"BOTOX® injection" or "botox shot" is the term most widely used to describe the procedure of adminstering the Allergan BOTOX® Cosmetic treatement. BOTOX® injections utilize Botulinum Toxin Type A to treat wrinkles. BOTOX® Injections were originally slated to treat neurological disorders; today, BOTOX® injections are widely used to remove facial lines, especially frown lines, "crow's feet," and forehead lines.

"BOTOX® treatments", or "BOTOX® injection treatments" are a therapeutic muscle-relaxing agent that works at motor nerve endings (nerves that lead to muscles). BOTOX®® Cosmetic is a drug used for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines (frown lines). These frown lines come from muscles called corrugator and/or procerus muscles. The BOTOX® injection treatment is the name used for the process of injecting the BOTOX® Cosmetic product into the patient.

BOTOX® injection treatments were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic use in April 2002. (It has been approved for the treatment of several medical conditions since 1989.) BOTOX® is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. BOTOX® is related to botulism.

 
Botox Treatment (Before-After)


Botox Procedure
BOTOX® injection treatments are successfully used to treat blepharospasm and strabismus, and BOTOX® treatments are also proven useful in treating cervical dystonia -- these are all conditions that in some way involve spasms, involuntary muscle contractions. Within a few hours to a couple of days after the botulinum toxin is injected into the affected muscle(s), the spasms or contractions are reduced or eliminated altogether. The effects of BOTOX® treatments are not permanent, reportedly lasting anywhere from three to eight months. By injecting the toxin directly into a certain muscle or muscle group, the risk of the BOTOX® injection treatments spreading to other areas of the body is greatly diminished. When BOTOX® -- botulinum toxin A --is injected into the muscles surrounding the eyes, for instance, those muscles can not "scrunch up" for a period of time. They are paralyzed. So the wrinkles in that area, often referred to as "crow's-feet," temporarily go away. 

BOTOX® injections and side effects: What are the side effects of BOTOX® treatment?
Typically the amount of BOTOX® and side effects and BOTOX® danger remains low. Any BOTOX® side effects can typically only last 6 months at a maximum, because BOTOX® treatments are temporary. People with neuromuscular disorders should consult with their physician carefully before having a BOTOX® injection treatment, as cardiovascular problems may arise. Likewise, those with cardiovascular disease should also pay special attention.

It is a natural response to assume there is some BOTOX® injection danger with a prosuct derived from a toxin, but it is in fact very safe, and has been is use for some time. It is always prudent to refview the BOTOX® injection side effects and procedure so that any BOTOX® injection danger is know and understood.

Some patients have been known to experience the side effects of BOTOX® of bruisng at the site of the injection. The most common BOTOX® side effects following the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic for glabellar lines are headache (13.3%), respiratory infection (3.5%), temporary eyelid droop (3.2%), nausea (3.0%), and flu syndrome (2.0%). Blepharoptosis is consistent with the pharmacologic action of BOTOX® Cosmetic and may be technique related. In rare occurences BOTOX® cosmetic can spread into neighboring muscles and cause temporary paralysis. In less that 1% of patients, this can cause drooping of the eyelid.

Less frequently side effects of BOTOX® occurring (<3%) adverse reactions included pain in the face, erythema at the injection site, and muscle weakness. These events are thought to be associated with the injection and occurred within the first week. 

Where can BOTOX® be used?
The most common areas are frown lines, forehead lines, and crow feet. Other areas include the neck and upper lip.

What ages can BOTOX® Cosmetic treat?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is used to treat adult patients who are 65 or younger. How effective is BOTOX®® Cosmetic?

In a clinical study with BOTOX® Cosmetic, the majority of patients (82.5%) reported an improvement in glabellar lines after a week. Results were still reported up to 4 months later. How long does the BOTOX® injection procedure take, and how long to recover?

Performed in the office, the procedure takes about 10 minutes. Since the procedure is nonsurgical, no recovery time is needed. After BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment, you can get back to work or other activities right away. Does the injection hurt?

A very tiny needle is all that is needed for the procedure. Some patients report minor and temporary discomfort from the injection. What about BOTOX® for Migraine Help?

BOTOX® has been found to give relief to Migrane sufferers. The treatment of severe headaches really belongs to neurologists, not plastic surgeons. But the BOTOX® for migraine help is gaining acceptance.

Dr. Richard Glogau, MD, UCSF professor of dermatology had produced a small study of 24 patients and reported that 75 percent of patients in his case study experienced 4 to 6 months of migraine relief following injections of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin A) to muscles of the face and head in a presentation at the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery meeting (held November 2-5). This adds weight to previous reports that botulinum toxin A can relieve headaches. Two previous studies were presented at the 1999 meeting of the American Association for the Study of Headache. One study was reported by researchers at the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor and Michigan State University spoke of dosage. Another study, reported by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, reported 51 percent of 96 patients reported complete improvement of their migraine pain.

BOTOX® for Migrane
Following this discovery, Glogau and other researchers began to evaluate points and dosages that could alleviate migraine headaches. Glogau's results indicate that botulinum toxin A injected into the muscles of the brow, eyes, forehead, side of the head and back of the head near the neck (a point that earlier investigators have neglected) induce sometimes immediate headache relief and provide benefit for up to six months. Botox dosage in his case studies averaged 80 units per patient. Dr. Glogau's case studies had long-standing diagnoses of migraines, had all seen neurologists, and were taking standard migraine medications, including sumatriptan (Imitrex). Some required narcotic medication to relieve the pain of their frequent headaches. Most suffered migraines on a minimum of once a week and several suffered on a daily basis. In addition to use in prevention of wrinkles, BOTOX® has been used to treat uncontrolled eye twitching, crossed eyes, muscle spasms and, most recently, excessive underarm sweating (reported by Dr. Glogau in the September, 1998 issue of Dermatologic Surgery). "I think it was accepted pretty quickly," said Emory University neurologist Dr. David Hewitt. "There are a number of people around the country who are using it off-label to treat headache."

In using BOTOX® to treat migraines and other severe headaches, there are still some questions -- such as what is the optimal dose, and where should BOTOX® be injected to get the best results? Two large studies are under way at headache clinics around the country that may provide those answers. Is there any BOTOX® dangers? What are the side effects of BOTOX®?BOTOX® and side effects: Typically the amount of any BOTOX® injection danger and side effects and BOTOX® injection danger remains low. Any BOTOX® injection side effects can typically only last 6 months at a maximum, because BOTOX® treatements are temporary. People with neuromuscular disorders should consult with their physician carefully before having a BOTOX® injection treatment, as cardiovascular problems may arise. Likewise, those with cardiovascular disease should also pay special attention.

It is a natural response to assume there is some BOTOX® injection danger with a prosuct derived from a toxin, but it is in fact very safe, and has been is use for some time. It is always prudent to review and BOTOX® danger in the BOTOX® side effects and procedure so that any BOTOX® injection danger is known and understood.

There is some BOTOX® injection side effect in that patients have experienced bruisng at the site of the injection. The most common BOTOX® side effects following the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic for glabellar lines are headache (13.3%), respiratory infection (3.5%), temporary eyelid droop (3.2%), nausea (3.0%), and flu syndrome (2.0%). Blepharoptosis is consistent with the pharmacologic action of BOTOX® Cosmetic and may be technique related. In rare occurences BOTOX® cosmetic can spread into neighboring muscles and cause temporary paralysis. In less that 1% of patients, this can cause drooping of the eyelid.

Less frequently BOTOX® injection side effects danger occurring (<3%) adverse reactions included pain in the face, erythema at the injection site, and muscle weakness. These events are thought to be associated with the injection and occurred within the first week.