What is Botox?

Botox injections are a group of medication that use various forms of botulinium toxin to temporarily relax certain muscles. By doing this we can reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles, treat neck spasms, migraine headaches, some cases of crossed eyes, excessive sweating and an overactive bladder. Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in the United States.

In what situations do you use Botox?

In aesthetic/cosmetic medicine, we botox solely for the reduction of wrinkles. It is a very predictable and reliable procedure. We use Botox in other areas of dermatology as well for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), athlete’s foot etc

How is Botox administered?

A very fine, thin needle is used to inject the muscles underlying the skin to be treated. Some patients experience minor discomfort during the procedure. Botox can be used to treat forehead lines, frown lines (between the eyebrows), crow’s feet (at the corner of the eyes), smile and laugh lines (around the mouth and eyes), and neck bands.

botox square

When do I expect to see results and how long will the results last?

The effects of the botox injections begin to be seen within a few days and reach their peak by the 14th day post injection. The results from a single treatment usually last 3 to 6 months, the effects of the botox gradually wane during which you may want to repeat the procedure. Most patients have 2 to 3 injections a year.

What side effects do I expect?

Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. The most common side effects are bruising or swelling at the injection site, headaches and flu-like symptoms. If injections aren’t correctly placed, they may spread to adjacent tissue and cause drooping eyelids, crooked eyebrows, crooked smile, dry eye or excessive tearing. In very rare situations, the effect of the botulinium toxin can spread to other parts of the body causing botulinium like signs and symptoms which are mainly muscle weakness all over the body.

Botox must be used only under an experienced doctor’s care. This minimizes side effects and even if they do occur, the doctor is well equipped to handle them.