A few of the side effects include:

• Allergic reactions
• Itching
• Rash
• Headache
• Muscle stiffness
• Back or neck pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Anxiety
• Dry mouth 
• Drowsiness
• Urinary tract infections
• Difficulty urinating
• Ringing ears
• Tired feeling

It is imperative that you are transparent with your doctor. For instance, let your doctor know as much as possible about your medical history, so they can determine if Botox would be right for you. This means, talking about the type of supplements, herbs, and medication you are taking, any allergies you might have, any medical conditions, diseases, and illnesses if you have had medical procedures, cosmetic and non-cosmetic if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or attempting to conceive.

Additionally, if you are just getting Botox for the first time, your doctor should be informed. There are doctors that might be conservative with those getting Botox for the first time, in a bit to understand just how they would react to the Botox.

You also have to make sure that Botox is right for you. An experienced doctor will be able to let you know what Botox is capable of and what it cannot do

You should be in one accord with your doctor. This means that you both agree on the facial areas you intend to treat, how they are ideally fixed, and what the desired end result could be. Different people tend to have different aesthetics. If you, for instance, are not a fan of the frozen look, but your doctor is, you might want to ensure that you both agree on the desired look, so you do not end up hating the results.

It is important that you refrain from taking blood thinners, at least a week before getting Botox injections. Additionally, you should stop taking the following:

• Ibuprofen
• Vitamin E
• St. John’s Wart
• Excedrin
• Omega 3s
• Ginseng
• Gingko Bilboa

When you stop taking these drugs and supplements you help to minimise the likelihood of post Botox bruising. If you have no choice but to take pain medication, you can take Tylenol. You should also avoid consuming alcohol a couple of days before getting the Botox treatment.

While botulinum toxin, the source of Botox can be life-threatening, in small doses like those used when Botox is being applied, are safe. It isn’t surprising that only 36 cases of adverse effects associated with the cosmetic use of Botox were reported to the FDA in over 14 years. 13 of said cases were actually caused by an underlying issue rather than Botox itself. With this in mind, certain researchers believe that the cosmetic applications of Botox might carry less of a risk. Nevertheless, the general risk associated with Botox is minimal and is considered safe. It is important to always head over to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon that has been board-certified to administer Botox. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should refrain from getting Botox.

In general, white women with non-lifeguard jobs tend to do better when they get Botox between 35 to 40 years old. For those with jobs out in the sun, the earlier age might be 30. Darker skin tones, Botox treatments can be had at age 40 to 45, however, there are circumstances that it would depend on.

Generally, Botox tends to last 3 to 4 months, however, there will be patients that have Botox last longer, sometimes in the 4 to 6 months range. It could also be shorter in the 2-month range.

In about a week after treatment, you will begin to see the effects. The treatment areas will be significantly tighter which then results in a lift to your upper face. This will give you a fresh-faced and youthful look. That being said, the amount of time before results are visible will depend on the areas involved and the amount of Botox injected into said areas.

Typically, Botox is not very painful. The needle used is very small and the majority of patients tolerate the procedure extremely well. However, there is a tiny percentage that does not handle the pain well. Those types of patients will require pre-treatment using a topical anaesthetic.

Given that Botox is generally administered through a set of small injections, which can result in a sting localised at the injection site. However, this pain tends to disappear immediately. Once the treatment is completed, you might have redness from the injections, but they disappear in an hour.

Botox is the only neurotoxin that has been approved to treat three facial areas: forehead lines, glabellar lines, crow’s feet lines, under-eye lines, and marionette eyes.