BOTOX COSMETIC – MYTHS & FACTS

A lot of mixed media and information has been on TV and in the news lately regarding Botox and its’ uses so I thought we would publish some facts to clear up some of the uncertainty and speculation around the topic.

Myth #1 – Botox Cosmetic is unsafe.
Fact #1 – Botox Cosmetic has a long and well established safety history. While you may only know BOTOX as a wrinkle treatment, BOTOX has actually been used for over 20 years for the effective treatment of a range of medical conditions and is one of the most widely researched medicines in the world.

It is reassuring to know that Botox Cosmetic is the most popular physician-administered cosmetic treatment in North America with an estimated 17 million treatments performed since it was first approved. In addition, it has received a 97% satisfaction rating among users!
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Myth #2 – Botox Cosmetic will result in the loss of facial expression.

Fact #2 – Botox Cosmetic is intended to enhance the way you look, not change it. When administered by an experienced physician, you can still smile, frown and animate. The treatment only relaxes the muscle beneath the lines at the point of injection, so the other elements of facial expression remain active. It also has no effect on sensory nerves, so you will have normal feeling in the treated areas.
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Myth #3 – Botox Cosmetic is botulism(food poisoning)

Fact #3 – Botox Cosmetic is not botulism. It is a purified protein and finished medical prescription product with a known and proven safety profile obtained through extensive research and testing.
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Myth #4 – Botox Cosmetic treatment is painful.

Fact #4 – A Botox Cosmetic treatment is quick and simple. A very fine needle and small amount of liquid is used so the pain associated with the injection is minimal. No anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately.
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Myth #5 – Botox Cosmetic Injections can be given anywhere.

Fact #5 – Botox Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive procedure. Make sure to visit a well-trained aesthetic-specialty physician for your treatment, and discuss the optimal results you would like to achieve. Botox Cosmetic should only be administered in appropriate medical settings.
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Myth #6 – Botox Cosmetic is Expensive

Fact #6 – The cost of Botox Cosmetic varies depending on the amount of product needed to achieve optimal results and the areas of the face that are being treated.
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Myth #7 – There are creams that are better than Botox Cosmetic

Fact #7 There is no scientific evidence that supports that creams work better than Botox Cosmetic. Creams work well on the surface of the skin. Botox Cosmetic works below the surface of the skin to relax the muscles that cause the lines and wrinkles to form.
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Myth #8 – Botox Cosmetic is a facial filler

Fact #8 – Unlike fillers, Botox Cosmetic does not fill in facial lines or restore volume loss. It relaxes the muscles underneath the skin that cause the lines. Facial fillers like Juvederm help to fill in facial lines and give back volume that is lost over time.
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Myth #9 – Botox Cosmetic and Botox are the same

Fact #9 – While Botox Cosmetic and Botox contain the same active ingredient in the same formulations, there are different uses for each. Botox is used for treatment of serious medical conditions, while Botox Cosmetic is used in much smaller dosages for the treatment of facial wrinkles and lines.
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***Facts stated above from the following sources: – Botox Cosmetic Patient Education Brochure 2007); Botox Cosmetic Fact Sheet; Low NJ. Overview of botulinum neurotoxins. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 2007; 9(suppl 1):11-16); Allergan data on file. Global Regulatory Affairs; Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation(ASERF), Botox Cosmetic Use Survey, April 2005); Botox Cosmetic Product Monograph, Allergan Inc. Sept 26 2008.***