Botox - What it is and How it Rejuvenates the Face?

As a person ages, the skin begins to show signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. In the past, patients would undergo a major cosmetic surgery such as a facelift to try and turn back the clock and reduce the appearance of aging on the skin. Thankfully, patients no longer have to resort to invasive surgery to get the changes they desire in the appearance of their face. Botox is able to lessen fine lines and wrinkles and provide a youthful, more rejuvenated appearance to the face.

Botox continues to gain in popularity and is a treatment that Cosmetic Town News receives questions about on a regular basis. In order to give our readers the answers they desire about Botox, Cosmetic Town News recently took an in-depth look at how Botox works and the facial rejuvenation benefits it can give patients.

Botox – What it is and How it Works

Botox is a form of botulinum toxin used for injections in certain areas of the face. When the Botox is injected into a muscle located near fine lines or wrinkles, neuromuscular blockers work to limit the amount of muscle contractions in the area that is being treated. Because the neuromuscular blockers are working to limit the movement/contractions in this area, the muscles can relax and the skin in the treated area can smooth out and reduce the wrinkles. Thanks to continued squinting, frowning and repeated muscle tightness and usage, the skin can become creased and wrinkled in the facial area. Botox relaxes the muscles and this means the skin is not continually pulled since the constant pulling can cause wrinkles and fine lines. Botox is a good option for patients in their 20s, 30s and older that have wrinkles and fine lines on the face that can be classified as moderate to severe.

How Botox is Performed

Before Botox is injected into the designated area on a patient, the doctor will also perform an examination of the skin of the patient. The examination is to determine the amount of Botox needed to achieve the desired results. The cosmetic doctor will clean the area designated to be treated and then performs the injections on an outpatient basis. There is no need for sedation or anesthesia before performing the injections. Once the Botox is injected, it starts to send signals that limit the amount of muscle contractions in the area being treated.

Besides reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, Botox has multiple uses in treating other areas of the body:

• Tight Muscles – Patients that have muscles in the neck, or other areas of the body, that are so tight that their movements are severely limited, can find relief through Botox. The Botox injections can loosen the muscle and increase the mobility of the person.
• Hyperhidrosis – This is a condition where patients suffer from excessive armpit sweating. Botox blocks the signals that cause the body to secrete greatly through the armpits.
• Headaches – Botox can relieve headaches that are the result of tension or muscle spasms.

Areas of the face that do not respond to Botox include droopy skin and the nasolabial folds (the creases from the nose to each corner of the mouth). 

Botox Cost, Recovery, Results and Risks

The total cost of a Botox treatment is anywhere from $300-$1000. The final cost depends on the amount of Botox used, the cost per syringe, the area of the country where it is performed and any fees charged by the doctor or the facility.

Botox is a simple cosmetic procedure that requires little to no recovery time on the part of the patient. There might be some bruising after the injections but the patient is able to resume work the same day. In addition, patients should not do any type of heavy exercise the day of the procedure.

The results start to become visible to the patient, as well as others, after a week or two. Patients should remember that the results of Botox can last anywhere from four to six months. The length of the results varies per patient but it can also depend on the skill of the cosmetic doctor and the amount of Botox that is injected into the area of the body being treated. Patients need to remember that the results of Botox are not permanent so they will need to have follow-up treatments to maintain the results they obtain from Botox.

Patients should be aware of the fact that they might experience a droopy eyelid if the Botox drips down while being administered. The Botox that drips can cause the eyelid to droop a bit. The droopy effect is temporary at best and will resolve in a few months.

Trust the Botox Brand Name from a Board-Certified Doctor

Botox is a medication that is FDA-approved and is produced by Allergan. There are some people that perform injections that are not board-certified and they also do not use Botox that is FDA-approved. These off-brand Botox products are made in other countries and are not tested as thoroughly as FDA-approved Botox. Patients need to make sure their cosmetic doctor of choice is experienced in performing Botox injections with FDA-approved product.

MA