Where is botulinum toxin injected for wrinkles?

Anyone in Mamaroneck or nearby who is thinking about Botox tends to ask the same thing first. Where does the needle actually go, and is it somewhere that should worry me?

The short answer

The toxin goes into a muscle. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes the effect this way: Injections of botulinum toxin block the nerve signals to the muscle in which it was injected.

Which lines people ask about

The Cleveland Clinic names who may be a good candidate: Young to middle-aged men and women between the ages of 18 and 70 who would like to temporarily improve the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet or forehead lines may be good candidates for Botox treatment.

So frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines are the areas that source ties to Botox.

What is routine and what is a reason to call

Picking the exact injection points is the injector's job, not yours. A reader weighing a visit in Scarsdale, Harrison or White Plains can still check one thing: whether the clinician can tell you which muscle each injection is meant to reach.

If you leave a visit unable to say where the toxin went, call the clinic that treated you and ask. Do not press, massage or reshape the area yourself to fix a result you do not like.

Where to read more

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons page on botulinum toxin gives a plain overview of the treatment. Readers who want the clinical side can open a review of the clinical uses of botulinum neurotoxins or a comprehensive review of botulinum toxin therapy. For one specific product, see the MedlinePlus drug information entry on daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm.

The question that usually comes next

Once people know where the toxin goes, they ask how long the effect lasts and when a repeat visit makes sense. Ask your injector both before the first appointment.