Original Article By Macaela Mackenzie.
Injectables are everywhere these days. While lip fillers are the recent darlings of the cosmetic procedure world, good old-fashioned Botox - a.k.a. botulinum toxin injections - is still on top - 7 million injections were given in 2016 (almost three times as many as soft tissue fillers), according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This week, the FDA announced Botox Cosmetic is now approved for a whole new wrinkle-smoothing purpose.
Now, in addition to crow's feet and glabellar lines (the fine lines that can form in between your eyebrows if you smize too hard), Botox Cosmetic (which is different from the injections used to treat overly sweaty armpits or migraines, which are just called "Botox") is officially approved for treating moderate to severe forehead lines.
"It works by relaxing muscle movement so you can't raise your forehead muscle and therefore cannot form any lines," Anna Avaliani, a dermatologist and cosmetic and laser skin-care specialist who specializes based in New York City, tells Allure. "The new indication will not only help soften the appearance of the lines but it will also help them from becoming deeper. The key is to start early and be consistent."
The FDA approval makes Botox Cosmetic the only injection of its kind with FDA approval for three facial uses, according to a statement from Allergan, Botox's manufacturer.
"The forehead area is one of the most commonly requested area in my practice," Avaliani says. But just because Botox has a shiny new stamp of approval doesn't mean you shouldn't still do your due diligence, she adds. "I am very cautious who I choose to inject there. Detailed consultation is always required as it may result in droopy or uneven eyebrows, and may cause a heavy sensation feeling, if not done correctly."
The bottom line? Always have an in-depth consultation with your doc before getting an injection, even for FDA-approved uses and especially for off-label uses like the latest trend in lips.