BOTOX® ( Allergan Irvine , CA ) is purified Botulinum Toxin Type A, which is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. BOTOX ® is used to treat wrinkles that appear on the forehead and mouth, as well as the “crow’s feet” that appear in the corners of the eyes. In April 2002, BOTOX® Cosmetic was approved by the FDA. BOTOX® injections have become the fastest growing cosmetic procedure performed by plastic surgeons, with more than 1.6 million people undergoing treatment in 2002 alone.

Dr. Fortes administers BOTOX® injections on an outpatient basis in Houston, TX. The procedure usually lasts about ten minutes. There are ten groups of muscles in the face and scalp that contract to express emotions, but only a few of these muscles are targeted for BOTOX® treatment to reduce wrinkles. Natural facial expressions are preserved during treatment.

First, Dr. Fortes will identify the areas for planned injections using a unique marking pattern, and he then will cleanse the skin with alcohol and cool it with an ice pack. He will use a tiny needle to make the injections – the pain should feel less than that of a bug bite in most cases. The ice pack is kept on the treated areas to prevent bruising.

The effects of BOTOX® can be noticed about three days after the treatment, and the results can last for about three months in most cases. Side effects of the treatment are usually minimal and may include bruising at the injection site and/or headaches. Very rarely, a BOTOX® injection may cause a temporary weakness of the muscle that opens the upper eyelid when a treatment is performed between the eyebrows. This will correct itself when the effects of BOTOX® wear off.