lines between your brows. These lines continue to improve for up to a month, and
results can last for up to 4 months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and
women rated the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better 1 month
after treatment. Results may vary.
How long do the Botox® effects persist?
The benefits of Botox may continue to improve up through the first month and the improvements in wrinkle and crease lines can persist for up to 4 months, with some individual variation.
Are Botox® injections painful?
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. This discomfort associated with the injections can sometimes be reduced with the use of a cold pack or anesthetic cream applied to the area before injecting.
What are the side effects?
Local pain and tenderness are the most common side effects following injection and may be associated with swelling, redness and bruising. These side effects are generally transient and short-lived. Some people experience temporary eyelid droop
and nausea. Any break in the skin can result in infection though this is very uncommon with Botox®.
Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis,
or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects. For
more details, see the full Prescribing Information.
Who should not use Botox®?
Botox® should not be used in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. Patients with neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.
Do facial expressions remain natural?
Botox® treatment does not
radically change your facial appearance or make you look stiff. The muscles activity causing the crease lines is simply
reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised.
What happens if I discontinue
treatments?
If you stop treatments, the Botox® wears off gradually and the moderate to severe frown lines between
your brows will look like they did before treatment.
Is Botox® affordable?
When considering other facial aesthetic options, Botox® is quite
affordable. According to an American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
survey, Botox® is one of the low-entry-cost facial aesthetic
procedures in the United States. Like other appearance-related investments,
such as hair coloring and cuts, teeth whitening, and chemical peels, the cost
must be weighed relative to your expectations. Consult your doctor for further
information.
Is Botox® safe?
Over the 15 years that Botox has been in use, it has proven itself to have an excellent safety record. It is not, however, for everyone. Please see Prescribing Information for more details.
What are the alternatives to Botox®?
There are a number of procedures designed to improve facial appearance and provide anti-aging benefits. Alternative procedures include chemical peels, dermabrasions, laser treatments and injectable fillers. There are quite a few creams and lotions on the market as well which provide anti-aging benefits.
|
