Botox
What is a Botox Injection or botox shot?
The most well-known muscle relaxant treatment for facial skin is Botox® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A). Approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat facial wrinkles, Botox® Cosmetic is a highly effective treatment for brow lines and wrinkles. It consists of a purified protein administered in a simple, nonsurgical procedure: tiny amounts of Botox® Cosmetic are injected directly into the brow muscles responsible for furrowing the skin. A typical treatment takes only ten minutes to complete and requires no recovery, and patients usually see results within one to two days. The injected Botox® blocks the release of acetylcholine (the chemical that causes the forehead muscles to contract), enabling the muscles to relax. Skin appears smoother immediately, and without the usual skin furrowing, lines will gradually soften. The cost per treatment is usually between $300 and $500, and results typically last for four months.
How does BOTOX work?
It consists of a purified protein administered in a simple, nonsurgical procedure: tiny amounts of Botox® Cosmetic are injected directly into the brow muscles responsible for furrowing the skin. A typical treatment takes only ten minutes to complete and requires no recovery, and patients usually see results within one to two days. The injected Botox® blocks the release of acetylcholine (the chemical that causes the forehead muscles to contract), enabling the muscles to relax. Skin appears smoother immediately, and without the usual skin furrowing, lines will gradually soften.
Who is the ideal candidate for BOTOX?
Muscle relaxants, like Botox, are most commonly used to treat the frown lines on the forehead between the eyes, known as glabellar lines. When you concentrate, frown, or squint into the sun, powerful brow muscles cause the skin to furrow. Over time, these furrows can develop into wrinkles that are visible even when the brow muscles are relaxed. This can cause even relatively young people to look unduly stressed, angry, or tired. Injecting a muscle relaxant directly into these muscles enables them to relax, smoothing your skin. Although you will not be able to furrow your brow to the same extent, you ll otherwise retain a full range of facial expressions, allowing you to freely express yourself without the worry of causing or deepening wrinkles. Muscle relaxant treatments generally last about four months, and patients may wish to repeat treatment to retain full results. Botox® Cosmetic and Dysport®, described below, are the two most common muscle relaxant treatments.
