What exactly is Botox for cosmetic use? It is a product obtained by purifying the protein produced by Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes does not require surgery and is a cosmetic treatment that is injected by your doctor. This method can temporarily reduce your moderate to severe frown lines between your brows and is suitable for ages 18-65. During the treatment, your doctor will give you a few small injections of a very small dose of Botox into the muscles that are causing those wrinkles. This treatment usually takes only about 10 minutes and requires no recovery period. Within a few days of the injection, you will see the results of wrinkle improvement, and this effect lasts results vary from person to person. How does Botox work? Those moderate to severe wrinkles between your eyebrows are caused by prolonged overactivity of the associated muscles. Botox is injected directly into these muscles between your brows, blocking the nerve impulses that govern these muscles, reducing the tension in these muscles and improving the appearance of those stubborn wrinkles caused by those muscles. When can I see the results after the injection? You can see a significant improvement in your moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within a few days after the injection. Wrinkles will continue to improve 1 month after the injection, and the improvement can last up to several months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women considered their facial improvement to be good after 1 month of treatment. Results vary from person to person. How long do the results last? The effects of treatment can last for up to 3-6 months. If you do not continue the treatment, your frown lines will gradually return to their old appearance before the treatment. Who will inject Botox? Any certified medical professional can administer the injections, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists or other doctors who specialize in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced. All of these doctors can help you decide if the treatment is right for you. Are Botox injections painful? The discomfort caused by the injections is usually mild and brief. Before the injection, the doctor will numb your injection site with a cold compress or anesthetic ointment. The entire injection procedure only takes about 10 minutes. Many people enter the doctor’s office, are treated with Botox and leave again with little delay. Who should not be treated with Botox? You should not be treated with Botox if you have an infection in the area where the injection is intended or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the BOTOX product. Patients with neuromuscular dysfunction, such as those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, may be at greater risk for serious side effects. Will I experience any side effects? The most common side effects after injections include temporary eyelid ptosis and nausea. Local pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection. Patients with certain neuromuscular dysfunctions (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome) may be at greater risk for serious side effects.