Mention the word “Botox” at a party, and you are certain to get all kinds of reactions.

The truth is that most people do not know all the facts about Botox. In the world of cosmetic enhancement, Botox is used to eliminate frown lines, crow’s feet, and other wrinkles. 

Botox injections are one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed today. The Food and Drug Administration has approved use of the drug — botulinum toxin type A injection — to temporarily remove frown lines, but it also has been approved to relieve uncontrollable tightening of neck muscles (cervical dystonia) and eyelid muscles (blepharospasm), to ease crossed eyes (strabismus), and to control severe underarm sweating. In September 2013, the FDA also approved Botox for crow's feet.

The ABCs of Botox

Botox is a purified neurotoxin made by a particular kind of bacteria, clostridium botulinum. A neurotoxin is a toxic substance that normally damages or destroys neurons, the main building blocks of your nervous system. If you were to ingest the bacteria, you’d get botulism, a dangerous disease of the nervous system. However, when a tiny amount of the neurotoxin, not the bacteria, is skillfully injected in the right spot, anti-aging results can happen: Facial wrinkles may disappear.

According to Scott Gerrish, MD, a nonsurgical skin care specialist with offices in Virginia and Maryland, Botox temporarily inhibits neurons from “talking” with muscles wherever it is injected. “Because the muscle is unable to move under the skin, which is what causes skin creases, frown lines are eliminated for up to three to six months, and a simple retreatment is all that is required to maintain a smooth brow," Dr. Gerrish says.

If you're considering using Botox, here are some basics you should know:

Pros:

• Botox injections are a quick and simple procedure done in your doctor’s office in minutes.
• There’s no downtime from work or other activities.
• Results are fast and sometimes amazing.
• Most people who have had Botox injections are very satisfied and expect to return for re-treatment.

 

 Cons:

• Results are temporary.
• Possible side effects include bruising or bleeding at the injection site.
• Costs vary but range from $200 to $500 per facial area. The amount charged for treatment may vary depending on your doctor's experience and the part of the country you live in.
• There have been deaths linked to Botox injections, but they were not from cosmetic use. The deaths involved cases in which children were injected with Botox for muscle spasms, and the toxin spread beyond the injection site. The FDA concluded in 2008 that Botox is safe and that adverse reactions were “related to overdosing.”
• Some firms and doctors have been found guilty and imprisoned for selling or using research-grade botulinum toxin, causing harm to unknowing patients.

Botox: Safety First

Gerrish cautions patients not to take any ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin, for example) or aspirin for a week before having a Botox treatment to minimize bruising and bleeding. Other precautions to take:

• Make sure that the Botox you’re being injected with is the authentic product made by Allergan. Every single vial of Botox has the Allergan hologram on it along with a cap marked with the company’s name.
• Doctors of all kinds are hanging out their “Botox signs,” so you must be careful whom you choose to use that needle. Make sure your doctor is an experienced specialist in either dermatology or facial plastic surgery. Find out how many years the doctor has been in practice and how many patients the doctor has treated with Botox in the past year.

Botox treatment, done properly, is safe and effective, and offers potentially stunning results — but only if you do your homework and find the right doctor.