Botox is a cosmetic treatment used to ease away wrinkles through temporary paralysis of target facial muscles. It can address a number of aesthetic issues, including horizontal forehead lines, vertical lines between the brows, crow’s feet, vertical neck bands, chin wrinkles, and more.
With over six million treatments administered every year, Botox is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure on the market. Is Botox right for you?
Learning More About Botox
Botox consists of a neurotoxin known as botulinum toxin type A. It is produced by the clostridium botulinum bacterium. The substance is extracted, refined, and standardized into the approved dosages for Botox injections.
How do wrinkles form? It all has to do with facial muscles. When you laugh, frown, squint, or perform other facial movements, specific muscles contract. After years of performing the same facial movements over and over again, the muscles have trouble returning to their relaxed state. The skin over these muscles bunches up and forms wrinkles.
Botox works by blocking the signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle is prevented from contracting, thereby allowing it to relax, causing wrinkles to soften and fade.
Wrinkles can also form as a result of sun damage. These wrinkles usually don’t respond to Botox, since it is a muscle relaxer and not a dermal filler. Wrinkles like these can be smoothed away with filler injections.
Am I Eligible for Botox?
The majority of adults are eligible for Botox. If you have annoying fine lines and wrinkles that you would like to treat, it is most likely a good treatment option for you.
Please refrain from coming in for Botox treatments if:
• You are allergic to the ingredients in Botox.
• You have a urinary tract infection.
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You have an infection in the treatment site.
• You are being treated for urinary incontinence and are not regularly catheterizing.
What Is the Botox Procedure Like?
Botox is commonly known as a lunchtime procedure. It only takes a short amount of time to complete – injections only take around 15 to 20 minutes. There is also no need for recovery time for downtime, so patients can get it on their lunch breaks and be back to work in no time.
At the start of a Botox procedure, the areas targeted for treatment are marked. A small amount of Botox is then precisely injected into the muscles at the site of each wrinkle. No local or general anesthetic will be needed. In some cases, a topical numbing cream will be used.
The initial results of Botox won’t usually appear for 24 to 48 hours. The full results of the treatments will be apparent within seven to ten days.
What Other Applications Does Botox Have?
Botox is a very versatile product. Since early 2000, the FDA has approved the treatment for patients suffering from migraines. They have also approved Botox for addressing hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. Injecting it into the palms, feet, and underarms allows the neurotoxin to deactivate sweat glands similarly to the way it blocks muscle contractions.
Contact Us to Find Out More
Lawrence Glassman, a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience, is available for a consultation regarding Botox or any of the other procedures and treatments we offer. Contact us to set up your consultation.