Botox and neurotoxins

What this page covers

This page is the entry point for questions about Botox and other neurotoxin injections. Each question below has its own page. Read the one that matches your situation first.

Two primary documents sit behind this section. The first is the American Society of Plastic Surgeons post on what you need to know about Botox. MedlinePlus publishes a medical summary of botulinum toxin injections. Use them as the reference when a question here sends you to check a fact.

Questions, in order

Each link opens one question.

1. Preparing for a Botox appointment
2. The mechanism behind Botox
3. What Botox is
4. Does insurance cover Botox?
5. Whether Botox is safe, per the sources
6. How long Botox results last
7. Botox aftercare, as the documents describe it
8. How long does it take for Botox to work?
9. Dysport compared with Botox
10. How many units of Botox will I need?

What to do with the answers

Treat every answer as a list of things to confirm, not as a ruling on your case. Do these three things.

1. Write down your own questions before any appointment.
2. Ask the injector to name the product, the number of units and the price in writing.
3. Ask your insurer, not the clinic, what it covers.

We translate neurotoxin documents and examine no one, so read this section as background, not medical advice. A licensed medical professional who has examined you is the right person to decide whether a neurotoxin injection suits you.