What is Botox and how does it work?
Botox is a prescription medicine containing botulinum toxin type A. It temporarily blocks the signal from nerve to muscle, so the treated muscle relaxes and the lines it creates soften; the effect wears off gradually on its own.
Botulinum toxin type A temporarily stops nerve endings from releasing acetylcholine, the chemical messenger that tells a muscle to contract. In aesthetic medicine, very small doses are placed only into the muscles that need it. The aim is not to freeze the face but to calm specific muscles that are overworking, so that frowning, squinting or raising the brows no longer etch the same deep lines, while natural expression is kept.
Botox is not a filler. It does not add volume, lift sagging skin or directly improve skin quality, and on its own it may not fully soften deep lines that are visible even when the face is at rest. In those cases, skin-quality treatments, fillers or energy-based devices may be discussed. Which approach suits you, in what order and at what dose is only decided after a face-to-face assessment of your muscles and goals.
Which areas can be treated with Botox?
The most common areas are forehead lines, frown lines between the brows and crow’s feet. The masseter (jaw) muscle, the chin, neck bands and areas of excessive sweating can also be assessed.
Upper-face treatment covers horizontal forehead lines, the vertical “11” lines between the brows and the crow’s feet that appear at the corners of the eyes when you smile. In the lower face, the masseter may be treated for jaw clenching or a square jaw angle, and the mentalis for a dimpled, “orange peel” chin. The so-called Nefertiti treatment targets the platysma bands in the neck and the jawline. Each area has its own anatomy and dosing.
Botulinum toxin is also used for excessive sweating of the underarms, palms, soles and scalp. Here the goal is not appearance but to reduce the nerve signal that switches on the sweat glands. Which areas can be treated in one visit, the total dose and the order of priority are agreed at your consultation. Not every concern responds to toxin, and if another option is more appropriate, you will be told so plainly.
Who should not have Botox, and when is it postponed?
Botox is not given, or is postponed, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in certain neuromuscular conditions, when there is an active infection at the injection site and in anyone with a known allergy to its ingredients. Your medicines are always reviewed first.
Conditions that affect the junction between nerve and muscle, such as myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, are generally reasons not to treat. Because there is not enough safety data in pregnancy and breastfeeding, treatment is postponed until afterwards. If there is an inflamed spot, a cold sore or another infection in the area, it needs to settle first. Some antibiotics and other medicines that affect nerve-to-muscle transmission can also change the assessment.
A recent illness, an important event coming up, dental work or another aesthetic procedure can also affect timing. If your expectations go beyond what botulinum toxin can realistically achieve, treatment may not be recommended. That is why your medical history, medicines and supplements, previous treatments and any past side effects are discussed in detail. If you are travelling to Istanbul, it helps to share this information before your visit so it can be reviewed in advance.
What happens at the appointment, and what is the aftercare?
After an assessment and planning discussion, small doses are injected into marked points with a very fine needle; the injections themselves are usually quick. Afterwards you are advised not to rub the area or lie flat for a few hours.
At your first visit, your face is examined both at rest and in motion, and muscle strength and any asymmetry are noted. The plan, the dose and possible side effects are explained and your consent is taken. The skin is cleansed and, for some areas, a cold pack or numbing cream may be used. Most people describe a brief pinprick and mild stinging. You can usually return to normal daily activities the same day.
For the rest of the day you are generally advised to avoid rubbing the area, strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms and hammams. Mild redness, small bumps or a little bruising can occur and usually settle on their own. The effect begins within a few days and the full result is usually visible at around two weeks, when a review is ideally arranged. If you are visiting Istanbul for a short stay, discuss in advance how this follow-up will be handled.
How long does Botox last?
On the face, results typically last 3–4 months for most people; for the masseter and for sweating, they can last longer. Duration depends on muscle strength, dose, area and individual factors.
The effect of botulinum toxin is temporary. Over time the nerve endings form new connections and the muscle gradually regains its movement, so the result fades over several weeks rather than stopping overnight. A strong muscle, very expressive habits, a dose on the low side for your needs and individual differences can all shorten the effect. Sweating treatments often last longer than facial ones, though this also varies from person to person.
Once the effect has faded, treatment can be repeated, but repeating it more often than necessary is not advised. In some people who are treated regularly, muscle habits change over time, so a different dose or interval may become appropriate. If you feel your results wore off unusually quickly, raise it at your review. The factors that lengthen or shorten results are covered in more detail on a separate page.
Is Botox safe, and how can you check the product is genuine?
When a licensed product is used for an appropriate indication by an authorised doctor, botulinum toxin is a widely used treatment, but like any medical procedure it carries a risk of side effects. You can ask to see the box, batch number and expiry date.
Common side effects include redness, tenderness and bruising at the injection sites, and a temporary headache. Less often, a drooping eyelid or brow, an uneven smile, or temporary weakness when chewing or swallowing can occur. These effects are usually temporary but can last several weeks. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking need urgent medical attention, and you should seek help without delay, wherever you are.
Botulinum toxin products are classed as medicines and must be kept refrigerated throughout the supply chain. In Turkey, medicines are tracked with a unique data-matrix code, and the product name, batch number and expiry date are recorded in your notes. Seeing the box and asking for these details before treatment is entirely reasonable. Which product and dose are suitable for you is decided by the doctor after your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Will I still look like myself after Botox?
The aim is to calm overactive muscles rather than stop them completely. When the dose and injection points are planned around your features, natural expression is the goal; a more conservative first dose can be reviewed at your follow-up.
Do wrinkles get worse when Botox wears off?
No. As the effect fades, the muscle gradually returns to its previous movement and lines return towards how they were before. Stopping treatment does not make lines worse; natural ageing simply continues.
What is the difference between Botox and fillers?
Botox temporarily reduces muscle movement, while fillers restore support where volume has been lost. Expression lines and volume loss are different problems, and some faces need a plan that considers both.
Who decides which botulinum toxin product is used?
The doctor chooses the product after your consultation, based on the area, the desired effect, your previous experience and the product’s licensing. Units are not interchangeable between products.
Can I fly home soon after Botox?
Most people can travel as planned, but share your travel dates at the consultation so that the timing of treatment and your follow-up can be arranged sensibly.
How soon does Botox start working, and when is the full result visible?
For most people, Botox starts to take effect within 2–5 days, and the full result usually settles at around two weeks. That is why the review, and any small top-up, is planned for about the second week. Lines may still show in the first few days; how much the muscle relaxes depends on dose, muscle strength and area.
Is there an upper age limit for Botox?
No, Botox has no set upper age limit and can be considered later in life when general health allows. In older faces, though, some lines seen at rest come from volume loss and skin laxity, so Botox alone may have less effect. If you unconsciously raise your brows to offset heavy eyelids, the forehead dose is planned carefully so the brows do not drop.
Does Botox hurt?
Botox injections usually cause only mild, short-lived discomfort; most people describe a quick sharp prick followed by a slight sting. A very fine needle is used, and each injection takes only a few seconds. The skin around the eyes, the palms and the soles can be more sensitive, and for these areas a cold pack, numbing cream or, where appropriate, regional numbing can be discussed.
What affects the cost of Botox?
The main factors behind the cost of Botox are the number of areas treated, the total dose your muscle strength requires and the product used. Treatments such as masseter or sweating Botox usually need more product than a single facial area such as the frown lines. Before comparing prices, ask whether the product is genuine and licensed, and who will inject it.
Can I have Botox on the same day as other aesthetic treatments?
In most cases yes; Botox can be planned in the same session as other injectables such as filler, and the order is what matters. Facials that involve massage, and device treatments that create strong heat or pressure, are generally done before Botox or after a gap. Which treatments are combined depends on what your face needs and on the likelihood of swelling or bruising.
Sources (5)
- U.S. FDA (DailyMed, NLM): BOTOX COSMETIC- onabotulinumtoxina injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution (Prescribing Information and Medication Guide) (2026)
- MHRA-approved SmPC via emc (Galderma): Azzalure, 125 Speywood units, powder for solution for injection - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)
- Global Aesthetics Consensus Group (Sundaram et al., Plast Reconstr Surg): Global Aesthetics Consensus: Botulinum Toxin Type A--Evidence-Based Review, Emerging Concepts, and Consensus Recommendations for Aesthetic Use, Including Updates on Complications (2016)
- American Academy of Dermatology: Botulinum toxin therapy: Overview
- T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı TİTCK: Botox Preparatları Hakkında Duyuru (2018)
This content is for general information and does not replace a personal medical assessment.