Botox: Latest Treatment for Wrinkles

A new and unusual procedure to eliminate a wrinkled brow is available, and it often takes only three to five days to see some results.

Dr. David Wainwright, an associate professor in the division of plastic surgery in the surgery department at The University of Texas-Houston Medical School, says the procedure generating all of the buzz is called "Botox" - short for botulinum toxin, the same organism that causes the potentially fatal food poisoning known as botulism. It's a non-surgical procedure that involves injecting low doses of Botox into the forehead. The muscles become temporarily paralyzed, thus restricting movement. Although the injections need to be repeated in three to six months, the effects are cumulative. The number of necessary injections continues to decrease over time until some people may only need once-yearly treatments.

Botox treatments have the added benefit of restricting facial movements that contribute to wrinkling, like frowning and squinting, preventing the situation from getting worse. Dr. Wainwright says there seems to be little or no risk associated with the botoxin injections, as long as the doses remain low and are carefully administered. There have not yet been any reported cases of an allergic reaction to the procedure.

Dr. Wainwright cautions that one has to have realistic expectations. "In my experience, Botoxsis is most effective in reducing lines and creases between the eyebrows," he says. "There are some wrinkles that won't entirely disappear, even when the underlying muscle is inactivated. To obtain the desired result, you may need laser resurfacing or a chemical peel in addition to the botoxin."

- From The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center

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Courtesy of Texas Medical Center News

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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