Botox (botulinum toxin)
An injection that temporarily relaxes a muscle, softening expression lines or reducing muscle bulk.
- Treatment time
- 10–20 min
- Downtime
- 0–1 days
- How long it lasts
- 3–6 months
How it works
Botulinum toxin blocks the nerve signal reaching a muscle for a period of weeks. With the muscle moving less, the skin above it creases less; muscles enlarged by repeated use, such as the jaw or calf, lose volume. The effect is not permanent — it fades as the nerve endings recover.
Used for
- Frown, crow’s feet and forehead expression lines
- A square jawline caused by muscle bulk
- Excessive underarm sweating
- Calf muscle volume
Cautions
- Not performed during pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Contraindicated with neuromuscular disease such as myasthenia gravis
- Some antibiotics interact with it — tell the doctor what you take
- Treating the same area too often can build resistance
Aftercare
- Stay upright for four hours afterwards
- Avoid sauna, alcohol and hard exercise the same day
- Do not rub the treated area
- Onset is 3–7 days; full effect at about two weeks
General information only; it does not replace medical diagnosis or advice.