Botox Injections for Cosmetic Purposes

Botox is an abbreviated name for botulinum toxin, a drug produced by bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. The bacteria itself can make you very sick, but doctors have found that the chemical in Botox can also help treat some health problems. Botox has been in use since the 1970s, when it was first injected into muscles of the eye for the treatment of amblyopia, or "lazy eye." It has also been used in the treatment of patients with overactive muscle of the face and neck.

Botox was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain diseases of the eye muscle. Doctors noticed that some wrinkles around the eyes looked better, too. The company that makes Botox tested it. They showed the FDA that Botox worked and was safe for treating certain types of wrinkles.

Botox has been used in aesthetic surgery since the early 1990s. It is used to improve the look of mild to severe frown lines for a short time. When Botox is injected through the skin into the muscle with a needle, it keeps the muscle from contracting. Because of this temporary paralysis, wrinkles become less obvious. A trained doctor will inject small amounts of Botox into a small part of the muscle so only that muscle can't move.

The horizontal wrinkles of the forehead, the vertical "frown" wrinkles of the brow (between the two eyebrows) and the crow's feet beside the eyes are the areas best suited to treatment with Botox.

The action of Botox is temporary. Results will be apparent within 24 to 48 hours and will last from two to five months; treatment must then be repeated.

Side effects of Botox treatment include minor swelling and bruising, headache and/or nausea. And although unusual, there is a possibility that the muscles that elevate the eyebrow could be paralyzed, causing the upper brow to droop for a week or more.

There are no drugs that an otherwise healthy patient would be taking that are known to interact with Botox.

If You are Considering Botox Injections
Remember that Botox is a drug, not a cosmetic. Make sure you are treated by a trained doctor in an office or hospital. In addition, ensure your safety by verifying the following information before you have a procedure:

• Make sure the doctor is trained in cosmetic skin surgery of the face.
• Ask about the benefits and risks of the treatment.
• Choose a medical setting where everything is kept clean and germ-free.
• Emergency equipment should be on hand in case of a problem.
• Do not drink alcohol and do not lie down for several hours after the treatment.

Finally, a word about "Botox parties." It's been noted in the media that some doctors or other professionals have chosen to distribute Botox treatments at gatherings in homes, salons or other non-medical settings. Not a great idea.

Botox is approved for selling in single-use tubes. Each tube is made to be used only once and only for one patient. Also, Botox needs to be used within 4 hours after the tube is opened. Using the tube more than once can spread germs, and treating more than one person with one tube goes against the product directions.

This article includes information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Women's Health.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.