Botox™ (a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria) has been in medical use for many years. It was originally used to treat children who had crossed eyes and muscle spasms.

Botox has been used for wrinkle therapy since the early 1990's with no serious side effects documented. Botox Cosmetic has been approved in Canada for treatment of frown lines between the eyebrows since April 2001. It is also commonly used in several other areas of the face. Botox injections relax the muscles that create wrinkles thereby lessening the appearance of frown lines, laugh lines and crow's feet. The muscles of facial expression will typically cause the overlying skin to wrinkle in an accordian like fashion. Botox therapy involves targeting the muscles that are causing the undesireable wrinkles.

Botox eliminates the facial wrinkles that occur with habitual overuse of specific facial muscles. It prevents the muscle from contracting; Therefore, the skin crease gradually decreases in depth and severity. Using a small amount of a filler substance at the same time often results in complete elimination of the wrinkle line. A small amount of Botox is injected right into the muscles that are responsible for creating wrinkles. Botox effectively inactivates the muscles that produce wrinkles, thereby causing lines to disappear or diminish dramatically. It usually takes several days to notice the wrinkle smoothing effect after receiving Botox injections.

Some of the common areas treated include crow's feet, frown lines, laugh lines, and forehead wrinkles. It is most effective in the areas of the face which rely on a single set of muscles for movement. For example, the area between the eyebrows is very responsive to treatment, but the surrounding muscles may sometimes be 'recruited' by the body to create movement in the area, even though the muscles directly below the area are completely relaxed.

It is more difficult to achieve complete smoothness of the crow's feet than the brow area for the same reason.
A Botox treatment is quick and results usually last three to six months. After that you may return for a follow-up injection. Some doctors report that after several treatments, the effect of Botox appears to last longer, often up to several months.
The most common complication is a slight, temporary drooping of the eyelid. Botox is used in extremely small amounts and does not spread throughout the body so you can return to full activity immediately. Up to 10% of patients also experience headache following this type of treatment.

Botox can be used by almost anyone: patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or who have a neurologic disease should not use Botox. Other uses for Botox include reduction of excess sweating of hands and armpits and relief of tension headaches.