
Precautions
Is Botox really as safe as we think it is? Botox is a highly popular choice for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles and it is generally considered to be safe and very well tolerated. To make sure that you receive the correct amount of Botox and it is administered in the right area, you should always have your procedure carried out by a qualified medical professional.
Is Botox as safe as we think it is?
So before you invest in Botox, you may be doing some light math, and asking yourself just how long the injections last so that you can ensure you get your money's worth. We talk about injectibles ...
Is Botox worth the hype?
Why is Botox a bad idea?
- Cost. Botox is expensive. ...
- Botox wears off. Botox is not a permanent solution to rid you of wrinkles forever, and generally lasts less than 6 months. ...
- Botox is less effective on the elderly. ...
- Too much Botox can lead to an inability to show facial expression. ...
Is Botox bad for You?
Sculptra – generally safe but not advised during chemo and about 6 months after because your ability to make collagen is diminished and the results may be minimal Botox/Dysport/Xeomin – generally safe unless there are neurological symptoms associated with the chemo, radiation or tumor itself.
Is it OK to get Botox when you have cancer?

What category is Botox under?
Botox is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of muscle spasms or stiffness, severe underarm sweating, overactive bladder, incontinence and migraine prevention. Botox may be used alone or with other medications. Botox is a Neuromuscular Blocker, Botulinum Toxin.
Is Botox considered a cosmetic procedure?
Since Botox Therapeutic focuses on relieving pain, it can be covered under your medical insurance. However, Botox Cosmetic is considered a cosmetic procedure, which will consist of out-of-pocket cost.
Is Botox considered healthcare?
Medical Spas: Administering Botox, Collagen, And Restylane In California Is A Medical Procedure And Is Regulated By The Medical Board Of California.
Is Botox considered dermatology?
Cosmetic dermatology caters to patients looking to maintain their youthful appearance by reversing the signs of aging or wanting to make aesthetic changes or improvements to their skin. Cosmetic dermatology may include treatments such as: Botox. Dermal fillers.
Can Botox ever be covered by insurance?
99% of commercial insurance plans cover the majority of BOTOX® costs. The BOTOX® Savings Program helps eligible patients receive money back on any out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance. Have Medicare? You may be able to qualify for assistance from Medicare.
Is Botox considered invasive?
Non-Invasive Procedure In recent years, the use of invasive surgery has decreased and more and more patients are turning to non-invasive options. This can include Botox, dermal fillers, spider vein treatment, and chemical peels.
What are aesthetic treatments?
Aesthetic or otherwise called cosmetic treatments are non-surgical procedures designed to combat signs of ageing, rejuvenate and refresh skin. The most popular are Botox injections and dermal fillers. They can be used on almost any part of the body but the most common areas the face, neck and décolletage.
What is the definition of a Medspa?
A med spa is a combination of an aesthetic medical center and a day spa that provides nonsurgical aesthetic medical services under the supervision of a licensed physician.
What happens after years of Botox?
Over time, repeated injections of Botox® to a particular area in the body can also cause permanent paralysis of the muscle. This is by far one of the most important and dangerous side effects of using Botox® injections. The toxins can spread into the surrounding tissues and this can prove to be fatal.
Is it better to get Botox from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon?
As such, there's no real difference between getting Botox injections from plastic surgeons or dermatologists. Both specialties have the necessary training to provide Botox, and, in both cases, your injection will probably be handled by the trained nurses.
What is aesthetic dermatologist?
Aesthetic dermatology is treatment for the skin, hair or body that is meant to enhance the appearance of a patient. It is dermatology that is focused on enhancing looks instead of eradicating disease.
What's the difference between a dermatologist and a cosmetic dermatologist?
While some dermatologists focus on medical issues and dangers related to the skin, others choose to concentrate on aesthetic issues and the cosmetic applications of dermatology. Cosmetic dermatology is a subspecialty of dermatology, and practitioners often undergo additional training.
Where do they inject Botox for migraines?
Botox is injected into 7 specific muscle areas around your head and neck to help prevent migraine headaches before they start. Areas include your f...
Does Botox for migraines also help with wrinkles?
Botox Cosmetic is used for aesthetic purposes for wrinkles and Botox is used as a therapeutic treatment for different medical conditions, including...
How many units of Botox are used for migraines?
The recommended total dose of Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for chronic migraine prevention is 155 Units administered intramuscularly (into the muscle...
How does Botox work for migraines?
Botox is a migraine prevention medicine injected into muscles in the head and neck every 12 weeks. It helps to block acetylcholine, a neurotransmit...
What is lip flip Botox?
Lip flip Botox is a way to make your lips appear fuller and larger by using Botox (botulinum toxin) instead of dermal lip fillers. During a lip fli...
How long does Botox last for migraines?
Botox when used for migraine prevention lasts about 12 weeks for people who have a good response. You will visit your doctor 4 times per year for y...
How long does it take Botox to work?
Botox starts working within 1 to 3 days after it’s injected into your body. However, it might be several weeks after your injection before you noti...
Is Botox used for tension headaches?
Yes, Botox is sometimes used to treat tension headaches. But Botox isn’t approved to treat tension headaches, so this is known as off-label use. If...
How often can you get Botox injections?
How often you’ll be able to get Botox injections depends on the condition it’s being used to treat. In general, you’ll get Botox injections only on...
Why do people use botox?
Botox is used to treat certain eye muscle conditions caused by nerve disorders in adults and children who are at least 12 years old. This includes uncontrolled blinking or spasm of the eyelids, and a condition in which the eyes do not point in the same direction ( strabismus ).
How long does Botox last?
Botox is used in adults to prevent chronic migraine headaches that occur more than 15 days per month and last 4 hours or longer. Botox should not be used to treat a common tension headache. Botox is also used to treat severe underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis) in adults.
What is botox made of?
Botox ( onabotulinumtoxinA) is made from the bacteria that causes botulism. Botulinum toxin blocks nerve activity in the muscles. Botox is used in adults to treat cervical dystonia (abnormal head position and neck pain). Botox is also used to treat muscle stiffness (spasticity) of the arms, hands, legs, and feet in adults ...
Why is botox used for bladder?
Botox is used to treat overactive bladder due to a neurologic disease ...
How long does it take for botulinum toxin to work?
Your symptoms may return completely within 3 months. After repeat injections, it may take less and less time before your symptoms return, especially if your body develops antibodies to the botulinum toxin. Do not seek botulinum toxin injections from more than one medical professional at a time.
How long does it take for a spasm to go away after Botox injection?
It may take only 1 to 3 days after injection before eye muscle spasm symptoms begin to improve. You may notice the greatest improvement after 2 to 6 weeks. The effects of a Botox injection are temporary. Your symptoms may return completely within 3 months.
What are the side effects of Botox?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Botox: hives, itching; wheezing, difficult breathing; feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
What is Botox used for?
Some of its uses include: treating crossed eyes. treating excessive sweating. treating neck muscle spasms. treating overactive bladder. preventing chronic migraine.
What is the active drug in Botox?
The active drug in Botox is called onabotulinumtoxinA. This active drug isn’t available in a generic form. It only comes as the brand-name drug Botox. Read on to learn more about Botox’s uses, its possible side effects, how it’s given, and more.
How long does it take for Botox to go away?
Mild side effects of Botox can include: Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
What is a boxed warning for Botox?
A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about a drug’s effects that may be dangerous.
What to tell your doctor before getting Botox?
Talk with your doctor about any infections you have before getting Botox. Neuromuscular disorders. Before getting Botox, tell your doctor about any neuromuscular disorders you have, such as myasthenia gravis. If you have a neuromuscular disorder, you might have a higher risk for certain side effects with Botox.
Does botox spread to the outside?
Boxed warning: Spread of toxin effects. When it’s injected into your body, Botox may spread outside of the area where you receive the injection. This side effect is called spread of toxin effects. It can lead to symptoms that are similar to botulism poisoning.
Can Botox cause UTI?
You might get a urinary tract infection (UTI) after getting Botox. In clinical studies, this side effect was more common in people who used Botox to treat overactive bladder than in people using the drug for other conditions.
What is Botox used for?
Botox is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet (lines around the eye ), and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox. It can also be used for lip lines and for the chin and corner of the mouth and neck.
How long does Botox last?
The effects from Botox will last three to four months. As muscle action gradually returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and need to be treated again. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are being trained to relax.
How long does it take for a drooping eyelid to go away after Botox?
A small percentage of patients may develop eyelid drooping. This usually ends within three weeks. Drooping usually happens when the Botox moves around, so don't rub the treated area for 12 hours after injection or lie down for one hour after the procedure.
How long does Botox last?
Overactive bladder. Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The effects last about three to twelve months, depending on what you are treating. The most common side effects are pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site.
What is botox made of?
Summary. Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It's the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism. Doctors use it in small doses to treat health problems, including.
Overview
If you want to turn back the hands of time and smooth out fine lines on the face, you may consider Botox or dermal filler injections for a fresher, younger-looking complexion.
What is Botox?
Botox (OnabotulinumtoxinA) is the brand name for an injectable neurotoxin used in cosmetic beauty treatments to block nerve signals to facial muscles. Though safe in this context, it is the same compound produced by bacteria that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
What's the difference between Botox and dermal fillers?
To understand what injectables do, it’s important to understand what happens to the aging face. Over time, people acquire facial lines and wrinkles and the skin on their faces also starts to look less full. How wrinkled you get is partly genetic, but mostly determined by exposure to the sun.
In what areas of the face can botulinum injections such as Botox be used?
Botulinum injections are commonly used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in several parts of the face:
How else is Botox used?
At Yale Medicine's Botulinum Program, botulinum injections are used to treat neurological disorders, outside of the dermatology field. Our experts use botulinum toxins to care for patients with a variety of neurological conditions, including cervical dystonia, hemifacial spasm, blepharospasm, limb dystonia, and spasticity.
What are the risks of cosmetic injectable treatments?
Botulinum toxin injections are very safe when administered by a qualified physician. The American Academy of Dermatology strongly recommends against having this procedure done at a spa, hair or nail salon to ensure the best results and also to protect your health and safety.
Why choose Yale Medicine?
Our dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons can help you develop a comprehensive treatment approach to address your aesthetic concerns.
How long does botox last?
Remember that the toxin lasts three to six months , and you will likely need to return for multiple treatments.
What is botox made of?
Botox is an injectable drug made from botulinum toxin type A. This toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Although this is the same toxin that causes botulism — a life-threatening form of food poisoning — its effects vary according to the amount and type of exposure. For example, Botox is only injected in small, targeted doses.
How often does Botox help bladder?
assessed the effects in participants who received Botox injections every six months to help treat bladder conditions. The researchers capped the observation window at two years. They ultimately concluded that the risk of adverse effects didn’t increase over time.
How long does it take for a toxin to go away?
However, drooping eyelids, drooling, and asymmetry are all caused by the unintentional effects of the toxin on muscles surrounding the target areas of the drug, and these side effects may take several weeks to improve as the toxin wears off.
Can you wait to get Botox while pregnant?
You should wait to receive Botox if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Is Botox safe for a patient?
This may be related to the underlying condition, or it may be because higher doses are needed to treat the condition. Still, the overall risk is minimal, and Botox is considered safe overall. You should always go to a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for Botox injections.
Does Botox help with wrinkles?
Botox is typically known for its ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. For example, Botox injections can relax the muscles that cause: crow’s feet, or wrinkles that appear at the outer corner of the eyes. frown lines between the eyebrows. forehead creases.
What is Botox used for?
Botox is indicated for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in pediatric patients 5 years of age and older who have an inadequate response to or are intolerant of anticholinergic medication.
What is Botox injection?
Botox for injection is indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency, in adults who have an inadequate response to or are intolerant of an anticholinergic medication.
How does botox affect the nerves?
Botox blocks neuromuscular transmission by binding to acceptor sites on motor or autonomic nerve terminals, entering the nerve terminals , and inhibiting the release of acetylcholine. This inhibition occurs as the neurotoxin cleaves SNAP-25, a protein integral to the successful docking and release of acetylcholine from vesicles situated within nerve endings. When injected intramuscularly at therapeutic doses, Botox produces partial chemical denervation of the muscle resulting in a localized reduction in muscle activity. In addition, the muscle may atrophy, axonal sprouting may occur, and extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors may develop. There is evidence that reinnervation of the muscle may occur, thus slowly reversing muscle denervation produced by Botox.
What are the effects of botulinum toxin?
Spread of toxin effects. In some cases, the effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas of the body away from the injection site and cause symptoms of a serious condition called botulism. The symptoms of botulism include: ○ loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body.
How long does botox last?
Record the date and time of reconstitution on the space on the label. Botox should be administered within 24 hours after reconstitution. During this time period, unused reconstituted Botox should be stored in a refrigerator (2° to 8°C) for up to 24 hours until time of use. Botox vials are for single-dose only.
How long should you take prophylactic antibiotics?
Prophylactic antibiotics, except aminoglycosides, [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )] should be administered 1-3 days pre-treatment, on the treatment day, and 1-3 days post-treatment to reduce the likelihood of procedure-related UTI.
Does botox spread toxin?
Postmarketing reports indicate that the effects of Botox and all botulinum toxin products may spread from the area of injection to produce symptoms consistent with botulinum toxin effects. These may include asthenia, generalized muscle weakness, diplopia, ptosis, dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, ...
How much does Botox cost?
Most health insurance plans cover medical Botox treatment under FDA approval. Usually, the dosage of 155 units costs around $300 to $600 for each treatment. Medicare’s injection cost may vary depending on plan coverage, medical condition, and the type of injection. Most plans have coverage for chronic migraines.
What is Part B for Botox?
Part B covers Botox for spasticity when receiving injections in an outpatient setting, such as a doctor’s office. Part B pays for the administration and the injection itself when used to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Does botox have to be approved by the FDA?
Further, the treatment must have FDA approval. Botox uses many forms a botulinum toxin to block specific nerves or paralyze confined muscle movement. Botox may serve many purposes, from cosmetics to medical. There’s more to know about this medication and the health conditions it treats. The best part is, if you meet the guidelines – Medicare may ...
Do insurance companies require a pre-approval for Botox?
Most companies need doctors to adhere to a pre-approval process before administering BOTOX. Some insurance companies have a separate form for the doctor to complete. Generally, the insurance wants to see that more affordable options were attempted and failed.
Does Medicare cover Botox injections?
The uses of Botox go beyond the skin, and Medicare coverage for Botox treatments are available for several medical conditions. If a doctor deems it medically necessary to treat you, Medicare likely covers the cost. Doctors use injections to treat excess sweating, leaky bladders, eye squints, and migraines. But, the primary use remains ...

Why It's Done
There are different types of botulinum toxin products (toxin A and B) with different uses (eye problems, muscle stiffness/spasms, migraines, cosmetic, overactive bladder). Different brands of this medication deliver different amounts of medication. Your doctor will choose the correct product for you.
Drug Class: Neuromuscular Blocker - Neurotoxins
Availability: Prescription Required
Pregnancy: Consult a doctor before using
Lactation: Consult a doctor before using
Alcohol: Limit intake while taking this medication
Drug Class: Neuromuscular Blocker - Neurotoxins
Availability: Prescription Required
Pregnancy: Consult a doctor before using
Lactation: Consult a doctor before using
Alcohol: Limit intake while taking this medication
Driving: May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Use caution
Manufacturer: ALLERGAN/BOTOX
Risks
How You Prepare
What You Can Expect
Results
- Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. Botox injections are also used to treat cond…
Clinical Trials
- Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. Possible side effects and complications include: 1. Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site 2. Headache or flu-like symptoms 3. Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows 4. Crooked smile or drooling 5. Eye dryness or excessive tearing Although very unlikely, it's possible for the toxin in the injection to s…
Society and culture
- Tell your doctor if you've had any type of Botox injection within the past four months. Also tell your doctor if you take muscle relaxants, sleeping aids or allergy medications. If you take blood thinners, you may need to stop taking them several days before your injection to reduce your risk of bleeding or bruising.
Effects
- Before the procedure
Most people don't feel much discomfort during the procedure. But you may want your skin numbed beforehand, especially if your palms or soles are being treated for excessive sweating. Your doctor might use one or more of various methods available to numb the area, such as topi… - During the procedure
Botox injections are usually performed in a doctor's office. Your doctor uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin or muscles. The number of injections needed depends on many factors, including the extent of the area being treated.
Usage
- Botox injections usually begin working one to three days after treatment. Depending on the problem being treated, the effect may last three months or longer. To maintain the effect, you'll need regular follow-up injections.
Treatment
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiesof tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
Prognosis
- Doctors have been using Botox for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. Botox is a brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are also other brand names, such as Dysport and Xeomin.
Side effects
- Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can't contract. That makes the wrinkles relax and soften.
Prevention
- Botox is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet (lines around the eye), and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox. It can also be used for lip lines and for the chin and corner of the mouth and neck.