Botox Cosmetic Guide

What it is: Botox, Botulinum type A, is an injectable anti-aging treatment that blocks the nerve impulses that cause our facial muscles to move. Repetitive facial movements are responsible for creating expression lines on the face.

Inside this Guide
1. Is Botox safe?		6. Results: what to expect
2. Botox vs. Botox Cosmetic		7. Side Effects
3. Who should consider Botox?		8. Cost
4. Doctor Consultation: what to ask		9. Terminology to know
5. What happens during a Botox injection?

Is Botox Safe?

Botox usually treats:

Existing facial lines caused by repetitive muscle movement. Botox also prevents new lines from forming. Common injection sites for addressing wrinkles and lines are:

• Glabella (region between eyebrows)
• Forehead
• Outer corners of eyes (crow's feet)
• Either side of mid-chin, for down-turned mouth
• Neck, for neck bands or visible chords

Botox can also treat:

• Facial asymmetry or other facial conditions that result from muscle action; this is called "facial shaping".
• Hyperhidrosis (excessive perspiration); Common injection sites are underarms, palms, scalp and soles of feet.

If you are being treated for any neurological disorder, you should first consult your doctor. Some individuals with very lax facial muscles may not be good candidates as the injections can cause ptosis, or sagging, rather than have a positive cosmetic effect.

Botox doctor consultation: what to ask

 The first step in considering Botox is to meet with your doctor or properly qualified and trained clinician.

• See the Botox consultation checklist
• See Who Can Perform Cosmetic Injectable Treatments
• Read about the experiences of others who've had Botox. See real Botox stories.

What happens during a Botox injection?

• The area to be injected will be cleansed, commonly with alcohol swabs.
• No anesthetic is necess ary, but you may request a topical anesthetic cream for your comfort.
• Your doctor may ask you to make specific expressions to identify facial muscle contractions.
• Your doctor may mark near the injection sites with temporary ink.
• Your doctor will make several quick injections in the region to be treated.
• The treated area may be cleansed again.
• The entire treatment process may take 10 to 15 minutes.

After the Injection:

You may experience mild swelling or bruising from any type of injection. You may also experience a mild headache after treatment. It is unlikely, but possible, that you may experience mild flu-like symptoms after your injections.

Botox results: what to expect

If this is your first time being treated with Botox, you can expect your results to develop within 5 to 10 days after treatment. You will no longer, or only with great exertion, be able to make the expressions that have created your expression lines. Treatment is temporary—Botox does not cause permanent loss of movement or paralysis. Within 4 to 6 months you will see movement return to the treated area. If you do not repeat treatment, your appearance will return to its pre-treatment state.

Botox side effects

The greatest risk is when Botox is not injected properly. You may receive limited benefit, or you may experience a condition called ptosis (a dropping of the area injected). It is possible, but unlikely, that you will experience a mild headache following treatment. It is possible, but rare, that you may experience mild flu-like symptoms after your injections.

Botox cost

Botox injections can vary widely in cost as reflected in the Botox cost data posted on RealSelf.com. The cost of Botox may vary based on your provider's experience, the number of injection sites, as well as geographic office location.

Terminology to know

• Botox: Brand name of Botulinum Toxin Type A FDA approved for use of select neurological conditions and severe underarm sweating. Botox Cosmetic is the brand name for cosmetic indications. U.S. FDA approved.
• Botox Cosmetic: Brand name of Botulinum Toxin Type A used for cosmetic injectable treatments. U.S. FDA approved.
• Botulinum Toxin: A neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. In two specific strains, type A and type B, it is used in minute doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment.
• Botulinum Toxin Type A: The form of botulinum toxin in Botox and Botox Cosmetic (U.S. FDA approved), Reloxin and PureTox (Not U.S. FDA approved), used cosmetically to prevent frown lines and facial creases.
• Botulinum Toxin Type B: The form of botulinum toxin in Myobloc. Not U.S. FDA approved for cosmetic injections.
• Glabella: The space between the eyebrows and above the nose, where muscle movement commonly results in vertical frown lines.
• Hyperhidrosis: A medical condition of excessive perspiration.
• Injector: Commonly used term to identify and individual who provides cosmetic injections. Although injections may be provided by a registered nurse (RN) or Physicians Assistant (PA) they may legally only be prescribed by a physician.
• Numbing cream: A form of anesthetic by topical cream to numb tissue prior to injections or laser procedures.
• Nurse Injector: A common term for a registered nurse who provides cosmetic injectables treatments. Some states restrict or do not allow the practice of nurse injectors.
• Off-label: The practice of prescribing drugs or medical treatment for a purpose similar too, but specifically not defined by a drug's U.S. FDA approved label.
• Ptosis: The medical term for drooping eyelids.
• Topical anesthetic: A local anesthetic agent applied to numb the surface of an tissue, such as skin or gums.