Botox for cosmetic use and botox for cervical dystonia have the same active ingredients and the same formulation. They have different uses and may have different modes of administration, but they have potentially the same side effects.
Botox Injections
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Dr. Robert T. Grant, MD , Plastic Surgery, answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of SurgerySee All 2 AnswersBotox is derived from the toxin secreted by particular bacteria. While massive doses of this toxin can cause disease to develop, the dose level of Botox treatments is minimal, and the onset of disease has never been seen after the administration of Botox. Indeed, Botox has one of the best safety profiles of any medicine that has ever been developed. -
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See All 6 AnswersBotox is extracted from the bacteria Clostridia botulinum. For years it has been used as a nonsurgical treatment for uncontrollable facial spasms and disorders of the eye (such as misaligned eyes). Now it is used as a safe and effective way to reduce facial wrinkles without surgery.
Botox is targeted directly at the facial muscles that are causing dynamic wrinkles to form. The Botox protein injection blocks transmission from the nerve ending to the muscle. As a result, the muscle relaxes, significantly reducing the appearance of wrinkles and muscles on the skin above that muscle. This blocking effect on the nerves usually lasts an average of three to six months, at which time the muscle regains movement and wrinkles reappear. -
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredA very effective use of Botox recently approved by the FDA is the control of hyperhydrosis, which is excessive sweating of the hands, feet, and underarms. Excessive sweating is probably one of the least discussed problems even though the condition has had a huge impact on the lives of so many people. Most sufferers assume they are the only ones who “have it so bad” and that there is nothing to do about it so they rarely even bring it up to their doctors. The reason Botox was considered and tested for the purpose of treating excessive sweating is that the pathway through which Botox acts, as I mentioned, is completely understood. Scientists reviewed other organs and organ systems that utilize that pathway and experimented on ways to control hyperhydrosis, for possible side effects and adverse reactions. From this they were able to determine injection technique, which is how we make sure you get the drug only where you want it. They were also able to give a dose range that would give the best results with the fewest side effects. As a result they were able to present their data to the FDA and they received approval for the treatment of severe hyperhydrosis. This treatment has often led to life-changing improvements for many people who had been suffering for years in silence and embarrassment. -
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Discovery Health answeredSee All 5 AnswersWrinkles look their worst when you are smiling or squinting. If you want to diminish wrinkles without living an expressionless existence, Botox injections provide a relatively easy, FDA approved solution as long you do not mind needles. The injections essentially relax the muscles around the corners of your eyes, so you can laugh without revealing your wrinkles.
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Dr. Arthur W. Perry, MD , Cosmetic Surgery, answeredSee All 2 AnswersOn average, Botox lasts about 4 months, and then, within 2 weeks, your scowl returns with a vengeance. So, I certainly recommend "dosing up" just before the effect dissipates.
You'll be happy to hear that a new study has found that if you use Botox every 4 months for 2 years, the muscles weaken so much that they begin to take longer to recover. And so after 2 years, most people can lengthen the time between injections to 6 months. And while there isn't any data yet, my bet is that when you hit 4 or 5 years of continuous Botox, that wrinkle-killing drug will last nearly a year. -
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Dr. Doris Day, MD , Dermatology, answeredFollow these steps for a more relaxed facial expression:
- Relax your face completely and close your eyes lightly.
- Let your mind go blank. You may find that a “white noise” CD will help you with this step.
- Open your eyes, but not wide. Look at yourself in the mirror. This is your face at rest, with no expression.
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Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersAlmost 1.5 million people knowingly had poison injected into their bodies this past year. Namely, Botox. And that makes Botox the most popular of all cosmetic procedures. Like a smart bomb in search of a target, Botox locks on to your nerves and destroys them within days. This leaves your muscle unable to move. That's great if you want to get rid of those scowl lines between the brows or your crow's feet, but bad if too much is injected into your upper lip. Can you say drool? (Not if you've had too much Botox, you can't.) So that's why most plastic surgeons won't inject those smile lines. It's too difficult to balance the smile and get rid of lines. Botox is as much of an art form as rhinoplasty (over-Botoxing can leave you expressionless). So make sure a real doctor injects your Botox (and don't do it you're pregnant or if you have any sort of neurologic disease).
And make sure you get Botox from the real manufacturer, not the industrial-strength research-grade varieties, which have been associated with all types of complications. You might have heard about a dozen or so deaths throughout the past decade from Botox. Fear not—these problems were seen in patients with complex neck-muscle problems using doses 100 to 1,000 times higher than the normal cosmetic dose. No big problems have occurred in cosmetically treating wrinkles around the eyes. Botox injections need to be repeated every three to six months. -
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Dr. Ellen S. Marmur, MD , Dermatology, answeredSee All 4 AnswersInjections of botulinum toxin type A is the number one cosmetic procedure in the world, with more than 4 million treatments done in the United States in 2006. (Interestingly, 60 percent of female Botox users have never had any cosmetic surgery before, according to the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation.) Its supreme popularity is for a good reason: it works. Botox and Dysport are purified forms of botulinum toxin type A (and no, the shots do not produce the deadly disease botulism). When injected in tiny amounts, the neurotoxin causes facial muscles to relax and almost magically erases frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and crow's feet. Because it smoothes the skin, the procedure also makes slight structural changes to the face: opening up the eyes, widening the forehead, and elevating the brows.