Botox is a brand name for the drug onabotulinumtoxiA, a toxin that's used to temporarily remove facial wrinkles, curb underarm sweating and uncontrolled eye blinking, as well as treating other neurological conditions. Botox is injected into the skin and paralyzes certain muscles and nerves. You can defy the aging process with Botox. Mayo Clinic doctors report that Botox can help improve appearance by targeting age-related wrinkles that show up as crow's feet around the eyes, frown lines, forehead creases and extra skin bands on the neck.
Step 1
Find a cosmetic surgeon trained in delivering Botox injections. Doctors at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery report that with more than 40 muscles in the face, it is easy to make a mistake and trained cosmetic surgeons are better suited to understand facial physiology (see Resources).
Step 2
Get a complete physical exam before undergoing Botox injections. While you probably won't need general anesthesia, and you can return to normal activities immediately following the procedure, it is still a medical treatment that could carry complications. Your doctor should be well informed of any medical conditions you may have that could interfere with the treatments.
Step 3
Prepare for a procedure by stopping all blood-thinning medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, heparin and warfarin. Blood thinning medicine can make you bleed excessively at the injection site and slow the healing process.
Step 4
Go in for the procedure, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes and is performed in the doctor's office. A thin needle will be inserted in the area where you want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. You may need multiple injections at certain sites, such as crow's feet, which usually require about two or three injections or forehead furrows that might need five shots or more. While the injections may sting, the Mayo Clinic reports that most people find the mild pain tolerable.
Step 5
Get Botox injections every three to six months to maintain the younger look. Muscles start recovering, and your face will return to its original appearance.
Tips and Warnings
- Upload your picture on the Botox website. Use the site's software to remove facial wrinkles to see how much younger you'll look if you undergo the treatments. Visualize the age-defying results before considering the procedure to see how you would like your appearance.
- Don't rub or massage your face after getting Botox injections. Even though you may have a slight headache, rubbing can cause the toxins to spread into your bloodstream and cause drooping or facial weakness. While the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Botox, the regulatory agency requires manufacturers to put a boxed warning on all products to warn consumers of its dangers. Side effects of Botox can include symptoms of botulism poisoning. Conditions that could develop include trouble speaking, muscle weakness, double or blurred vision, droopy eyelids and difficulty breathing. Common side effects are stinging at the injection site, headache, upset stomach and flu-like symptoms.
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