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What is Botox? -

Botox is a neurotoxin. More specifically, it’s a very weakened version of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria's botulinum toxin.

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What is Botox? -

Because it’s a diluted version of the toxin, it’s safe enough for our bodies. Nonetheless, it still has the capacity to paralyze our muscles.

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How does Botox work? -

Botox relaxes and blocks the nerve impulses in the muscles when injected (in a wrinkle, for example). As a result, said muscles won’t move as naturally as they would when making a facial expression.

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Safety -

Botox is considered to be a low-risk, safe treatment. There might be some side effects post-treatment, such as swelling and bruising, but these don’t usually pose a health risk.

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Safety -

Although possible, adverse reactions and infections are rare and not serious enough to label Botox unsafe.

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It’s not a permanent solution -

Botox doesn’t last forever. It takes about three to five months for our bodies to metabolize the toxin and for the effects to start fading away.

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It’s not a permanent solution -

"Within a few months of injecting the Botox, the body makes new acetylcholine receptors, and the nerves are able to conduct their impulses again," explains dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse.

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It’s not a permanent solution -

Other factors that influence longevity of Botox in the body include: the amount injected, how much the muscles are used (e.g. facial expressions), and metabolism (it’s not uncommon for those who work out to metabolize Botox faster, for instance).

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It should be administered by a licensed professional -

Botox should be administered by someone qualified to do so. This is a medical treatment and should be done in a medical setting by a licensed professional.

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It should be administered by a licensed professional -

"Consider a licensed professional that has knowledge of optimal treatment patterns and adverse effects," advises plastic and reconstructive surgeon Raffi Hovsepian.

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It’s simple and painless -

Unlike the needles used to draw blood, the ones used to inject Botox are a lot thinner. This helps make the process virtually painless. You may feel a pinch, but sometimes topical anesthesia is applied on the area.

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It’s simple and painless -

Some discomfort at the injection site following the treatment is to be expected, but if you experience a lot of pain, then you should seek medical advice.

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Botox doesn’t make wrinkles disappear -

Botox will even out lines, but it doesn’t quite make them disappear. Because some of the muscles will become temporarily paralyzed, wrinkles will fade.

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Botox doesn’t make wrinkles disappear -

Though deep lines, which are present even when your face is relaxed, won’t be affected by the treatment. "Any line that is present at rest, whether it is an etched in frown line, or a deep wrinkle, is not going to disappear with Botox. Botox is not an iron," explains surgical dermatologist Estee Williams.

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It might help with depression -

In addition to giving the person a boost in self-confidence, Botox actually seems to help those who suffer from depression. A 2021 study found that: “Peripheral facial injection of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a rapid, effective and relative safe therapy for improving some symptoms of depression.”

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It might help with depression -

"Our facial expressions contribute to how we feel, in the way that smiling can make you feel better by doing it. Once the face is set into a natural resting state, the mechanisms of the body behave differently and the less stress response is created," explains facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon Paul Nassif.

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It can help with excessive sweating -

Some people suffer from excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, which can really have an impact on people’s daily lives. Botox can help ease the symptoms by preventing nerve messages from reaching the sweat glands.

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It can help with excessive sweating -

"If the gland doesn't get the signal, then it doesn't produce sweat, which means there will be no wetness in that area," explains Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Injections are applied to problem areas such as armpits, the palms of hands, and the soles of feet.

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It can weaken the muscles -

Beware that prolonged use of Botox can weaken the muscles over time. Skin will naturally get thinner and looser as muscles get weaker with age. Botox can increase the severity of this muscle weakness in the long term, especially when high doses are administered.

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It can weaken the muscles -

This can make other muscles compensate for the lack of strength, creating new wrinkles, which in turn will require more Botox. It can really get into a never-ending cycle, so it’s best to keep Botox doses to a minimum, and delay this process as much as possible.

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It can help with migraines -

According to a 2018 study, Botox can be an effective treatment for patients with chronic migraine.

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It can help with migraines -

While it’s not completely clear how Botox helps prevent migraines, it’s believed that it’s because it prevents pain signals from reaching the brain.

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It can prevent signs of aging -

Botox can also be used preventively. Wrinkles do get deeper with age, so using Botox preventively means you will need less of it in the future.

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It can prevent signs of aging -

Younger patients usually receive lower doses to prevent the unnatural 'frozen' look. As mentioned previously, these should be administered by a licensed professional.

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It can help manage acne -

Botox can help control the skin's oil production, which may be helpful in the fight against acne. Though to be really effective it would require large doses across a large area of the face.

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It can help manage acne -

"To totally treat acne, you'd need to use doses of Botox so large they'd prevent you from constricting your facial muscles," explains Zeichner. Still, even in regular doses, applied to areas such as the forehead, it can help.

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Your face may feel a bit weird after getting Botox -

Your face feels different when you first get Botox. "Botox will affect the way your facial muscles move, and it can feel funny when you can't move your face to make a particular expression," explains Shainhouse.

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Your face may feel a bit weird after getting Botox -

You may feel like your face is a bit tight, but this sensation will fade away as your body adapts to the toxin.

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Results aren't visible immediately -

The results of getting Botox are not immediate. In fact, you probably won’t start noticing any changes until four or five days after you’ve gotten the injections.

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Results aren't visible immediately -

It takes an average of two weeks for Botox results to fully show, so don’t get discouraged if everything looks the same even after a few days following the treatment.

Sources: (Health Digest) (Mayo Clinic) (The Healthy) (Well+Good) (HuffPost) (Women's Health) (Allure) (Frontiers in Psychiatry) (Journal of Headache and Pain)

See also: Celebrities who regret their plastic surgery and other aesthetic procedures

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