Derived from the deadly bacteria that cause botulism, Botox is a killer when it comes to wiping out fine lines and wrinkles. It isn't all about vanity however, for some this Hollywood treatment is a shining light.

Rachel Sutton, 11, has cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that has left her legs rigid and uncontrollable.

Rachel could not sit upright, let alone walk but Botox has changed her world.

Doctor Stephen O'Flaherty from Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital has treated more than 600 children with cerebral palsy using Botox and he says the results have been astonishing.

"Its use in cerebral palsy has really revolutionised the lives of the children in whom it has been used," he said.

Botox is only a temporary treatment but Rachel's mother Margaret Sutton says it is nothing short of miraculous.

"It is a miracle drug because it's all the little things that the Botox does, it's not just a matter of walking," Ms Sutton said.

Botox is injected directly into Rachel's groin muscles, blocking the nerve from the spinal cord, relaxing the stiff muscles and allowing her to move more freely.

"It's not just for Rachel, it's for me as well. It gives me a good quality of life," Ms Sutton said.

Quality of life is something Ian Beath, 36, also is experiencing.

The former Ansett flight attendant has hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. He found it embarrassing and uncomfortable.

"I find when I get nervous I sweat excessively under the arms," Mr Beath said.

But it wasn't just nerves that triggered the waterworks, Mr Beath says he lived with the problem daily.

Doctor Greg Goodman applies the Botox injections directly into Mr Beath's armpits.

In this case it's around 30 to 50 painless mini pinpricks.

"This is probably the easiest thing for Botox to treat because the armpits are not particularly sensitive to injections," Dr Goodman said.

Botox works in hyperhidrosis by paralysing the interaction between the nerve and the sweat glands.

The result for Mr Beath is dry underarms and a big shot of confidence.

"Just being able to just relax, be myself," he said.

Sue Bennett also says Botox has given her peace of mind from numbing headaches.

"I'm only a mild migraine sufferer but it's really quite painful," she said.

Botox has only recently been used for treating migraines after doctors stumbled on its potential to soothe a headache while smoothing forehead lines.

Plastic surgeon Doctor Peter Widdowson says treating severe migraines with Botox is still experimental.

"It has been used for wrinkles in the central forehead region and a number of patients who had migraines suddenly found that the migraines and the headaches had decreased," he said.

He says there are very few side effects and very few effective alternatives.

"There's a lot of people around the world with intractable migraines that can't be helped by conventional means and it seems to be part of the answer," Dr Widdowson said.

Ms Bennett says while the Botox did help her migraine temporarily, it does not offer a permanent solution.

"It did alleviate it. It sure made it a bit easier but once it wears off they do come back," she said.

For most patients, the main disadvantage of Botox is this temporary nature - you need to have injections every six months.

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