BOTOX® Cosmetic is the nation's number one cosmetic procedure, surgical or otherwise. Demand has surged by 2500 percent in just five years. BOTOX® Cosmetic helps remove lines and creases in the upper part of the face by deactivating and relaxing specific muscles so they do not contract and pull on the skin. It works to eliminate the face's dynamic wrinkles – those wrinkles that are caused not by aging or sun exposure, but by years of facial movements such as laughing, smiling, squinting, and frowning.

It's a simple 10-minute treatment that consists of a few tiny injections with just minimal discomfort. No recuperation time is needed. In just a few days the effects can be seen with a renewed and revitalized look. Try as you might, the treated muscle is not going to move – you'll have trouble even looking angry or tired. Typically the results last about four months, but some last up to six months.

After treatment, the overlying skin takes on a smoother, more refreshed appearance, while the untreated facial muscles contract in normal fashion, allowing normal facial expressions to be unaffected.

BOTOX® Cosmetic can prevent wrinkles from forming if the treatments are started early. Clinical studies suggest the effect on the injected muscle is cumulative; as the muscle atrophies over the years, the look can be maintained with fewer injections.

The Safety Record of BOTOX® Cosmetic

Botulinum Toxin Type A has a 20-year record of safe and effective use. In 1989 it was approved by the Federal Drug Administration to treat a variety of medical conditions involving muscular spasms and twitches, especially of the face and eyes. It has been used since 1987 to treat frown lines and other wrinkles – a perfectly legal off-label use. Now this cosmetic use for frown lines has full FDA approval. Newer research has found that Botulinum Toxin Type A may also provide relief for migraine headaches and excessive sweating of the underarms or palms.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a natural, purified protein that is administered at very low, controlled doses. The Botulinum Toxin Type A is taken into the muscle at the place where it is injected, and the effects are usually confined to this region. It does not travel throughout the body.

It's unlikely that you'll develop any significant side effects, but you may notice a very slight bruising where BOTOX® Cosmetic was injected. This is only temporary and can be covered with make-up. The more common side effects are mild headache, temporary eyelid droop and nausea.

Log onto www.BotoxCosmetic.com for more information.