Botox is a bacterial toxin which, when injected into the muscles of the face in small amounts, relaxes those muscles and improves the appearance of wrinkles and lines. Botox is very effective for the treatment of expression lines such as crow’s feet and frown lines on the forehead.

Botox was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2002 for cosmetic usage. Prior to this it was used for treating conditions such as cervical dystonia (spasms in the neck muscles) and severe underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis).

Botox is a trade, or brand, name for Botullinum Toxin Type A, a protein extracted from clostridium botulinum bacterium. This is the same toxin that causes the disease botulism, which is a type of infection that can result in life threatening muscle paralysis. Botox, however, is safe to use as an injectable medicine because it is used in very small quantities and only injected directly into specific areas.

A typical treatment session is a 10-15 minute procedure where the botox is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles with only minor discomfort. Only people over age 18 are allowed to undergo the treatment. Both men and women get the same beneficial effects, although women are the biggest market for the procedure.

After the treatment the lines on the treated areas of the face gradually disappear over a couple of days. The visible effect is only temporary for a period of 3-4 months, as the botox is gradually broken down by the body. The lines and wrinkles will then reappear as before and the procedure must be repeated to sustain the effect.

There are some issues to consider such as possible allergic reactions, and any other health problems that might get aggravated. If you are planning to try Botox, here are a few things to think of:

• Find a practitioner qualified in using Botox. Although the procedure is not surgical it is still a medical procedure.
• Inform the practitioner of ANY health issues that you may have, no matter how trivial you think they are.
• Pricing varies and cheapest is not always best.

As with any medical procedure there are a side effects experienced by some people. These include nausea, temporary drooping eyelids, redness and pain in the face.