Botox® – from a Hollywood treatment to a household name

In the last several years, Botox® has gone from a Hollywood treatment to a household name. According to Allergan, Inc., the maker of Botox®, approximately 11.8 million Botox® Cosmetic treatments have been performed since 2002, making Botox® Cosmetic one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatments in the United States.

Utilized since the 1970’s to treat a variety of medical conditions, Botox® Cosmetic was not approved by the FDA for cosmetic use until 2002. Both women and men alike are benefiting from this quick cosmetic procedure for a fraction of the cost of plastic surgery.

Stop and take a look in the mirror and frown like you are mad. What do you see? The contraction of the muscles causes vertical lines or “11’s” to form between the brows. We often contract these muscles when we are concentrating, frowning, or squinting. This repetitive muscle movement over time begins to form lines that are present at rest. Botox® Cosmetic works by blocking nerve impulses in selected muscles injected between the brows, thus reducing muscle activity and the ability of the muscles between the brows to contract with such strength to create the strong vertical lines.

Within a matter of minutes and a few small injections, the procedure is complete. The cosmetic effects of Botox® Cosmetic are not immediate, but usually take affect within 4 to 7 days, up to 2 weeks for some individuals. A common concern for patients considering Botox® Cosmetic is that this procedure will cause them to look “frozen “ or “without expression”. This is simply not the case. Your brows will still have movement following the procedure, with the vertical lines between the brows or “11’s” noticeably improved. Results vary for each person, but typically last up to 4 months.

For additional safety information on Botox® Cosmetic you can visit http://www.botoxcosmetic.com