The botulinum toxin (better known as botox) does more than rid you of crow feet, wrinkles, headaches or sweating pores now.The time has come when you can even give your nether region a ‘makeover’ for reasons other than health. And you don’t even have to fly to Hollywood to avail of such a procedure, your friendly neighbourhood cosmetic surgeon has just the tools, too. There! Now that we have your attention, here’s a little something you ought to know before you go in for such a procedure...According to gynoplasty surgeon Dr Sejal Desai, botox and dermal fillers are used on your vulva or vagina for: - Cosmetic reasons (anti-aging; to prevent wrinkles and sagging of vulva).- Enhancement of sexual pleasure (G-Spot enhancement)- Treatment of disorders like vaginismus, painful intercourse and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI).The demographic factors have a wide range. “For example, G-spot enhancement, painful intercourse and vaginismus are more common amongst young women from 18 to 35 years. Whereas for cosmetic reasons, it’s usually women between the age of 30 to 65 years. For SUI it’s usually women of 50 years and above. We see women from homemakers to professionals, but this is more common amongst working women,” explains Dr Desai.Procedures depend upon the indication for use. However, larger volumes are usually required for vaginal and vulval indications. For procedures like G-Spot enhancement, cosmetic look of vulva, etc, are “lunch-time procedures”. However, when being treated for vaginismus, painful intercourse and SUI, hospital stay for a day is required. “The effects last for three months to two years depending on indication and the number of times done. Recovery is fast and painless, almost instantaneous in some cases and the desired effect is seen after 3 to 14 days,” adds Dr Desai.Depending on the procedure and the particular requirements of the client, such procedures cost in the range of `30,000 to `50,000.Botulinum toxin for the vagina should ideally be used for medical conditions and not cosmetic procedures, opines senior cosmetic surgeon Dr Mohan Thomas, adding that even for treating vaginismus and dyspareunia dilators are used. Calling the widespread use of the toxin a “botox fever”, he notes, “A while back, some were using botulinum toxin for crow’s feet, then for treating migraines and even cerebral palsy. I even read about it being used to treat pain resulting from prolonged use of heels. This is a dangerous trend and somewhere a line has to be drawn,” he warns.