Botox slows down the formation of wrinkles caused by the muscle movements of facial expression. Its use on the forehead and for frown lines gives a more open look to the face. Younger people may benefit by regular use to prevent their unwanted frowning or forehead wrinkling from getting "etched" into their skin. Complementary procedures such as Juvederm and IPL laser treatment can be performed to create a younger overall appearance without surgery. The frown line between the eyebrows is caused by the action of a muscle called the corrugator. You can feel this as a thickening just below the inside of your eyebrows when you purposefully make yourself frown. Injecting Botox directly into this corrugator muscle stops your ability to draw your eyebrows together when you frown. Once the muscle is immobilized it cannot contract, and the frown line gradually fades away. Botox is also effective in the treatment of crow's feet and forehead wrinkles. It can also help with a "puckered lip" for some people. The actual treatment takes only a few minutes and the Botox takes effect in one to two weeks. Gradually over three to four months the Botox effect will fade, and the muscle action will return. When the frown line starts to reappear, a simple repeat treatment is all that is necessary to maintain the desired result. We recommend treatments every four months to maintain maximum improvement. The side effects of Botox are related to the local injection of the solution. There will be a slight discomfort from the needle entering the skin, and a small chance of a bruise at the site of the injection. Occasionally headaches may occur. There are no reports of damage to the eye, with injections to the eyelid. There have been no permanent side effects from the use of Botox. Less than 1% of patients will develop a slight lowering or ptosis of one eyelid. This is temporary and may not even be noticed by the patient. Very tiny needles are used for the injections, and most patients tolerate the small pinpricks very well with no anesthetic. Ask our staff. Botox can also be used to reduce sweating of the underarms, palms, and soles. For patients with severe sweating who do not respond to prescription antiperspirants, Botox can be the answer to ruined clothes and embarrassment. Injections need to be given approximately twice a year. Excessive sweating is a medical condition and most private medical insurance companies will cover the cost of the medication, however there is a fee charged for the injection procedure.