BOTOX
An exciting non-surgical approach to the treatment of facial wrinkles has recently emerged, involving a new way of using a medication that has been around for years. This fascinating new procedure has created a lot of excitement across the country among cosmetic dermatologists and their patients who seek to reverse the visible effects of aging on the face. The product, known as BOTOX® (manufactured by Allergan, Inc.) is actually a purified toxin that is naturally produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum. BOTOX® has been used by ophthalmologists and neurologists since 1980 to treat lazy eye, eye spasms and certain other neurologic disorders. More recently, cosmetic dermatologists have been using it to treat the muscles we use for facial expression. It works by causing weakness of specific facial muscles when minute amounts of the toxin are injected into them. The resulting weakness forces these muscles to relax, causing facial wrinkles to become less deep, or even disappear.
Approved by the FDA in 2002, BOTOX® consists of a few small injections of the purified protein into the muscles to temporarily reduce the lines. The procedure is minimally invasive, requires no recovery time and can be completed in about 10 minutes. Since results are temporary, many patients choose to begin a treatment schedule to maintain results.