Botox

Botox Cosmetic® is a commercial preparation of Botulinum Toxin.

It works by weakening (paralyzing) the small muscles that create facial expressions.

When the facial muscles are relaxed, they are unable to contract and therefore any wrinkles you may have are reduced.

Facial areas most commonly treated are the forehead, the brow (between the eyes), and in the "crows feet" areas (upper third of the face).

With time these wrinkles actually appear to regress.

Because Botox used around the mouth

could make eating difficult, it is

not useful for upper lip wrinkles.

Dr. Steward likes to use Botox sparingly, in an effort to keep some facial expression while minimizing wrinkles. He believes that overuse

of Botox tends to make the face

appear devoid of expression.

Botox can also be used for other complaints such as treating tension type headaches and back pain.

Botox is freshly prepared on the day of injection.

Using a very tiny needle, small amounts of Botox are injected into the muscles.

Discomfort is minimal

and lasts only a few seconds.

Botox takes about a week

to achieve its full effect and

lasts four to eight months.

This muscle paralysis is temporary, and

re-injection is necessary within

three to ten months.

There are few side effects to Botox; and in experienced hands, Botox is safe.

The worst side effect of which Dr. Steward is aware, was a woman in Florida,

who developed a facial infection when she went swimming in a lake after a Botox treatment.

The other side effect is no effect

or not enough effect.

Botox is a medicine and

different people have

different responses to medicines.

This is called the dose response.

That is, the amount of a medication that is required, to have a given effect.

Sometimes there is a bit of bruising around the injection site that resolves in a couple of days.

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