Botox®

BOTOX® injections help to smooth frown lines, crows feet, and lines around the mouth. BOTOX has become the nation’s most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure, according to the American Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

BOTOX is a purified protein that temporarily reduces the appearance of lines around your face and neck. The non-surgical injections work by blocking nerve impulses to the muscles, which temporarily paralyzes the muscles responsible for your wrinkles. Skin that cannot move cannot form lines and wrinkles.The result is a fresh, rejuvenated appearance.

BOTOX treatments have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration for anyone aged 18 to 65. This indicates that the procedure is safe and does not lead to long-term paralysis in your face and neck.

The procedure

BOTOX injections are a very simple process that can be accomplished in about 10 to 30 minutes, depending upon the number of desired treatment areas. First, a topical anesthetic is used to numb the injection sites. Then small amounts of BOTOX are injected into designated muscles with a thin needle. You will feel some discomfort associated with the pricking, but this does not persist after the injection is complete.

Recovery

You should be able to return to your daily activities immediately. Generally speaking, you should not experience severe bleeding, pain or bruising. You should not touch or massage the treated areas, as this could disrupt the placement. The outcome of BOTOX injections usually lasts between three and six months.

Potential Complications

The most common complications are drooping eyelids or raised eyebrows. If this happens, it is important to remember that this will not be permanent, as the paralysis from BOTOX will wear off after a few months.

Treating More than Wrinkles

Besides temporaryly reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, BOTOX injections have also been approved to treat medical conditions.

Blepharospasm—a condition where one or both of your eyelids spasm uncontrollably in a repeated manner. This forceful, involuntary movement can even lead to temporary vision loss. While the cause of blepharospasm remains unknown, some experts believe it is associated with high levels of stress and fatigue.

BOTOX injections into the upper eyelids of the affected eye prevent that muscle from spasming.

Hemifacial Spasm—a condition that involves forceful, uncontrollable spasms in part of your face. It may be caused by vascular compression of facial nerves or by an intracranial tumor. If you are experiencing this, you should undergo a CT scan or MRI as soon as possible.

BOTOX injections can treat these symptoms until surgery is performed. If the underlying cause cannot be determined, BOTOX can be injected every three to six months to alleviate spasms.

Hyperhidrosis—excessive, uncontrollable perspiration that affects about 1 percent of the population. The sweating can occur in the hands, face, underarms, and forehead. The FDA has approved BOTOX for treating this type of severe underarm sweating when it cannot be treated with other medications.

The nervous system of people with hyperhidrosis is typically overactive. This produces an excessive sweating response. BOTOX injections reduce overactivity of the nervous system, resulting in reduced sweat production.

Related posts:

1. Botox: Secret Agent to Kill Your Perspiring Blues
2. Botox: Secret Agent to Kill Your Perspiring Blues
3. Botox - What Is It?