Botox injections are noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. They're also used to treat conditions such as excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines.

Botox injections use a toxin called onabotulinumtoxinA to temporarily prevent a muscle from moving. This toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
Botox was the first drug to use botulinum toxin. Other products now include abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport), and incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin). Each is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage units, so they aren't interchangeable.

Why is it done?

Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. Botox injections are also used to treat conditions that affect how the body functions. Examples include:
Cervical dystonia: In this painful condition, your neck muscles contract involuntarily causing your head to twist or turn into an uncomfortable position.
Lazy eye: The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles responsible for positioning the eye.
Muscle contractures: Some neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can cause your limbs to pull in toward your center. In some cases, these contracted muscles can be relaxed with Botox injections.
Hyperhidrosis: In this condition, excessive sweating occurs even when the temperature isn't hot and you're not exerting yourself.
Chronic migraine: If you experience migraines more than 15 days a month, Botox injections may help reduce headache frequency.
Bladder dysfunction: Botox injections can also help reduce urinary incontinence caused by an overactive bladder.
Eye twitching: Botox injections may help relieve contracture or twitching of muscles around the eye.

Risks

Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. Possible side effects and complications include:
  • Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site
  • Headache or flu-like symptoms
  • Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows
  • Crooked smile or drooling
  • Eye dryness or excessive tearing
    Although very unlikely, it's possible for the toxin in the injection to spread in your body. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these effects hours to weeks after receiving Botox: 
  • Muscle weakness
  • Vision problems
  • Trouble speaking or swallowing
  • Breathing problems
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Doctors generally recommend against using Botox when you're pregnant or breast-feeding. And Botox should not be used in people who are allergic to cow's milk protein.

Select your doctor carefully

Botox must be used only under a doctor's care. It's important that injections be placed precisely in order to avoid side effects. Botox therapy can be dangerous if it's administered incorrectly.

A skilled and properly certified doctor can advise you on the procedure and help determine if it best suits your needs and health.

How you prepare

Tell your doctor if you've had any type of Botox injection within the past 4 months. Also tell your doctor if you take muscle relaxants, sleeping aids or allergy medications. If you take blood thinners, you may need to stop taking them several days before your injection to reduce your risk of bleeding or bruising.
 

What you can expect

  • Before the procedure
     Most people don't feel much discomfort during the procedure. But you may want your skin numbed beforehand, especially if your palms or soles are being treated for excessive sweating. Your doctor might use one or more of various methods available to numb the area, such as topical anesthesia, ice and vibration anesthesia, which uses massage to reduce discomfort. 
  • During the procedure

Botox injections are usually performed in a doctor's office. Your doctor uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin or muscles. The number of injections needed depends on many factors, including the extent of the area being treated.

  • After the procedure
    Do not rub or massage the treated areas for 24 hours. This may help prevent the toxin from spreading to a different area. You can return to your normal activities right after the procedure.

Results

Botox injections usually begin working 1-3 days after treatment. Depending on the problem being treated, the effect may last 3 months or longer. To maintain the effect, you'll need regular follow-up injections.
How long do Botox injections last?

Eventually, the action of the neurotoxin will wear off and the nerves will again be able to send those signals to the muscles to start working or contracting. In general, Botox lasts 3-4 months. There will certainly be patients in which in lasts longer, in that 4-6 month range, or shorter, in that 2-month range.

● Pain, swelling, redness or bruising at the treatment site
● Flu-like symptoms
● Headache
● Neck pain
● Upset stomach (indigestion)
● Temporary drooping eyelids (ptosis)
● Eye irritation or redness

With topical anesthetic, a Botox® procedure can be virtually painless. Even without a numbing agent, pain is minimal, and you may only feel a little pinch. Injections are very quick and with a trained medical professional, you may not even notice when they happen.

Patients must be 18 years or older to be able to get Botox. However, most experts agree that in most cases, patients at a good age for preventative Botox treatment are those in their mid-late 20s and early 30s who are prone to wrinkles.

Many people worry that if they stop getting BOTOX injections, their wrinkles will come back faster and worse than before. However, this is not the case. If you stop BOTOX injections, your wrinkles will slowly start to come back, but slower than if you had never used BOTOX to begin with.

Those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, allergic to cow's milk protein or have a neurological disease should not get Botox. If you have any questions or concerns about your medical history, you should check with your doctor before undergoing a Botox procedure.

After Cosmetic Botox, Be Sure to Sleep on Your Back!
Sleeping on your stomach or side can cause Botox to migrate to other areas of your face. This can result in uneven results or even bruising. Sleeping on your back, however, minimizes the risk of it migrating and ensures it stays where it is supposed to.

Do not rub or massage the treated area and avoid make-up if possible.
Avoid sleeping on your face the first night.
Do not exercise or partake in any strenuous activity for the next 12 hrs.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption for the next 24hrs.

People of any age can get treatment with Botox, and it is regularly used on people between the ages of 25 and 50 particularly. No matter how old or young you are, however, this treatment can relax the look of wrinkles and even stop them from forming in the first place.

There is no upper age limit for people who want to have Botox. In fact, many women enjoy the refreshed look they can get from Botox and complementary treatments when they are in their 60s or older.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, Niacin supplement, high-sodium foods, high sugar foods, refined carbohydrates, spicy foods, and cigarettes 24-48 hours before and after your treatment. (All of these factors may increase risk of bruising and swelling.)

In order to avoid getting an infection or having complications, it's recommended that you don't apply makeup to your face for at least 4 hours after the procedure. If you need to wear makeup sooner than that, wait at least 30 minutes for the small injection punctures to close up.