Everything You Need to Know about Botox

Developing wrinkles is unavoidable at some point. Laugh lines, worry lines, you probably don’t like any lines. Botox is a long term aid to minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. It became an approved procedure in the late 1980s, as it was discovered to help treat over-blinking and lazy eyes. Now a mainstream cosmetic procedure, it can be used for many areas on the face.

Botox is the brand name for the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. You may have heard that what is inside Botox is the same thing as botulism, but that is only somewhat true. There needs to be large quantities of the toxin for botulism to occur, and Botox is performed with a diluted amount only.

It is a quick procedure requiring no anesthetic, and you will be able to drive afterwards. Just a quick needle injection into the muscle area you’re targeting, and there is minimal discomfort. The treatment injected will block neurotransmitters from your nerves to your muscles. Once this happens, the muscle can no longer constrict. A treatment usually takes three to seven days for you to see results, when the wrinkles will relax, soften, and hopefully disappear.

Though Botox is an aid in fighting wrinkles, it is not a permanent fix. Treatments are usually only effective for four to six months. As it wears off, your muscles will again begin to contract, causing the wrinkles to reappear. If you can undergo treatments consistently, you should begin to notice injections lasting longer, as your muscles are becoming accustomed to staying in a relaxed state.

Side effects caused by Botox are rare, as most people handle the treatments well. A small percentage, however, may experience drooping eyelids or temporary bruising, though both are quickly remedied. As always, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding are not candidates for Botox, as well as people with neurological disorders.

Image sources: myjawani.com, mugerglobal.com

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