Botox Basics

What you need to know about this popular drug.

Have wrinkles and fine lines on your face? If you don't yet, you will. It's a part of life. Along with aging come the dreaded crows feet, frown lines, and forehead creases. Many people, especially women, get regular Botox injections in their face to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving them a younger, rejuvenated look.

But what exactly is this drug that people are injecting in their faces, and is it something you should look into? Read on to find out what you should know about Botox before your first injection.

What Is It?

Botox is the brand name of a drug created from a poison made from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Yes, a poison. Ever heard of botulism? A very dangerous type of food poisoning caused by large amounts of this same toxin, this is what is used in Botox. The most serious side effect of large amounts of botulism is paralysis. However, scientists have found that small, diluted amounts of this drug can actually be beneficial to humans, especially those who are looking to offset the signs of wrinkles.

How Does It Work?

The botulinum toxin works as a muscle relaxant. When small doses of Botox are injected into muscle, it blocks the nerve signals that work to contract the muscle. This in turn temporarily weakens or paralyzes the muscle. When injected in your face, wrinkles are temporarily smoothed or eliminated.

Other Medical Uses

Besides reducing wrinkles, Botox is beneficial in treating other medical conditions including hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), lazy eye, muscles spasms, cervical dystonia (severe shoulder and neck muscle contractions), strabismus (misaligned eyes), blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking or twitching of the eyelid), vocal chord spasms, migraine headaches, and even bladder problems.

What to Expect

Compared to other cosmetic procedures that are used to make folks look younger (laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, chemical peels, and face-lift), Botox is less costly, complicated, time-consuming, and less painful. As with other options, Botox results are temporary, so you'll need to get injections every three to four months to maintain your youthful appearance. While a single treatment may seem like a reasonable price, remember that repeated injections add up. And if your wrinkles are caused by gravity or sun damage, they will not be smoothed by Botox.

During your procedure, no anesthesia is needed and it takes only a few minutes. Using a fine needle, Botox is injected into specific muscles. You will only have minor discomfort. It is recommended to avoid alcohol one week before treatment and stop taking anti-inflammatory medications or aspirin two weeks prior to treatment. This will reduce your chances of bruising.

After treatment, don't rub the area for 12 hours and avoid lying down for three to four hours. After that, you may resume your regular activities. Though you may expect instant results, it takes three to four days to notice the full effect of your treatment, and you can expect wrinkles to begin appearing again in three or four months.

Health insurance generally does not cover Botox for cosmetic purposes. If your doctor recommends Botox for another medical condition, check with your insurance provider.

Side Effects

While the long-term risks of repeated Botox injections are unknown, there are various side effects that affect some users. These include pain, redness, and bruising at the site of injection; headache; upset stomach; and flu-like symptoms. You may also experience a temporary drooping of your eyelids, which can last up to three weeks, or muscle weakness in your face. Rarely, the muscle weakness leads to limited facial expression.