Botox Cosmetic® is a treatment for wrinkles caused by repeated movements. The most commonly treated areas include:

• The lines around the eyes known as crows feet caused by squinting or smiling
• The horizontal lines across the forehead caused by raising the eyebrows
• The lines and folding of skin between the eyebrows caused by frowning

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Is it Safe?

Yes! Botox Cosmetic® has been available for 20 years and has been used to treat many diseases. In fact, it is used in children as young as 2 years old to treat cerebral palsy. These children receive over 10 times the amount used for Cosmetic – EVERY 3 MONTHS. If a 2-year old child is safe (with significantly more Botox Cosmetic® given to them) – you will be very safe. This safety has been proven repeatedly over the past 20 years through extensive testing and research. Botox Cosmetic® is an approved prescription drug and is approved by both the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as well as the Health Protection Branch of Canada.

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Will it give me food poisoning/ Is it botulism?
Isn’t Botox Cosmetic® a toxin/poison?

No, it is not toxic to you – nor is it poisonous to you! Botox Cosmetic® is NOT botulism and it will not cause food poisoning. To clarify, Botulism is the name of an illness not the name of the drug. The product is a purified protein that is extracted from a naturally occurring bacteria and then rigorously processed under strict pharmaceutical manufacturing guidelines. It is very similar to how Penicillin comes from mold! It is an approved drug that is used in very tiny doses.

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How do I know it won’t be toxic to me?

Typically, for a cosmetic treatment, you may receive under 100 units. To make someone remotely sick, you would have to receive OVER 35 times this dose all at one time which would NEVER happen. You are getting therapeutically proven very tiny doses.

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How does it work?

BOTOX Cosmetic® works by simply relaxing the muscles underneath the skin to create a smooth and refreshed appearance.

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How long does the procedure take?

Generally, after the consultation, the procedure only takes up to 15 minutes. Since there is no downtime – you can do it on your lunchtime- and no one would know you have had it done!

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How quickly does it work?

It can take up to two weeks for it to take full effect. Usually we ask patients to wait for the 14 days to pass in order to fully see the results.

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How is it done?

It is injected with a very tiny needle – much smaller than that used to take your blood etc. A delicate insulin-type needle is used.

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Does it hurt?

Most patients say the injections feel similar to a little pinch, although everyone is different. Usually the patient says, “Is that all?”

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How long does Botox Cosmetic® last? Is it permanent?

No- Botox Cosmetic® is not permanent. It lasts between 3-4 months on average but everyone is different.  Many patients who get their first 3 treatments done “back to back” every 3 months, find that their next series of treatments last longer.

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Is it going to be worse when it wears off?

No! Your face will never get worse if you stop using Botox Cosmetic® or when it wears off. Botox Cosmetic® “stops/slows” the clock of aging.  When you stop getting treatments, the “aging clock” resumes like normal. At the very minimum, you will simply return to where you started.  If you use Botox Cosmetic® for a number of years and then stop- your muscles learn to relax and therefore, you will end up looking a little better than when you originally started.

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I don’t want to look like a mask without expression – will that happen?

No. Most people simply want to look NATURAL, RELAXED and REFRESHED, without looking “done”. In the experienced hands of Dr. Zidel and Dr. Wasser’s, their patients typically say that no one knows that they had anything done. Friends simply say that they look well rested and great!

We strongly recommend that you go to Allergan Inc.’s excellent web site, which may help answer any of your questions.

Please also read our Patient Education Form.
You might also wish to download our Post-Treatment Instructions and Medical Consent Form.

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