Botox

What is Botox?

Botox, or botulinum toxin, is an injectable medicine that is used to temporarily reduce muscle tension and facial wrinkles, such as severe forehead lines or moderate to severe frown lines.

How exactly does Botox work?

Botox is made from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which has been known to cause general muscle weakness. This bacterium produces a specific toxin type, botulinum toxin A, which slows down muscle activity in order to smooth facial wrinkles.

Botox works by injecting very tiny doses of botulinum toxin A directly into specific facial muscles. This blocks the signals being delivered from the nerves to the muscles, which inhibits these muscles from contracting so they cannot form wrinkles on your skin when you move, smile or squint.

What can I expect from a Botox injection session?

The botulinum toxin treatment starts with a consultation so you can tell your doctor which areas you would like treated and then the doctor can determine the number of Botox units required for treatment.

The number of units you’ll need depends on how many areas you’d like to address, as well as the severity of each area.

For crow’s feet, most patients require about 10-15 units.

For moderate to severe frown lines, glabellar lines, and forehead wrinkles, the average number of units is roughly 20 each.

How long do Botox injections last?

Typically, results from a single botulinum toxin injection last 3-4 months. This can vary, with some patients seeing sustained results for 4-6 months and others noticing a return to wrinkles in as little as 2 months.

Many patients find results last longer after the second round of Botox injections, and even longer after several sessions because the skin has had more time to generate the amount of collagen needed to fill in wrinkles.

How frequently will I need touch-up Botox injections?

Botulinum toxin injection recipients can return for touch-ups as soon as they see the effects of their last treatment wearing off. Typically, patients return for repeat botox injections every 3-4 months, but again this depends on the individual.

Is there an ideal age range for Botox injections?

Botox is approved for use in adults 18-65; however how it affects your appearance does depend on your age.

Botulinum toxin can be used as a preventative treatment against aging in adults from their mid-20s to early 30s who have started to notice a few fine lines and facial wrinkles.

• Patients in their 20s can use botulinum toxin as a preventative treatment to stave off wrinkles that may appear later.
• Patients in their 30s can use Botox injections to address existing wrinkles before they are in.
• Patients in their 40s find Botox helpful in preventing wrinkles from becoming deep-set.
• Patients in their 50s choose Botox injections to avoid prominently deep-set wrinkles.
• Patients in their 60s use Botox to refresh their look by smoothing and softening wrinkles and lines

Who should not get Botox injections?

Patients who have had previous allergic reactions to any of the ingredients in Botox should not seek treatment. Additionally, patients should avoid Botox if they suffer from:

• Skin infection in the intended treatment area
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• ALS or similar diseases that entail all-over muscle weakness

Be sure to tell your doctor about any concerns before treatment.

What are the side effects of Botox injections?

Like any procedure, there are some small risks involved with Botox injections.

The most common side effects are bruising, pain, redness, or bleeding at the injection site. There is also a chance of infection at the injection site which can be easily treated with antibiotics.

Some of these symptoms are indicative of an allergic reaction; if you feel dizzy, faint, itchy, wheezy, or have trouble breathing tell your doctor immediately.

Botox injections can also cause mild upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold.

Rarely, patients may experience eyelid drooping due to increased muscle weakness.

What are the other uses of Botox?

While Botox is particularly popular with adults who are looking to reduce the signs of aging in facial muscles, studies have also shown that botulinum toxin injections are beneficial for

• Helps treat muscle or nerve conditions; it can be used to treat increased muscle stiffness in children affected by cerebral palsy.
• Treating Asthma symptoms; the botulinum toxins act as muscle relaxants for the voice box.
• Helping to treat overactive bladder symptoms
• Preventing headaches in patients by helping treat chronic migraine.