Common Questions About Botox

Posted Thursday, September 13, 2007 to PROCEDURES > Face

Posted by The Original Anti-Aging & Cosmetic Surgery Magazine

Valerie Burnett asked West Hills dermatologist Blair Kranson MD about Botox.

What exactly is Botox?

Botox is Botulinum toxin, type A, derived from the bacterium, Clostridium Botulinum. It is a neurotoxin used to treat conditions associated with hyperactive muscle activity and its eventual effects. It serves as a therapeutic muscle relaxing agent. As an "off label" use of Botox, it is used cosmetically to treat hyper functional facial lines. It is given in very small therapeutic doses to achieve localized effects without systemic complication.

Some other investigational uses for Botox have included treatment of migraine, tension headaches, chronic muscular pain, tics, tremors, and excessive perspiration.

What areas of the face can be treated with Botox?

Botox can potentially be used in every muscle group. Cosmetically it is most commonly used to minimize or eliminate hyperfunctional facial lines, particularly the furrows between the eyebrows forehead creases and "crows feet" around the eyes. Botox has also been employed to treat nasal labial folds lines and pursed lips.

How is it administered, how often and what are the instructions for patients for before and after Botox?

Botox is injected into the appropriate muscles, to attain the desired effect. The results will last approximately 3 months after which time further injections can be given. After injections, patients are instructed to not lie down for 4 to 6 hours and to work the muscle groups injected.

Are there any complications with Botox?

Some of the side effects noted after injection can include discomfort at injection site, bruising and drooping of the eyelid & eye irritation. These side effects are usually mild and transient.

What are its limitations in terms of results?

The main limitations may be the necessity for repeated injections to maintain the desired effects The cosmetic effect is that of relaxing muscle and thus decreasing facial lines but it has little effect on skin texture.

Which other procedures can Botox be used with?

Botox can be used in conjunction with Laser Resurfacing, microdermabrasion, brow lift, face lift, and blepheroplasty It can help to plan the procedure more accurately and maintain the results for longer periods of time.

Are there any contraindications?

Contraindications to Botox include pregnancy, nursing, certain medications and certain neurological diseases.

Can it prolong the need for a facelift?

Face lift procedures are used to stretch and smooth the facial lines. However, it does not address the cause of the folds when they are the results of the hyperactivity of under lying muscle. If the main concern is hyperfunctional facial lines, Botox could prolong the need for a facelift. Botox can also be used in combination with a face lift.

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