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Botox Injections for Wrinkles - An Overview

BOTOX® is a product manufactured by Allergan, Inc. This is an informational website not associated with Allergan, Inc.

If you are considering Botox injection treatment for wrinkles, you are not alone. When measured by the number of procedures in the United States and elsewhere, Botox is clearly one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in use today.

As with any other type of cosmetic procedure, though, you should conduct careful research about Botox injections for wrinkles before you make a decision to pursue such treatment. This article will help you learn more about this popular treatment for reducing wrinklies.

Smoothing Frown Lines With Botox

Botox is a prescription-only, non-surgical procedure for the treatment of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. The treatment includes several small injections of the product directly in to the muscles which cause frown lines.

No anesthesia is required for Botox treatment, but your doctor may choose to numb the injection site(s) with ice or an anesthesic cream. On average, the procedure takes only 10 minutes to complete. For most patients, frown lines become less noticeable within days and results last up to four months.

Active Ingredients

According to the manufacturer's website, Botox contains a purified protein of produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. The Botox injections work by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause persistent frown lines to form.

The FDA approved Botox in 2002 for the temporary treatment of moderate to severe frown lines only between the brows, and only for people 18 - 65 years of age.

Risks of Botox Injections

According to the FDA website, common side effects include droopy eyelids, which can last for a few weeks, feeling like you have the flu, headache and upset stomach. There is a risk of botulism (a life or death illness that makes it hard for a person to move the arms and legs or to breathe) but is low with Botox injections, if used thecorrectly by a qualified physician.

The official Botox website also lists localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising as common side effects associated with the injections. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

For more details, see the full Prescribing Information located on the manufacturers website.

Cost of Botox Injections

Compared to many appearance-related procedures, Botox is an affordable option. The average cost is $400 per injection site, but can vary depending upon the city the procedure is performed in, the qualifications of the physician administering the Botox injection, how many injections are required and the length of time the patient chooses to continue the Botox injections.

Insurance coverage varies for Botox injections, depending largely on the medical necessity of your condition. Botox is not generally covered by insurance when used for cosmetic purposes. Check with your insurance carrier for coverage details.

Related blog article: Choosing a Los Angeles Botox Doctor