Botox is a weakened form of the botulinum toxin, and it is FDA approved for wrinkles between the eyebrows.  It’s delivered via injection, and the procedure requires no anesthesia.

How does Botox work?  All of our facial expressions cause our skin to become wrinkled, bit by bit.  Botox injections block the signals being relayed between the nerves and the muscles, causing weakness in the muscle that’s been injected.  When the muscle doesn’t contract, the wrinkles aren’t as visible.  Improvement is generally seen within the month after treatment, with some patients noticing a difference in less than a week.

For cosmetic use,  Botox is approved for forehead wrinkles only.  This will reduce crow’s feet and frown lines.  Botox is also used “off label” to treat other conditions, such as excessive underarm sweating, strabismus, and involuntary blinking.  It may also help with enlarged prostate and migraines, but more research is needed to back up those claims.

Treatment methods are different from one clinic to another.  Some physicians recommend that patients avoid drinking alcohol for a week before treatment, and they also suggest that aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs be avoided as well.  This helps to reduce bruising after treatment.

You’ll still be able to laugh, smile, frown and make all your normal facial expressions, just without those annoying wrinkles between the brows.  Problems with facial expressions usually appear when the wrong muscle has been injected (usually when the treatment is done by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing).  For that reason, it’s not recommended to attend a “Botox party”.

Botox results can last for up to six months, with wrinkles gradually returning as the paralyzed muscle regains its normal function.  Over time, wrinkles will diminish even without the injections, as Botox conditions the muscles to be more relaxed.  Side effects are something that should be considered.  They include bruising, headache, drooping eyelids, flu-like symptoms, and possible allergic reaction.  Botox can cost $200-$500 per treatment, and if it’s for cosmetic reasons, it isn’t usually covered by insurance.  The procedure, being fairly simple, is approved for anyone between 18 and 65.  But, there are some people who shouldn’t use Botox, and they include:  those who are nursing, pregnant, or who have a muscular disorder.  If you have any questions, you should talk to your doctor before you get the treatment.