| Dr. Lisa Jewell is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Botox.
Q. What is Botox?
A. Botox is purified botulinum toxin type A produced from Clostridium botulinum bacteria and manufactured by Allergan Pharmaceuticals. There are two types of Botox available, Botox and Botox Cosmetic. Botox is indicated for neck, ocular, and eyelid muscular dysfunction and excessive sweat production in the axilla (armpit). Botox Cosmetic is FDA approved only for treatment of moderate to severe glabellar (the area between the eyebrows) rhytides (wrinkles). Although the FDA has approved use for this area only, any muscle of the face that causes wrinkles can be temporarily paralyzed with Botox to decrease the resultant wrinkles. Use of Botox Cosmetic for areas other than the glabella are considered "off lable" uses of the drug.
Q. Who is the ideal candidate for BOTOX?
A. The ideal candidate for Botox is a patient with moderate to severe facial wrinkles who has no other pre-existing neuromuscular disorder, who is not pregnant, and who is 65 years of age or younger.
Q. How does BOTOX work?
A. Botox is a neurotoxin that causes temporary paralysis of muscles by blocking the chemical signal from the nerve that causes the associated muscle to move. It may take several days for the Botox to affect the muscle, so patients are asked to follow up with their doctors one to two weeks after injection to evaluate the results.
Q. What is the recovery period for BOTOX?
A. There is very little, if any, downtime after injection with Botox. Some temporary side effects include redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection site. These side effects typically last minutes to a few days after the injection.
Q. How long do the results of BOTOX last?
A. Botox results last about 90 days. After repeated use, some patient experience a dimished result with the same dose of Botox and may require more to achieve their desired result. Some patients develope an immunity to Botox after very long term use. In this case, they require an different type of botulinum toxin (botulinum toxin type B or Myobloc) to achieve improvement of their facial wrinkles.
Q. How much does BOTOX cost?
A. Botox is typically priced per unit or area. This price may range from $8-$20 per unit and is dependent upon the cost of the drug to the practitioner, the cost of the syringes and needles, and any additional agents that may be used in the procedure (i.e. numbing cream or local anesthetic). In my practice I recommend an minimum of 20 units per area and the cost per unit is about $14, although I offer discounts and specials to our patients on a regular basis.
Q. Who should perform a BOTOX procedure?
A. Physicians, physican assistants, and nurse practitioners may perform Botox injections. If you choose to have a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner perform the injection, be aware that they must do so under the supervision of a licensed physician. Only physicians may prescribe and order Botox.
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