Botox, or botulism toxin, is one of the most powerful poisons known. Botox produces its effect by paralyzing voluntary muscles. Botox was first used over ten years ago in treating diseases of the muscle of the eye. While collagen and other filler substances are used to fill in static lines, that is, the permanent lines in the skin, Botox, by paralyzing the muscle, works in treating lines caused by the movement of muscles in the underlying skin.

For many patients, Botox has produced extremely satisfying results in reducing lines of the forehead, crow's feet lines, and the furrows in the forehead and frown lines between the eyes. Recently the use of Botox has been extended for use in relazing muscle bands in the neck and lines around the mouth.

Injection of Botox is relatively painless and produces extremely impresseive results for most pattients. However, since Botox preparatoins contain albumin, patients who are allergic to eggs should discuss the possiblility of an allergic reaction to Botox with the allergist.

Over time, repaeated Botox injections over time produce antibodies to the material. In other words, your body builds up a tolerance. For this reason higher doses are required to produce the same effects over a period of time. Despite this small drawback, Botox has proven to produce a high rate of satisfaction among patients.

As with all facial rejuvenation procedures, what is most important is the use of sunscreen to prevent further damage to the skin, a good home regiman consisiting of a mild facial soap to assure adequate moisturinign of the skin, and the use of alphap-hydroxy acid and retinoic acid derivatives, as well as Vitamin-C on a regular basis.

The primary risk of Botox injections is that a small percentage of patieints can experience difficulty in fullly raising the eybrow. For this reason, Botox, like collagen and facal peels, should be administered only by a doctor who has been carefully trained in all of the techniques.