Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. While you may have earned every one of your worry lines, you don't have to show them anymore.

Now, thanks to a new use for an approved drug, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure, known as cosmetic denervation, uses BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to improve the appearance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet and other dynamic wrinkles.

BOTOX® Cosmetic blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. BOTOX® Cosmetic relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.

Cosmetic denervation with BOTOX® Cosmetic is a simple and safe procedure. Using a tiny microneedle, a very small amount of BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected, very precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the discomfort associated with the injections is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office. Some patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site. This can be covered with make-up.

Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. Dr. Hazen will discuss this with you in length before your treatment. Because the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic are completely reversible, any side effects should be temporary, lasting only a few weeks.

If dynamic wrinkles make you look older than you are, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle contractions. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift or brow lift.

Unfortunately, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from three to six months. You will need to have injections about two to three times a year. The early clinical studies indicate that the duration of treatment benefits is increased over time so that you should require injections less frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient to patient and may be less effective for those over 65 years of age.