For a more youthful appearance
Botox
is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines between brows in people 18 to 65 years of age.
Botox is a brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. In large amounts, this toxin can cause botulism, which you probably associate with food poisoning. Regardless of the fact that one of the most serious complications of botulism is paralysis, scientists have discovered a way to use it to human advantage. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles appearance
In the late 1980’s the FDA approved upon the discovery that BOTOX could stop ailments like blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking) and strabismus (lazy eye). Doctors have been using for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial folds. Botox has been approved in 2002 to temporarily treat moderate to severe glabellar lines between the brows. The exact same Botox injected for medical purposes (e.g., uncontrolled muscle spasms) was first approved by the FDA in 1989.
How Does Botox Work?
When Botox is injected into the muscles it blocks nerve to those tissues. The injected muscles can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften.
Use of Botox injections to treat wrinkles includes:
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Crow’s feet (wrinkle at the outer corner of the eyes)
- Forehead furrows
Use of Botox injections to treat conditions that affect your body functions includes:
- Lazy eye
- Cervical dystonia (painful & involuntary contraction of neck muscles)
- Muscle contractures
- Hyperhidrosis ( excessive sweating)
- Chronic Migraine
- Bladder dysfunction
How you prepare?
The physician needs to know if in the past four months the patient received any type of botulinum toxin, muscle relaxants, sleeping aids or allergy medications. If you take blood thinners, the patient need to stop these medications for several days before the injection to reduce the risk of bleeding or bruising.
How is Botox performed?
The injection takes about a few minutes. Topical anesthetic cream 10-20 minutes before the injection are given to numb the area of treatment. Botox is injected with a fine needle to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin or muscles. The number of injections needed depends on how many factors, including the extent of the area being treated. Botox injections are usually performed in a doctor’s office.
Normally you would see the result few days after treatment. The maximum effect usually occurs at about 10-14 days. Therefore, whatever effect obtained in two weeks is the maximum effect that is going to occur.
How long does the injection Botox Last?
Depending on the problem treated, the effect may last four to six months. As muscle action returns, lines and wrinkles begin to re-appear. The lines and the wrinkles often appear less severe because the muscles are being trained to relax. To maintain the effect, you’ll need regular follow-up Botox injections every six months.
What Are the Side Effects of Botox?
The most common side effect of Botox is bruising. It also includes dry mouth, discomfort at the injection site, headache, neck pain. A small percentage of patient may develop eyelid drooping. This usually revolves in three weeks. This usually happens when is moving around so you shouldn’t rub the treated area 12 hours after injection or lay down three to four hours after the treatment.
Why You Should Not Receive Botox?
- Allergy to any ingredients in Botox or Botox Cosmetic
- Allergy to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc, Dysport or Xeomin.
- Skin infection or other condition in the injection area.
- Have breathing problems such as Asthma
- Difficulty of swallowing
- Plan to undergo surgery
- Have bleeding issues
- Have drooping eyelids
- Have ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome or other disease that affects your muscles or nerves.
Note: Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding should not use Botox. Botox is not expected to enter the body to affect the fetus and breastfeeding infant. However, clinical studies don’t have any proved yet, so nobody knows for sure. Therefore, the manufacturer (Allergan) advises that you should not have Botox injections if you are planning or trying to conceive a child, are pregnant, are planning to breastfeed or are currently breastfeeding. It’s better to be safe, and you can always have Botox later on.