Are those wrinkles worrying you? Are those creases on your forehead giving you anxiety pangs? Well! For the adventurous ones out there, there is a remedy for those age definers. It is Botox! With one swish of the needle under your skin, swap those crow’s feet and neckbands away!

So, what exactly is Botox? Botox is a non-surgical method by which wrinkles, frown lines and creases are treated to give you the young and wrinkle free look. About 10 to 25 shots of a diluted form of botulism injection is injected into the patient’s head, neck and shoulder. The results can be seen within a few days requiring little or no time at all for recovery. However, the results are not permanent. Touch-ups need to be done every 3-6 months.

For a temporary repair are there any side effects? You bet there are. For a cosmetic procedure that interferes with natural progression (like wrinkles and creases) there are bound to be side effects that need to be taken into consideration before rushing in for the botox needle. An overdose of Botox could result in ptosis (droopy eyelids). Botox could paralyse the muscles that help you swallow. There is the risk of bronchitis or a heart attack. Unlimited use of botox could result in a loss of facial expression or drooling. There are other milder side effects like nausea, headache, neck pain, respiratory tract infection or soreness at the injection site.

Botox cannot however, be used for muscles around the mouth as they are needed to eat and talk. With so many hazards for this particular cosmetic procedure, one would think that the demand for botox would be low. Unfortunately not. In spite of the temporary repair of wrinkles, people flock for a quick fix to see their younger selves again. There is also the danger of unqualified people exploiting this urgent need to appear young resulting in infection and scarring for life. Botox may boost your spirits for a while but is it really worth the trouble?