Wrinkles and BOTOX®

2010-03-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Botox is one of the most common non-surgical facial aesthetic treatments performed today. It is pharmaceutically known as onabotulinumtoxin-A, and while its most commonly used form is commercially known as Botox Cosmetic since its introduction in 2002, botulinumtoxin-A has been used medically since the late eighties.

Basically, the way it works it to block the communication between the nerve impulse to make a muscle move and the muscle. So your nerves may be firing off a volley of commands to knit your brow (frown), but the corrugator muscles that do this just sit there quietly, unaware that the nerves are shouting at them. Since they aren't moving, they aren't causing the skin to wrinkle. And we know from observing people with nerve damage that when you stop the wrinkling motion of the skin, the skin repairs itself so that the wrinkling softens, and may even disappear.

Botox was initially used to help balance the fine muscles of the eye and to treat something called blepharospasm. The results and safety record then allowed for the application to other areas of the body where it would be beneficial to weaken the action of a muscle or two. This led to the ultimate approval by the FDA for treatment of certain areas of the face for wrinkles.

Botox treatments are highly effective at what they do. The treatments have minimal discomfort. The average dose for the forehead and periocular (around the eyes) area is between 25 and 50 Units. The duration of the effects varies from individual to individual, but generally is considered effective for 3-4 months. Botox is not a filler, so it doesn't replace lost volume or fullness in the skin (for that you would need a filler). But it's a great way to improve your crow's feet and forehead wrinkles! And it can also give a little lift to your eyebrows, and maybe put off that brow lift for a bit too!

Dr. Verne Weisberg
www.drverne.com