What is Botox®? Botox® Cosmetic, is a refreshingly simple and safe non-surgical treatment, which provides dramatic results. Botox® Cosmetic is an effective treatment for horizontal forehead wrinkles, vertical lines between the eyebrows, "crow's feet" around the eyes, and banding in the neck. Used for over 20 years, Botox® is an excellent non-surgical form of facial rejuvenation and is capable of producing improvement in your appearance. By far the most highly requested and performed facial rejuvenation technique, Botox® is considered the elixir of facial youth. Unlike injectable fillers such as collagen and fat transfers that fill in wrinkles or depressions, Botox® Cosmetic works by relaxing the muscles of facial expression so that the facial skin is smooth, relaxed, and natural looking. The specific risks and the suitability of Botox® injections for you can be determined only at the time of your consultation with Dr. Stevens. Reasons for Considering a Botox Treatment: Excessive facial wrinkles Large wrinkles or furrows in your forehead Small wrinkles or "crow's feet" around your eyes A vertical "frown line" between your eyebrows Cobbling in the chin Banding in the neck Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the underarm, palms of hands, and soles of feet General Procedure First, an anesthetic cream or ice can be applied on your skin prior to treatment. Next, a highly concentrated solution of Botox® is injected into the areas of wrinkling. The result is the underlying facial muscles relax and the skin begins to smooth out. After being injected with Botox®, it can take two to seven days for it to take effect and the wrinkles will lessen over a six to twelve week period. The effects of a Botox® treatment will last approximately four to six months after which the patient may choose to repeat the procedure, if they want to maintain the aesthetic benefits achieved. Over time, injections may be needed less frequently. If you have deep creases in the skin, due to excessive muscle pull, sun damage, or from aging, Botox® may not completely eradicate these types of wrinkles. During your consultation, the areas amenable to improvement with Botox® will be pointed out to you. Recovery Process Upon completion of the procedure, an ice pack may be placed on the area treated. Patients generally return to their normal activities immediately after the procedure. Patients should avoid engaging in heavy physical exercise, applying cosmetics, or laying down flat for a minimum of four hours after the injections. It is also advisable to avoid rubbing or massaging the injected area for at least 24 hours. Important Documents... Informed Consent for BOTOX® Injections Download Don't have Adobe Acrobat? Download the latest version of Adobe Reader.