BOTOX

Botox is one of the most remarkable treatments available. It is used most commonly to diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the face. Botox works by weakening specific muscles. Because the weakened muscles are unable to contract, the lines that those contractions would otherwise have produced are diminished, or eliminated altogether. It is less effective, though not ineffective, on lines that are present at rest. Botox is the trade name for a chemical derivative (a purified form of botulinin toxin) that was found, serendipitiously, to be highly effective in diminishing the appearance of those lines.

The most common areas of the face on which Botox is used are (a) the deep creases between the eyes (the glabella), (b) the smile lines at the sides of the eyes, and (c) the horizontal forehead creases. Depending on where and how much is injected, Botox can provide a moderate but effective, if temporary, elevation of the eyebrows. It is also used, in smaller amounts, on many other parts of the face, including the vertical lines on the upper and lower lips, the chin, and the neck. Different formulations of botulinin toxin are marketed under the trade names of Dysport and Myobloc.

Botox injections take about 20-30 minutes (longer if topical anesthetics are used, which typically require an additional 30-60 minutes for maximum effectiveness). Via a series of injections with a fine needle, the Botox is delivered into the target muscles. The Botox starts working in 2-5 days and, depending on many factors, typically lasts from about 4-6 months, at which time additional Botox may be given.

Botox is administered by a wide variety of practitioners, including doctors (such as plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists, among others), nurses in the various doctors offices (in some states), and non-medical personnel in spas and similar settings. It is important to know who will be administering the Botox. While it is not exceedingly difficult to give these injections, there is, as always, a range of capabilities among the people giving them.

The cost of Botox varies widely, both from region to region and even within a region. In New York, it typically ranges from about $500 - $1000 for a treatment but the question really is how many UNITS one will be receiving as part of the treatment. Botox comes as a powder that must be reconstituted (mixed with) a liquid, such as saline. There are 100 units in a vial. If you’re getting the whole vial, you’re getting 100 units. Since, however, the vial can be diluted with various amount of liquid, just being told how many syringes, or how much solution you’re getting does not tell you the whole story. Some doctors, in fact, charge by the number of units being giving in a specific treatment.

Botox is a remarkably effective and predictable treatment. Although it is associated with the risks of injections in general, it otherwise has few, if any, permanent problems. In fact, the benefits derived from the use of Botox, when viewed in terms of the risk of problems, make it one of the most favorable of any plastic surgery procedure or technique.