Botox® Injections: Side effects, Treatment, Costs

Information on Botox® Injections

What is Botox®?
The History of Botox®
FDA Approval of Botox®
What kind of wrinkles does Botox® treat?
Average Cost by Region for Botox® Injections?
What to expect at your visit
Results of Botox® Injections
Recovery after Botox® Treatment
Safety and Side Effects of Botox® Cosmetic

Botox® Before and After Pictures
FDA Article on Botox® Safety
Botox® Injections Statistics and Side Effects

What is Botox®? Botox® injections are a diluted form of botulism which is injected into facial muscles to paralyze or weaken the muscles that form wrinkles. Last year, the procedure was performed in the United States more than 1.6 million times, a 46 percent increase since 2000 and a 2,356 percent increase since 1997.
The History of Botox® Botulinum toxins were first researched in the late 1960s to treat neurological disorders. otox was first approved by the FDA in 1989 to treat eye muscle disorders (blepharospasm, uncontrollable blinking, and strabismus, crossed eyes). In 2000, it was approved to treat cervical dystonia (a disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions). As an unusual side effect of the eye disorder treatment, doctors observed that Botox® softened the frown lines between the eyebrow.
How Botox® Works
See FDA Article for more information.

FDA Approval In April 2002, the FDA was satisfied by its review of studies indicating that Botox® reduced the severity of frown lines for up to 120 days and approved the drug. It is under review for approval to treat brow furrow, migraine headache, chronic tension headache, upper limb spasticity, juvenile cerebral palsy, and hyperhidrosis.

Botox® is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure performed. In the year 2003 there were 2,272,080 botox® injections performed. What kind of wrinkles do Botox® injections treat? Wrinkles that are caused by muscle contraction, such as frown lines, crow's feet, forehead creases, and neck bands can be safely and successfully treated with Botox®.

Costs of Botox® Cosmetic Treatment

Average physician or surgeon costs:

Procedure	Region 1	Region 2	Region 3	Region 4	Region 5
Botox® injection	$510	$377	$502	$382	$369

Region 1: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Region 2: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
Region 3: FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, WV
Region 4: AL, AR, KY, LA, MS, OK, TN, TX
Region 5: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY

The Nationwide average of botox® injections, per site, in 2005 was $382.00.
Source: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

See Basics for average costs of other cosmetic surgery procedures.

What to expect at your visit You will be asked to contract the facial muscles (frowning, squinting) that affect the area to be treated. This will help your surgeon determine the best location for the injection.

The injection is normally injected directly into the muscle with a tiny needle.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery makes these suggestions:

Ask questions and be informed about the benefits and risks involved in the procedure.
Choose a medical setting using sterile techniques. Necessary equipment should be available to respond to any potential problems.
Avoid alcohol and remain upright for several hours following the procedure.

Results of Botox® Injections Results are normally seen within a few days. The results generally last 3-4 months and require occasional touchups. To see before and after pictures, click here.

Recovery after Botox® There is generally no recovery period. You can go directly back to your normal activities.

Safety and Side Effects Botox® is proven to be safe and effective. Over the past 20 years, Botulinum Toxin Type A has been evaluated in more than 200 studies. There are no documented systemic complications associated with Botox® injections. Botox® has been widely used for more than 11 years with over 1 million people.

For more information, check out our Botox Side Effects and Statistics, the FDA Article on Botox Cosmetic Treatments and Botox Injections Before and After Photos..

Information provided is for general education about botox injections, breast augmentation, breast reduction, face lifts, liposuction, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty and other cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. This information is subject to change. Smart Plastic Surgery.com does not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, and is not responsible for any actions resulting from the use of this information. General information provided in this fashion should not be construed as specific medical advice or recommendation, and is not a substitute for a consultation and physical examination by a physician. Only discussion of your individual needs with a qualified physician will determine the best method of treatment for you. All board certified plastic surgeons listed are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and/or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Board certified plastic surgeons are verified by the American Board of Medical Specialties.