What is Botox®, and How Does it Work?
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Since its introduction and approval in 2002 are Botox ® be the number one cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S., according to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. These seemingly magic cure for deep wrinkles and furrowed brows robust set is very popular among politicians and Hollywood actors. With the effects of relatively low cost and long term, over 4 million people in the U. S chose Botox treatments only in 2006.
Botox is made from a sterile form of botulinum toxin that is injected under the skin to deaden the nerve endings that cause wrinkles. When injected, toxin inhibits the release of the chemical acetylcholine, which signals the facial muscles to contract. Since these muscles are paralyzed chemically not pinch the skin and cause wrinkles to form.
Although Botox is made from a deadly poison produced by Clostridium botulinum, is relatively safe. The same toxin is extracted from the bacteria live, not live bacteria injected into the skin. There is no chance of contracting botulism. Only small local doses of the toxin is given during treatment and the risks are relatively small.
The toxin treatment was approved for the treatment of blepharospasm (eye muscle contraction) 1989th Cosmetically desirable effects of Botox were observed when the frown lines between the eyebrows was observed to soften following treatment of diseases of the eye muscle. The subjects had deeper wrinkles or folds of tissue near the area where the injections was given
These observations lead to clinical trials and subsequent approval by the FDA as a cosmetic application in April 2002. Since 2006, Botox injections are the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States.
Since Botox is not a filler injection, but a block chemicals, many are not wrinkle lines treated with Botox. Sun-damaged skin and wrinkles caused by neuromuscular action is better treated with injectable fillers such as collagen or Restylane.
The number of injections needed is based on the treatment area. Crow’s feet may only take two to five injections with glabellar lines (brow furrowed) can take eight to ten injections. Injection sessions are usually only ten to fifteen minutes of your time and you can resume normal activities immediately.
Like all medical treatments, Botox has potential side effects.
Some side effects may include:
a? ¢ Pain
a? ¢ Bruising
a? ¢ Flushing
a? ¢ Nausea
a? ¢ Headache
a? ¢ ptosis (upper eyelid hanging)
There is virtually no downtime after treatment injection of Botox, you can resume a normal day as soon as you leave the doctor’s office. Be careful not to rub or massage the treated area as this could cause the injected material to move to other areas. The full results are visible after a few days and up to six months. Re-injections are needed to maintain your new fresh appearance. Botox ® Cosmetic injections should be administered more than once every three months.
It is important to find a doctor who has experience with Botox injections to minimize risks and ensure the correct dosage. Botox is delivered to doctors in dry form and must be prepared with the right amount of salt solution. Each vial of Botox is only once in a single patient.
A growing phenomenon across the country is the so-called “Botox shares, where a doctor opens his clinic and a lot of ground. As the participants wait for their turn to injection, to socialize and have fun. The FDA has issued warnings about these types of events that can reduce the severity of injections and their use. But compared to other cosmetic treatments are complications significantly lower than Botox. A new campaign to bring stricter warnings Botox group Public Citizen, including one death of a cosmetic treatment with the drug. Given on the millions of treatments performed each year, this corresponds to a part of one tenth of a percentage point to percentage point of risk.
