BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein administered in a simple, nonsurgical procedure that has been used therapeutically for over 16 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. It is approved in more than 75 countries and remains the most-studied botulinum toxin and one of the most widely researched medicines in the world. The same formation with dosing specific to glabellar lines was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 as BOTOX® Cosmetic.

What is it used for?

BOTOX® Cosmetic temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people over the age of 18. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines between the brows.

What causes frown lines between the brows?

The lines that appear between your brows actually result from muscle movement and the passage of time. Two muscles are largely responsible for frown lines between the brows. When those muscles contract they draw the brows together. As skin becomes less elastic over time, repeated frowning can result in moderate to severe lines between the brows. The most common side effects following injection include temporary eyelid droop and nausea.

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?

Frown lines are caused by overactive facial muscles. BOTOX® Cosmetic blocks the chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them.

Have patients been happy with their results?

A recent survey reported that most patients were satisfied with the results of their BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, according to a survey conducted in 2005 by the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation.

79% — Yes, definitely
18% — Yes, somewhat
1% — No, not really
2% — This is my first injection

And, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), BOTOX® Cosmetic was the most popular physician administered cosmetic procedure in the United States for the fifth year in a row (surgical and nonsurgical combined). ASAPS estimates that almost 3.3 million treatments were performed in 2005 and 3.2 million treatments were performed in 2006 — that's an average of almost 16% from 2004.

How can I be sure I'm getting real BOTOX® Cosmetic?

Only licensed and trained healthcare professionals have the experience necessary to administer BOTOX® Cosmetic, Allergan, Inc. The maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic, is the only source for healthcare professionals to purchase the product, and each US FDA label has the "Allergan" Hologram.

What is the treatment like?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a quick and minimally invasive procedure. Your doctor makes tiny injections into the muscles that cause moderate to severe frown lines between your brows.

We will determine exactly where to administer the injections to achieve the best results. No anesthesia is required. We usually numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes and there is no downtime afterward. Discomfort is minimal and brief. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection.

How soon will I see a difference? What kind of results can I expect?

You can expect to see results within days after your treatment. The appearance of the area between your brows may continue to improve for up to a week. By day 30 in a clinical study, 89 percent of patients judged the severity of their frown lines between their brows improved.

Your own results may vary — be sure to talk to us about what you can expect. Visible results have been shown to last up to 3-4 months, and after that the injections should be repeated for best results.