BOTOX® Cosmetic Common Questions:
- Are BOTOX Cosmetic injections safe?
- Am I too young to start using BOTOX?
BOTOX® Cosmetic, introduced in 2002, is the first botulinum toxin to be approved by the FDA to temporarily treat moderate to severe glabellar lines between the brows. Approximately 11.8 million BOTOX® Cosmetic injections have been administered in the United States since 2002. Prior to being used for wrinkles, it was used for facial spasms, sweating, migraines, and many other medical indications.
Prevention with BOTOX® Cosmetic
I feel that its use helps prevent wrinkle formation. I started using it at a young age as a preventative measure. If you think about your skin as a piece of paper – if you don’t fold it, you won’t make deep creases in it. There have been some studies looking at twins, one who received injections routinely 2-3 times a year for over 10 years and the other twin who didn’t. They found significantly less fine lines and deep lines in the patient who used BOTOX® Cosmetic injections.
I actually inject BOTOX into my own face. I absolutely hate “bad BOTOX” where the person is over frozen and has droopy eyebrows, or the opposite, where they have crazy Joker-like eyebrows from the sides going up. My philosophy is that it should take out the wrinkles but allow movement. I personally like to be able to slightly raise my eyebrows symmetrically (and not just the tips) and frown, but not actually make a crease. Some patients like to be more frozen, some like to have more movement, everyone is different. I make sure to take the time to understand what the patient wants and tailor their treatment to the individual. Regardless, I know that once you try BOTOX® Cosmetic, you will have noticeable changes for the better!
