BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a quick and minimally invasive procedure. Your doctor makes a few tiny injections into the muscles that cause moderate to severe frown lines between your brows.

The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes, and there is no downtime afterward. Discomfort is minimal and brief.

What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® has been used therapeutically for over 16 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. It is approved in more than 75 contries and remains the most-studied botulinum toxin and one of the most widely researched medicines in the world. The same formulation with dosing specific to glabellar lines was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 as BOTOX® Cosmetic.

What is it used for?

It is a purified protein administered in a simple, nonsurgical procedure that temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people ages 18 to 65. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines between the brows.

What causes frown lines between the brows?

The lines that appear between your brows actually result from muscle movement and the passage of time. When powerful muschles between the brows contract, they draw the brows together, causing the skin to fold or furrow. As skin becomes less elastic with age, those folds or furrows result in stubborn lines.

Because frown lines are dynamic lines caused by overactive muscles, they can usually be treated with tiny injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Static lines, on the other hand, are lines that are visible even when the muscles are at rest. These lines are usually treated with a filler such as JUVÉDERM™ injectable gel.

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?

During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles responsible for frown lines between the brows. By blocking the release of a chemical that causes these muscles to contract, BOTOX® Cosmetic enables them to relax. The effects are very localized and, when administered by an experienced physician, do not affect your ability to smile, laugh, or otherwise show experssion. BOTOX Cosmetic is the only product of its kind that has been approved for use in this area.

What are the common side effects?

The most common side effects following injection include temporary eyelid droop and nausea. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/brusing may be associated with the injection. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

Is there any chance of serious side effects?

Serious heart problems and serious allergic reactions have been reported rarely. If you think you're having an allergic reaction or other unusual symptons, such as difficulty swallowing, speaking or breating, call your doctor immediately.

What is the treatment like?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a quick and minimally invasive procedure consisting of a few tiny injections. Your doctor will determine exactly where to administer these injections to achieve the best results for you. No anesthesia is required, though he or she may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting.

The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes, and there is no downtime afterward. Discomfort is minimal and brief. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/brusing may be associated with the injection.