Botox

Botox is the brand name for a purified form of botulinum toxin type A. When injected in small doses into specific muscles, Botox blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. When the muscles can’t tighten, the skin flattens and appears smoother and less wrinkled. This FDA approved treatment offers temporary treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows and is also used to treat other facial wrinkles such as the lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes (“crows feet”) and lines in the forehead.

A thin needle is used to inject tiny amounts of Botox into specific muscles. By carefully choosing the muscles to treat, weakens only the wrinkle-producing muscles to preserve your natural facial expressions. The number of injections needed depends on many factors, including your facial features, the extent of the wrinkling and the specific area being treated. For example, crow’s-feet usually require two to five injections. Furrows in your forehead could take eight or more injections. Your health care provider will help you determine how much Botox is needed to achieve your desired results. You’ll notice results within a few days, but the full effect takes about two weeks. Results aren’t permanent, however, so to maintain your look, you need follow-up injections every 2-4 months.