What is Botox® ?
Botox® is commonly used to eliminate forehead lines, worry lines, crow’s feet and vertical lines between eyebrows.
Botox® is the trade name of Botulinum Toxin Type A, a purified toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. It acts by blocking the nerve impulses to muscles. By using extremely small doses of Botox®, injected directly into a specific muscle, only the action of that muscle will be paralyzed. Therefore, the problem that muscle causes, like a frown line, or in other cases, a twitch or spasm, will be stopped.
Where is Botox® injected?
The frown line between the eyebrows is caused by the action of a muscle called the corrugator. You can feel this as a thickening just below the inside of your eyebrows, when you purposefully make yourself frown.
Injecting Botox® directly into this corrugator muscle stops your ability to draw your eyebrows together when you frown.
Can Botox® be used for other wrinkles or other problems?
Botox® is also effective in the treatment of crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles. Botox® is also used for excess sweating (underarms, palms), migraines, tremors and other conditions.
How long will the effects of Botox last? The actual treatment takes only a few minutes and the Botox® takes effect in three to four days. Gradually, over three to five months, the Botox® effect will fade, and the muscle action will return. When the frown line starts to reappear, a simple repeat treatment is all that is necessary to maintain the desired result.
How has Botox® been tested?
Botox® has been used since 1980 for the treatment of strabismus (lazy eye) and blepharospasm (uncontrolled eye blinking). The use of Botox® for forehead wrinkles was pioneered in 1989 by Dr. Jean Carruthers of Vancouver.
What are the side effects?
There have been no permanent side effects from the use of Botox®. The temporary side effects of Botox® are related to the local injection of the solution. There will be some discomfort from the needle entering the skin. Your medical practitioner may apply a local anesthetic to alleviate discomfort. There is also a small chance of a temporary bruise at the site of the injection. You will need to remain upright for a few hours following the procedure. Approximately 1% of patients will develop a slight lowering or drooping of one eyelid (also known as ptosis). This is temporary. Some patients report headaches on the first day.
