Botox Cosmetic is an injectable medicine used to treat dynamic wrinkles in the upper and lower face. Dynamic wrinkles — like frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet — result from years of facial movements. Botox prevents these wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the muscles that contribute to their formation.

In addition to treating upper face wrinkles, patients can improve the appearance of bunny lines, chin dimples, a prominent jaw, heavy brows and a downturned smile, among many other things. Botox has even been approved as a treatment for chronic migraines, excessive sweating and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

Botox works by targeting one cause of dynamic wrinkles: muscle movements. Every time you frown, squint and smile, your skin forms creases that can become permanent as you grow older. Botox can prevent and even reverse this by causing temporary paralysis of specific muscles.

The active ingredient in Botox is botulinum toxin type A, a purified form of a toxin protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. When injected into facial muscles, this neurotoxin prevents communication between nerve signals responsible for muscle movement. As a result, these muscles can no longer contract, which helps smooth out existing wrinkles or prevent new ones from forming.

Most men and women 18 years and older who are in relatively good health can get BOTOX. This treatment is contraindicated in people with certain muscular disorders, a history of severe allergies and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Botox takes several days to take effect. You may notice results within the first two days after getting BOTOX, but the full effect of treatment usually becomes visible after seven to 10 days. The results from Botox last three to four months on average and returning for regular injections a few times per year can maintain the results indefinitely. With ongoing treatment, the results tend to last longer than after the initial treatments.

Avoid blood thinning medication, food and supplements three to five days before your scheduled appointment to prevent bruising and bleeding. Examples include NSAIDs, fish oil, vitamin E, turmeric and wine.

Avoid rubbing the treatment area for 24 hours. Avoid strenuous exercise, direct sun exposure, saunas, and hot tubs for the same period. You also want to avoid lying down and keep your head elevated for the first six hours. All this is to prevent your blood pressure from rising and potentially causing bruising at the treatment site.

Dr. LaPerna will carefully examine your face, review your medical history and create your personalized treatment plan.

Treatment takes about 15 minutes. Most patients say the treatment doesn’t hurt but feels like a strong pinch.

Botox Cosmetic is approved for cosmetic use, while Botox is intended for therapeutic use. The latter is FDA-approved for the treatment of a range of medical conditions:

• Hyperhidrosis of the armpits
• Chronic migraine
• Strabismus and blepharospasm
• TMJ disorder
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)