Although BOTOX® may look easy to administer, it is not this aspect which is most important to the outcome. The clinician's experience and "aesthetic eye" is the key to a great outcome with BOTOX®.

Treatments take 20-30 minutes unless you opt not to have your skin numbed prior to the injections, then the treatment should take less than 10 minutes. Several tiny injections are given in the areas that you and your provider have decided upon. They usually are barely appreciable in sensation or appearance following the injection. You can reapply makeup to the treated areas immediately after the session.

There are no specific after care instructions. If this is the first time you have had Botox injections, you will not notice any change for at least 3 days and the complete effect will take up to 14 days.

Side effects from Botox are very rare, but headaches can occur temporarily after the injection – especially in patients who suffer from frequent headaches. Ironically, Botox injections often help with frequent headache patients once the Botox takes effect. Bruising can occur although very infrequently. If you are prone to bruising or are on blood thinners please notify your caregiver; special techniques and recommendations will be used to try to minimize your bruising risk. If bruising does occur it will not affect your final result and typically is minor enough that makeup coverage will conceal it.

It is always recommended that anyone considering a cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure first consult with a qualified, and experienced cosmetic surgeon. Proper research and pre-procedure planning is an important step in a decision to undergo a cosmetic procedure, and one that should not be taken lightly. Ensure you fully understand the procedure, its risks, and have a realistic expectation of the results.

Research is very important to the process, and should be done prior to having your chosen procedure, no matter how invasive the procedure is. There are many great outlets available for this research,. the best one I have found is lookingyourbest.com- a free-to-use website that offers a large library full of in depth plastic and cosmetic surgery information. This website also offers a free service to help you locate a skilled and experienced specialist in your area.

The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin, often referred to by its product name Botox®, is a popular non-surgical injection that temporarily reduces or eliminates frown lines, forehead creases, crows feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck. The toxin blocks the nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles while giving the skin a smoother, more refreshed appearance. Studies have also suggested that Botox is effective in relieving migraine headaches, excessive sweating and muscle spasms in the neck and eyes. Botox can be a valuable addition in preparing for Plastic Surgery and/or delaying surgical treatment. The effects of botox are not seen for 2 to 4 days and do not peak until 2 weeks. The results can last 3 to 6 months.

The Anatomy of a Wrinkle
The fine lines that begin to appear between your brows (glabellar lines) as you age are actually the result of muscle movement over time. You may have heard the age old "wearing your emotions on your sleeve," but really, you wear your emotions on your face. When you're angry or annoyed, you brow scrunches together. Beneath your skin, your facial muscles contract, causing a pleating of the overlying skin, or 'frowning'.

After years of wrinkling, those glabellar lines start to linger longer and can become more pronounced. For women, whose faces tend to be more animated than men's, and whose skin is typically more delicate, these lines may appear exaggerated and more permanent.

As with any surgical procedure, it is important that anyone considering a plastic or cosmetic procedure do their research and consult with a qualified and skilled Plastic Surgeon. Be sure to have all your questions answered and you fully understand the chosen procedure prior to having the surgery. There are numerous websites out there that provide good information about cosmetic surgery. The best one I have found is lookingyourbest.com. This free website offers a wealth of detailed and accurate plastic surgery information and even offers a free service to help those desiring plastic surgery locate an experienced and qualified specialist in their area.

As I get older, I worry about the effects that gravity and aging will have upon my face. At 38 I have already begun to see the fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet that goes along with getting older. As an entertainer, my face is important to me - after all it is my face people see in the media.

I know that invasive facelift surgery is not required, my gut feeling tells me there is something more I could do to restore the youthful look to my face. I did some research on the Internet and discovered the Obagi Skin Care System. After searching for more information, I found a Cosmetic surgeon in Honolulu, Hawaii who took the time to help me understand how this skin care system works and what results I can expect from using this system. He even showed me the proper way to use Obagi.

I noticed my face was smoother and the fine lines and wrinkles are disappearing just a hew short weeks after I began to use the Obagi Skin Care System. For those of you out there who are looking for a similar solution- I highly recommend you check out Obagi.
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BOTOX® is the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedure with 3.8 million treatments in the U.S. in 2005. Botox works by improving the appearance of wrinkles in the face that are caused by muscle contraction. There is no down time required for a Botox injection. It is relatively painless and results are apparent within a few days. The effects of Botox typically last approximately four months.