Botox is synonymous for anti wrinkle treatments and has become a household name. It’s the most popular wrinkle-reduction treatment. Botox was the first to be introduced as an anti wrinkle treatment, so it has become synonymous with wrinkle treatment. There are other brands available such as Dysort and Xeomin which are well known, but there are many brands now available in the market. But Botox is the one which everyone talks about, understands and relates for wrinkle correction treatment. Hence, I will use the word Botox in this blog. Also as a dermatologist, I trust and use Botox injections in my clinic. Botox is very safe, no major side effects. It’s considered to be a ‘lunch time procedure’ , and takes around 15-20 minutes with no downtime.
What is Botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin derived from the bacteria clostridium botulinum. Botox or the neurotoxin botulinum is approved by FDA, USA, for the correction of wrinkles caused by the contractions of the facial muscles, which are used for various expressions on the face, such as frowning, smiling or for the surprised look. The contraction of the muscles around the eyes leads to formation of wrinkles, commonly known as ‘ crow’s feet’, and contraction of the forehead muscles leads to formation of lines and wrinkles on the forehead. These are also known as dynamic wrinkles, over the time, with the continuous use of the muscles this can lead to static wrinkles.
How does Botox help?
Botox stops the contraction of the facial muscles, by blocking the chemical signals from the nerves to muscles, this results in no muscle contraction it relaxes the muscles, hence no lines or wrinkles. It’s used to treat wrinkles on the forehead, frown lines and crow’s feet. Botox will be relaxing only those muscles where it’s injected, it does not have any effect on any other muscles of the face or the body. Also it works only on dynamic muscles, Botox will not correct the fine lines or wrinkles caused by other causes of aging, such as sun damage.
What are the two types of wrinkles?
The wrinkles are of two types –
- Dynamic wrinkles – These are the ones which are formed by the contractions of the muscles, they disappear when the muscle relaxes. Botox works best on these dynamic wrinkles.
- Static wrinkles – These wrinkles do not disappear after the muscle relaxes. With the repeated contractions of the muscles, over the years, these lines become permanent or static, they do not disappear even when the muscles are not contracting, they continue to stay even when the muscles relax. That’s why the Botox injection will not lead to the correction of the lines and wrinkles. Its best to get the Botox when the muscles are dynamic, do not wait for them to become static.
Other uses of Botox –
Botox can be used in other indications such as:
- Migraine
- Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating
- Neck spasm
- Cerebral palsy, to correct the muscle spasms
- Eye twitching
- Lazy eye
- Bladder control as in urinary incontinence
The other main indication after the lines and wrinkles, were Botox is used very frequently for Migraine.
How is Botox done?
Botox is administered at a doctors clinic or hospitals, by a trained, skilled and well qualified doctor. It’s a pretty quick and painless procedure, you may just feel a little pin prick sensation (certain people say a pinching sensation, but I do not agree as the pinch can be a little painful but not Botox). If you are very pain sensitive, then the doctor may apply a numbing cream for 20-30 minutes to numb the area, but according to me it’s not really needed.
The area is first cleansed well of any make up or any cosmetic products, further the area is further sterilized and then the doctor will give you multiple shots of the botox, using an Insulin syringe which has a very fine needle, which hardly causes any pain.
It’s known as the lunch hour office procedure. It just takes around 30 minutes to do the procedure and you can go back to your office or whatever is your routine. It usually takes 7-14 days to see the full effect of Botox. The effect lasts for 3 to 6 months, it depends on the lifestyle of the person, physical activity and metabolism. Slowly the effects wear off and the muscles start to gain back their activity. In a person who’s been doing Botox for a number of years, the requirement of units may decrease over the period of time, but once again it depends on your age, metabolism and lifestyle.
Few Precautions Before and After Botox Injection
Nothing much before the injection, but yes definitely let your doctor know if you are on any medications or any health issues you have.
After the injection your doctor may advise you the following –
- Do not rub the area for at least 12 hours
- Do not lie down or bend forward for 3-4 hours
- Avoid picking heavy weights or objects for 24 hours
- Avoid heavy exercise for 24-36 hours.
When not to do Botox? Or who should not do Botox?
Botox is not advised if you are –
- Pregnant
- Breast feeding
- Neurological disease
What are the risks or side effects of Botox?
If done under a skilled, experienced, trained and a well qualified doctor, there are minimal risks or side effects of Botox, rather they are equivalent to none.
The mild and temporary side effects can be –
- Bruising
- Pain at the site of injection
- Headache in very few cases.
- Infection
The bruising may take a few days to disappear, the doctor may give you a healing cream for a quick recovery. Pain and headache go away in a few hours and can be taken care of by taking a paracetamol or Crocin tablet.
Infection, the chances of infection are nil, if done in a doctor’s clinic under sterile and hygienic conditions and following all the safety protocols. Kindly do not go to a salon or a spa which are owned or run by non medical people to get the Botox done. Do not compromise on quality and skills just to save a few rupees.
Botox FAQs
A few questions that I am often asked are –
If I do Botox once, do I need to keep doing it?
It’s your choice if you want to continue with Botox, especially if you want to be wrinkle free, frown free, you can definitely get it done again and again.
If I don’t want to continue with Botox later, will my wrinkles go worse?
The wrinkles will not go worse on stopping Botox, but you should know that the facial expression lines will begin to form and later can lead to static wrinkles, as the muscles have gained back their activity.
Is it permanent?
The effect of Botox lasts for 3-6 months, you have to get it done again if you want a wrinkle free face.
What’s the cost of Botox?
The cost of botox depends on many factors –
- Product used
- Number of units
- Where are you getting done?
- Who’s doing it?
Which product is being used, as in which company is manufacturing it, there are many companies in the world (from USA, European and south East Asian) right now who manufacture botulinum toxin. Allergan was the first company to manufacture botulinum toxin famously known as Botox. The cost varies from different products, a few south eastern asian company products are cheaper than others.
The requirement for Botox, that is the number of units needed will depend on the person requirement. Someone may just need it for forehead lines or just for frown lines or for crows feet (wrinkles around the eyes) and another person may need it for all the areas. Younger people may need less units in comparison to an older person. The requirement would vary between two individuals of the same age, depending on the use of the muscles in various expressions, one may be frowning more than the other or laughing more. The number of units required for men may be a little more than for a female.
Also if botox is being used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating in the underarms or hands and feet), migraine or other muscle spasms, then the number of units required are definitely much more and the cost will increase.
Your doctor will guide you for the number of units needed.
The cost of botox also depends, where in the world you are getting it done. For example the cost is much more in the metros like Mumbai, Delhi and if we’re talking about the world it would be higher in New York, London or Paris. The pricing is less in smaller cities and towns.
The pricing also depends on who’s doing it, skilled, experienced and well qualified doctors can charge more and also the celebrity doctors charge more because of their skills and techniques.
I hope all your doubts/questions are well answered, if any unanswered queries you have, you can message me to get all your doubts cleared.
If you are worried about the frown lines or that angry or sad and tired look on your face, go get the Botox done and get back the youthful and bright look back on your face.
Botox is Safe.
