Full list of articles

Featured articles:

Botox

Botox Cost

Botox Risks

Botox And Restylane

Botox For Headaches And Migraines

Botox For Sweating

Cosmetic Botox

Finding A Good Botox Doctor

How Does Botox Work?

How Effective Is Botox Treatment

Treating Eye Disorders With Botox

Who Is A Candidate For Botox?

Cosmetic Botox

Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is a derivative of Clostridium botulinum, a toxin associated with food poisoning. However, this toxin is now known to have several beneficial applications, both medical and cosmetic. In recent years Botox has become renowned for its effects on wrinkles and fine lines, and has fast become a booming part of the cosmetic industry with over a million people undergoing Botox treatment each year.

Botox injections block the release of acetylcholine to prevent the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles. This causes the muscles to relax and decreases the visibility of the wrinkles, producing a ‘smoother’ appearance to the skin. In some cases Botox eliminates the wrinkles completely for the duration of the treatment. Botox is suitable for cosmetic use on the forehead, frown lines, lower eyelids, crow’s feet and above the lip.

A consultation with a qualified doctor is very important in order to assess how effective the treatment will be for the individual. A person who has particularly deep wrinkles may not get a very satisfactory result from Botox injections. In some instances, a collagen injection can help plump out the skin and remedy this problem

Over time, the nerves will form new connections and re-discover the ability to transmit impulses to the muscle. This means that the paralyzing effects are only temporary and the results of Botox treatment will generally only last between 3 and 6 months. In a small number of patients the results may last up to 9 months. It has been reported that people who have had repeat treatments notice that the wrinkles in the treated area become less deep, allowing a greater interval between treatments. This may be a result of repeat Botox injections causing atrophy and the muscle losing some of its function. Some patients are naturally resistant to Botox. In this instance, many clinics offer a free ‘top up’ after 2 to 4 weeks to achieve the desired results.

Botox is considered very safe as a cosmetic treatment, and received FDA approval in 2002. This is because the dosage is extremely low and well within safety parameters. Less than 10 percent of patients experience side effects, and any undesirable problems resulting from treatment are only temporary due to the nature of the drug. Risks of the treatment include pain or bruising at the site of injection, minor hemorrhaging and headaches in the days following treatment. More serious side effects include flu like symptoms, nausea of anxiety – however, these problematic side effects should be short lived.

In a minority of patients, Botox can cause muscle weakness around the injection site. Depending on the area that was treated, the patient’s ability to form certain facial expressions may be impaired – for instance, they may have difficulty frowning or squinting. If too much Botox is administered the patient may develop a drooping eye lid (ptosis). Fortunately, this is a rare complication and the appearance of the eye lid should return to normal after several weeks.

If you are considering undergoing Botox treatment as a cosmetic procedure it is imperative to visit a qualified practitioner as your safety should be paramount. Although Botox parties are becoming increasingly popular they are not recommended, as important aspects of patient care may be lost.