BOTOX® Cosmetic

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and Rejuvenating Skin Care for Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, & Washington DC

Botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX® Cosmetic; Allergan Inc.) is a purified and sterilized extract from bacteria. Doctors have used BOTOX® Cosmetic for years to treat various medical conditions, especially around the eyes. Another exciting use for BOTOX® Cosmetic is for the improvement in overactive facial muscle contraction. Over time, these active muscles will result in unsightly lines on the face. For example, scowl lines, frown lines, and crow's feet are some of the most concerning lines for both men and women. These lines or furrows will continue to deepen and worsen with aging.

BOTOX® Cosmetic works by temporarily making these facial muscles unable to contract. Therefore, they are not able to cause the deep furrows. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into the area of the muscles and takes about two to five days to take effect on the muscle area. Over the following days to weeks, the lines will fade away. The timing to see results varies with the severity of the lines and furrows. They can be quite dramatic and the effects usually last 4 to 6 months.

The more BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments a person has within a year, the more it seems to improve and lengthen the time of the BOTOX® Cosmetic effects. There is no limit to the number of BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments that you may have. If you decide to discontinue using BOTOX® Cosmetic, you will usually have a return of some of your previous muscle activity.