Botox cosmetic injections are a popular, non-invasive, facelift technique that plastic surgeons use to help eliminate frown lines, crow’s feet, and those tiny wrinkles around your mouth. Botox cosmetic injections were used off label for many years as they were first developed and FDA approved for the medical treatment of spasms in patients who suffered from paralysis.

In the early 1980’s physicians using the Botox injection for treatment of neurological disorders also recognized that the patients had positive cosmetic changes. They further developed the treatments but had to use them off-label until April 2002 when the FDA finally approved Botox for wrinkles.

The active agent in Botox cosmetic injections is the bacteria responsible for botulism infections. This toxin, botulinum is responsible for temporary paralysis of skin, muscle, and nerve tissue. Ingestion of the toxin can cause gastrointestinal distress, dilated, unresponsive pupils, and muscle weakness. However, injection of the toxin subcutaneously does not cross the blood brain barrier nor does it cause the other systemic illness.

Doctors at Cornell University in New York warn that, although Botox for wrinkles is safe and seemingly effective, wrinkles in the adjacent area can form as the body attempts to recreate the same expressions without using the paralyzed muscle. For instance, if Botox is used between the eyebrows (one of the most common areas), then muscles in the bridge of the nose, eyelid, and forehead will attempt to recreate the scowl that originally formed wrinkles. This abnormal use of muscles can often result in new wrinkles. Doctors and patients should be aware of the risks of forming new wrinkles before using Botox cosmetic injections for a non-invasive surgical facelift.