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BOTOX® Cosmetic diminishes or eliminates so-called dynamic wrinkles in the face by paralyzing the
muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into the muscle and prevents it
from contracting by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscle. Because the muscle
cannot contract, the wrinkle relaxes.
Although BOTOX® Cosmetic is mainly used to treat dynamic wrinkles in the upper third of the face,
many physicians use it to cosmetically treat other areas of the face and neck. Moreover,
BOTOX® Cosmetic has also been used to treat migraine headaches and even excessive underarm
sweating. BOTOX® Cosmetic is not as effective on so-called static wrinkles which are better
treated surgically or with dermal fillers.
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The BOTOX® Cosmetic is a highly purified muscle toxin, isolated from a certain strain of bacteria.
The toxin blocks the chemical signal between the muscle and the nerve leading to temporary
paralysis of the muscle. The paralysis occurs over 1 to 5 days and peaks in two to four weeks with
results lasting from three to six months. The effect gradually wears off allowing the dynamic
wrinkle to return.
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BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscle that underlies the dynamic wrinkle and a very
small needle is used to minimize discomfort. The injection feels like a small prick with a little
stinging. The entire procedure takes about 10 minutes and in some cases, ice or topical anesthesia
is used to reduce the pain of the injection.
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Usually there is no pain once the injection is over. Occasionally, people have headaches after the
injection as well as some redness or swelling of the area injected.
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Usually, one treatment is all that is needed, and the effect lasts for 3-6 months.
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Since the procedure is non-surgical, no recovery time is needed so patients can return to work or
other activities immediately.
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The effects usually last 3-6 months.
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The most common side effects are headache, respiratory infection, flu-like syndrome, temporary
eyelid droop, and nausea. Less frequently occurring (<3%) adverse reactions include pain in the
face, injection site redness, and muscle weakness. These events are thought to be associated with
the injection and occurred within the first week.
BOTOX® Cosmetic can’t be used if there is an infection at the proposed injection site(s) or in
individuals with known hypersensitivity (allergy) to any ingredient in the formulation (i.e.
the milk protein Casein). Patients with neuromuscular disorders like Myasthenia Gravis and
Eaton Lambert Syndrome may be at increased risk of clinically significant systemic effects
from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.
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Depending on the number of areas that are treated, the cost of injections can range from several
hundred to several thousand dollars. To maintain the effect, injections need to be repeated at an
additional cost.
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Botox parties have been a staple of many women’s social calendars for the last few years with the
hope that the specialist treating you is qualified and behaves in an ethical manner. Patients may
have to pay with their health or even their lives if they mistakenly choose an unqualified,
unscrupulous practitioner to administer wrinkle-fighting injectable treatments. It has been reported,
although not frequently, of several cases involving illegal and unsafe drugs being administered as
cosmetic treatments by practitioners without appropriate training or credentials. And in some cases
there have been reports of individuals, who have gone through these botched procedures, suffering
from botulism, but it turns out to be the result of something else.
Cases, such as one reported in Fort Lauderdale, FL, have suggested that the individuals may have
been injected with an unapproved substance, perhaps containing botulinum toxin or some other agent.
There is more than 15 years of clinical research and experience with the therapeutic applications of
botulinum toxin (type A) on millions of patients worldwide, and it has never produced a response of
botulism when used at recommended doses. Botulism is very rare and according to several infectious
diseases experts, the disease is contracted only by eating or being injected with living spores from
the botulinum bacteria. This may occur by eating unpasteurized food or through a contaminated,
open wound.
With the popularity of injectables, including Botox and other soft tissue fillers, it may have
encouraged non-medical practitioners to obtain illegal substances and perform procedures under
unsupervised conditions. Incidents reported have been documented where patients were seriously
harmed by injections of non-medical grade materials. Patients are lured in with the promise of
cheaper treatments, or with promises of "new" or “breakthrough" procedures.
The fact is that treatments such as skin resurfacing and Botox injections are medical procedures
that require appropriate training and qualified judgment in order to ensure its safety. Procedures
should be performed in proper facilities by a qualified physician who has received the specific
training in the particular procedure.
Botox temporarily blocks the impulses from the nerve cells to the muscles that cause frown lines
and other dynamic wrinkles which smooths out existing lines over time and prevents further
development of wrinkles. Botox treatments may need to be repeated in order to maintain the desired
results. According to statistics, nearly 2.8 million Botox procedures were performed in 2005
making it the United State’s most popular non-surgical procedure.
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