BOTOX THERAPY TREATMENT

Botox injections are the best known of a group of medications that use various forms of
botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. This toxin is produced by the microbe
that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
Noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles, Botox
injections are also used to treat such problems as repetitive neck spasms (cervical dystonia),
excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), overactive bladder and some causes of crossed eyes.
Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines in some people.
While Botox was the first drug to utilize botulinum toxin, newer products include Dysport,
Myobloc and Xeomin. Each product is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage
units, so they aren't interchangeable.
Why it's done
Botulinum toxin injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause
muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles
that underlie and cause wrinkles, such as:

Frown lines between the eyebrows

Crow's-feet, the lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes
Forehead furrows, the horizontal lines that form when you raise your eyebrows
In addition to these cosmetic procedures, which simply improve your appearance, botulinum toxin
injections have also been used to treat conditions that affect how your body functions. Examples
include:
Cervical Dystonia: In this painful condition, your neck muscles contract involuntarily causing
your head to twist or turn into an uncomfortable position.
Lazy Eye: The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles responsible for
positioning the eye. This can result in crossed eyes.
Muscle Contractures: Some neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can cause your
limbs to pull in toward your center. In some cases, these contracted muscles can be relaxed
with botulinum toxin injections.
Hyperhidrosis: In this condition, excessive sweating occurs even when the temperature isn't hot
and you're not exercising. In some people, the sweat literally drips off their hands.
Chronic Migraine: If you experience migraines more than 15 days a month, botulinum toxin
injections may help reduce headache frequency.
Bladder Dysfunction: Botulinum toxin injections can also help reduce urinary incontinence
caused by an overactive bladder.
Botox For Chronic Migraine (not responding to routine treatment)
Injections should be divided across 7 specific head/neck muscle areas as specified in the diagrams and
Table 2 below. A thin needle may be needed in the neck region for patients with thick neck muscles.
With the exception of the procerus muscle, which should be injected at one site (midline), all muscles
should be injected bilaterally. The recommended re-treatment schedule is every 12 weeks.

Diagrams 1-4: Recommended Injection Sites for Chronic Migraine

32 point botox therapy

Table - BOTOX Dosing by Muscle for Chronic Migraine Head/Neck Area Recommended Dose
(Number of Sites)
Frontalis
Corrugator
Procerus
Occipitalis
Temporalis
Trapeziusb
Cervical Paraspinal Muscle Group
Total Dose:

20 Units divided in 4 sites

10 Units divided in 2 sites
5 Units in 1 site
30 Units divided in 6 sites
40 Units divided in 8 sites
30 Units divided in 6 sites
20 Units divided in 4 sites
155 Units divided in 31 sites

Risks
Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. The most common side
effects include swelling or bruising at the injection site, headache or flu-like symptoms. If the injections
aren't placed correctly, the medication may spread into adjacent tissues and cause problems such as:
Eyelid droop
Cockeyed eyebrows
Crooked smile
Dry eye or excessive tearing
Although very unlikely, there is a possibility that the effect of botulinum toxin may spread to other parts
of the body and cause botulism-like signs and symptoms. Call your doctor right away if you notice any
of these effects hours to weeks after receiving Botox:
Muscle weakness all over the body
Vision problems
Trouble speaking or swallowing
Trouble breathing
Loss of bladder control
Doctors generally recommend against using Botox when you're pregnant or breast-feeding, since the
effects on the baby aren't known.
Select your doctor carefully
Botox must be used only under a doctor's care. It can be dangerous if it's administered incorrectly. Ask
for a referral from your primary care doctor or look for a doctor who specializes in your condition and
who has experience in administering Botox treatments. A skilled and properly certified doctor can
advise you on the procedure and can help determine if it best suits your needs and health.

How you prepare

Your doctor will need to know if you've received any type of botulinum toxin injections within the past
four months. If you take blood thinners, you may need to forgo these medications for several days
before your injection, to reduce your risk of bleeding or bruising. Your doctor also needs to know if you
take muscle relaxants, sleeping aids or allergy medications.
What you can expect
Before the procedure
Although most people tolerate the injection discomfort well, you may want your skin to be numb
beforehand. Several options are available, including:
Injections: Your doctor can inject a numbing medication into your skin.
Cream: A prescription cream can be applied 60 to 90 minutes before the procedure.
Cold spray: A blast of very cold air is directed at the skin for about 10 seconds. The numbness
only lasts a few seconds.
During the procedure
Your doctor uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin or muscles. The
number of injections needed depends on many factors, including the extent of the area being treated.
Botox injections are usually done in a doctor's office.
After the procedure
Expect to resume your normal daily activities right after the procedure. Take care, though, not to rub or
massage the treated areas. This can cause the toxin to migrate to a different area.
Results
Botulinum toxin injections usually begin working a few days after treatment. Depending on the problem
being treated, the effect may last for three to 12 months. To maintain the effect, you'll need regular
follow-up injections.