Botox Injections

Botox® Injections - Botulinum toxin injections, often referred to by the commercial name, BOTOX Cosmetic®, are biological toxins that have been transformed into therapeutic agents. Work with botulinum toxin began in the late 1960s to treat neurological disorders. Today, BOTOX® use has been FDA approved for cosmetic treatment of frown lines between the brows, but is also widely used in “off label” use for treatment of forehead furrows, "crow’s feet," lines and wrinkles of the lower face, and even nasal muscles (to decrease nostril flaring or nasal “bunny lines”).

BOTOX® Injections - Most Popular Cosmetic Procedure

The lines and wrinkles that respond to BOTOX® injections are those caused by the facial muscles - specifically those muscles that contract during facial expressions such as frowning or squinting. BOTOX® injections have become the most popular, nonsurgical cosmetic procedure. BOTOX® has been proven to stop excessive under arm sweating (hyperhydrosis) and to minimize or prevent migrane headaches.

Insurance carriers will not cover the cost of such injections for seemingly non-cosmetic indications such as injections to treat migrane headaches or for the treatment of hyperhydrosis.

Botox® Benefits:

1. Long experience has proven BOTOX® to be safe if injected properly
2. Treatment is reversible within several months
3. Effective crow’s feet and brow wrinkle and frown line remover
4. Can be beneficial for treatment of migraine headaches and excessive underarm sweating

Botox® Considerations:

1. BOTOX® injections are a temporary solution for the treatment of wrinkles. The effects last up to 3 months - continued improvement requires repeated treatments.
2. Possible side effects include temporary numbness, swelling, bruising, or a burning sensation during injection. Asymmetry and brow drop have been documented. Some patients have reported temporary headache and nausea. Most complications are of short duration and can be avoided with proper injection techniques.
3. BOTOX® is a drug, and as with all drugs, individual variations in response will exist. Especially in males with very thick muscles, a very large quantity of BOTOX® may be required to achieve the desired effect, making future injections impractical cost wise. Patients are responsible for the cost of all future injections or “touch ups”, no matter how little improvement or asymmetry resulted from a prior injections!
4. A very small percentage of patients are reported to experience no improvement at all, regardless of how much of the drug is injected.