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Botox®
What is Botox® used for?
What is Botox®?
Is Botox® Safe?
What are the Side Effects?
Will the Injection Hurt?What Areas can I Inject?
Botox® Cosmetic is the answer to some of the most common complaints of aging. It can erase fine lines and wrinkles, improve facial contour, and address eye shape in a matter of days. Using Botox® can prevent what many clients fear - going under the knife. It is recognized by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of lines and wrinkles associated with dynamic movement (lines created through muscle movement below the skin).
Botox® has become the tool to which physicians and nurses turn every day for the treatment of wrinkling associated with glabellar frown lines, horizontal forehead lines, crow's feet, upper lip lines, lower lip lines, lines at the corners of thte mouth, and bands around the neck.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that Botox® is the number ONE non surgical procedure for both men and women. Over 2 million women and over 250,000 men had Botox® treatments in 2003 (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).
Botox® is the product name for botulinum toxin. For most people considering Botox®, this characteristic is particular concern because Botox® is a refined version of the bacteria that causes the illness known as botulism. However, following a refining process, Botox® is safe for human consumption in the clinical doses in which it is used.
Many people are concerned abou the though of someone injecting a known poison into their podies to cure lines and wrinkles We would like to assure you that the safety record of Botox® is well established. The product has been used in the market for over 20 years, with few side effects. Most physicians wold agree that Botox® is among the safest treatments available today to address lines and wrinkles of the face and neck. The fact is that Botox® does not alter the production of acetylcholine, nor does it in any way damage the nerve. The process will, however, weaken the muscle over time and may cause mescle strphy. For many patients, this result is considered a positive treatment event.
Botox® does not cross the blood-brain barrier. This unique feature keeps the Botox® at the site where it is injected. Therefore any side effects are limited to those at the muscle site. For example, poor placement of Botox® in glabella treament may cause eyelid ptosis, overtreatment, and asymmetry after injection. The other less-common side effects include headache, influenza-like symptoms, and nausea.
Another side eeffect of Botox® is the development of neutralizing protein antipodies. Antibodies are conjugated proteins that contain a carbohydtrate formed in response to antigens. When this occurs , the Botox® is neutralized and rendered useless. This result occurs because the body is producing blocking antibodies. In these cases, Botox® will not be effecdtive for the treatment of lines, and other options will need to be considered. This event is rare, but it does occur.
Everyone worries a little about pain, and no one likes to be poked with a needle. However, this needle is really small, 30 gauge. A topical anesthetic may help a little with the needle poke, but it will not anesthetize the muscle for injection. The muscular pain causes the discomfort. Some individuals tolerate the injections just fine, while others sweat and tremble during hte process. Nonetheless, the majority of people can focus on the end point: improved appearance. There are many tactics used to help with pain during the injection process: deep breathing, squeezing a towl, humming, or growling.
Glabella Frown Lines
The vertical lines that are created between the eyes with frowning or squinting.
Forehead Lines
The Horizontal lines that are created when the brow is lifted.
Crow's Feet
The little lines around the eyes.
Marionette Lines
The lines that extend from the corners of the mouth down toward the jawline.
Vertical Lip Lines
Also known as smokers' lines that create a puckered look around the mouth.
Neck Rings and Platysma Bands
Vertical bands that are apparent in the resting position.
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