FAQ

Botox (Botulinum toxin) injections relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles, such as crow's feet and frown lines.

It's not permanent – it usually lasts for around 3 or 4 months.

Botox injections for cosmetic reasons are not available on the NHS.

If you're thinking about having Botox injections, be clear about why you want them.

Read more about whether a cosmetic procedure is right for you.

Make sure the person doing your Botox injections is suitably qualified and experienced.

They should be a medical practitioner and on a register to show they meet set standards in training, skill and insurance.

Your face will be cleaned and botulinum toxin will be injected into muscles in your face using a very fine needle.

You'll need injections in different places, depending on the area being treated. You'll be asked to move the muscles in your face to help find the best place for the injections.

It usually takes about 10 minutes.

You will not see a change straight away. It takes about 2 or 3 days to start working, and 2 to 3 weeks to see the full effect.

Do not massage or rub your face for 3 days. Also, avoid vigorous exercise, sunbathing (including using sunbeds), and the sauna for 2 days. Your practitioner should be able to give you more advice about what you should and should not do.

The effects usually last for about 3 or 4 months. If you have Botox injections again, you should wait at least 3 months. It might stop working if you have it too often.

The risks of Botox injections are small if it's done correctly by a suitably qualified practitioner. Speak to your practitioner about the risks.

After treatment you may have:

• a headache and flu-like symptoms for the first 24 hours
• bruising, swelling and redness where the needles went in the skin
• a frozen look – you might not be able to move the muscles in your face if too much Botox is injected
• temporary weakness and droopiness in your face – for example, your eyelids or eyebrows may droop if the Botox moves into these areas

Very rarely, serious problems such as blurred or double vision can happen if the area around the eyes is treated, or breathing difficulties if the neck area is injected.