Botox and Wrinkle Relaxing Treatments

Botox cosmetic injections are approved by the US FDA for reduction and improvement of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows which are also called glabellar lines.

Glabellar lines are vertical lines between the eyebrows that appear over the forehead when a person frowns. They occur due to the contraction of two major muscles between the eye brows. As age progresses, these glabellar lines may appear over the forehead of some individuals even at rest; portraying an angry or tired expression. This impacts the facial appearance of the individual.

These glabellar lines can be significantly reduced by injecting small doses of Botox into the muscles at various points along the two eyebrows. The injection temporarily blocks the transmission of nerve signals to these muscles, preventing their contraction. The injection causes only minimal discomfort for a short time, following the administration. The physician may minimize the discomfort by numbing the area with a cold pack or anaesthetic cream before administering the injection. The whole procedure usually takes about 10 minutes. There is no downtime for the procedure. The improvement in the glabellar lines is visible within a few days of the Botox cosmetic injections and the improvement continues for a month. The results vary from individual to individual and the improvement usually lasts for about four months.

These injections can be administered by a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or any other aesthetic specialty physician. They can be prescribed for improvement of glabellar lines, in individuals between 18 and 65 years of age.

Before administering Botox cosmetic injection, the following conditions should be considered:

• Allergy to any ingredient of the Botox cosmetic injection
• Allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin in the past such as Myobloc, Dysport or Xeomin
• Diseases that affect the muscles and nerves such as myasthenia gravis, Lou Gehrig's disease or Lamber-Eaton syndrome
• Skin infection at the injection site
• Any breathing, swallowing, bleeding or forehead muscle problem
• Facial surgery in the past
• Planning for a future facial surgery
• Pregnant or planning for pregnancy
• Breast feeding or planning to breast feed

The side effects of Botox cosmetic injections may include localized pain, swelling, redness, bruising, bleeding, tenderness or infection at the injected site. Severe and life-threatening reactions are rare and may be secondary to allergic reaction to the injection or spread of the toxin to other areas of the body. This requires immediate medical attention. Moreover, this may occur after a few hours to even weeks, after the injection. If you experience any of the following reactions after the administration of Botox cosmetic injections, seek medical help immediately.

• Side effects due to spread of the toxin to other areas of the body, may include problems in swallowing, breathing or speaking, dry mouth, tiredness, headache, neck pain, eye problems such as double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, dry eyes, swelling of eyelids or reduced eye sight, hoarseness, change of voice or loss of bladder control. Patients experiencing reduced vision and reduced general muscle strength should avoid activities such as driving a car or operating machinery.
• Allergic reaction to the injection, may include symptoms such as itchy rash or welts, wheezing, asthma-like symptoms or feeling dizzy.