BOTOX® Cosmetic or cosmetic denervation is a procedure used to improve the appearance of frown lines, crow's feet, laugh lines and other dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles occur when we smile, laugh or frown and the muscles beneath the skin contract. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into these muscles and works by weakening them in a very precise way. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while untreated facial muscles contract normally, allowing normal facial expression.

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections have been safely and effectively used for many neurological and ophthalmological disorders for many years and have emerged as a new treatment for improving the visible signs of aging.

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are safe and simple. A very small amount of BOTOX® is injected with a very fine needle into several locations in the face. Because the needle is very fine, no sedation or local anesthetic is required. You will be able to engage in all of your usual activities immediately after. You may have slight bruising of the skin at the injections sites, but this is only temporary.

If dynamic wrinkles are making you look older than you should, cosmetic denervation can smooth these out and give you a more youthful appearance. This procedure will not improve the more common "static" wrinkles that are unrelated to facial muscle contraction. Cosmetic denervation will not improve loose or sagging skin and does not serve the same function as a facelift.

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections should last approximately four to six months and should be repeated two to three times a year. Early results from clinical trials suggest that the duration of benefit increases with time so that you may only require injections less frequently in the future, but this varies from person to person.

BOTOX® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc.