BOTOX® is a natural, purified protein that relaxes
wrinkle-causing muscles creating an improved appearance. BOTOX® is
a prescription only medicine and as such is only available from your doctor.
It is registered for the treatment of glabellar frown lines which are
the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows when you frown. Many
facial wrinkles occur when we make repeated facial expressions. BOTOX®
relaxes the facial muscles that cause expression lines. Once the muscle
is relaxed, you cannot contract it and continue to make the undesirable
facial expression. Thus, the lines gradually smooth and new lines are
prevented from forming.
One treatment relaxes the muscles that cause those lines to form and helps keep them relaxed for up to four months. BOTOX® is injected into selected facial muscles using a very fine needle. Discomfort is minimal and brief and no anaesthetic is usually required. After injection it takes 2 to 3 days for BOTOX® to begin taking effect and around 7 days to see the full effect. The effect can last up to 4 months before lines slowly begin to return. If you have repeated treatments the effect tends to last longer.
If you choose not to have further BOTOX® treatments your muscles will eventually return to normal activity and your wrinkles will gradually revert to their pre-treatment levels.
BOTOX® works on the specific areas treated. The usual dose recommended for the treatment of frown lines is 20 U which is injected into 5 different sites. However, this may vary depending on your individual situation and the severity of your frown lines. Your doctor will know what the best dose is for you and which muscles to inject to give you the best results.
In the amounts used for the treatment of frown lines, the side effects are usually temporary and localised to the area of injection. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning, bruising or redness at the injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eyelids, lack of feeling, skin tightness and nausea.
In addition to its use for cosmetic reasons, BOTOX®
is also used to treat patients of most age groups in a variety of therapeutic
indications including cerebral palsy in children, movement disorders (head,
neck, shoulder, face), and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
BOTOX® is a Prescription Medicine containing 100 units of botulinum toxin type A for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your doctor about the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. Cautions: People with defective neuro-muscular transmission disorders, infection at site of injection, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning or redness at injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eye lids, lack of feeling and nausea. If you have any side effects or concerns speak to your doctor. You will need to pay for this medicine. Normal Doctors visit fees apply.
Note: BOTOX® treatment lasts about four months and after this time further courses of treatment may be necessary. Speak to your doctor about your own situation.
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
'Consumer Medicine Information' (CMI) is consumer directed product information
for prescription products which is available to the general public. The aim of
CMI is to provide medical information in everyday language to help inform consumers
about the drug which they have been prescribed.
For more information on BOTOX® please click here to access a copy of the current BOTOX® CMI.
BOTOX® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc. Allergan New Zealand, PO Box 1873, Auckland 1, New Zealand.
