Botox injections are undoubtedly the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure around. Millions of injections are provided every year. Botox is made from clostridium botulinum, which is the bacteria that causes botulism. However, it is purified and diluted so that it no longer causes this horrible disease.
Understanding Botox and Its Uses
We know what causes wrinkles:
- Gravity.
- Loss of volume.
- Smoking.
- Sun exposure.
- Facial animation, which is also known as dynamic wrinkling.
What Botox does is address dynamic wrinkling. It stops acetylcholine from being released, which means that muscles can no longer contract. In so doing, it stops them from forming wrinkles and fine lines as well. Botox has been used since the 1970s and has an excellent track record for safety. This is why the FDA has also approved it.
Botox and Cosmetics
What sets Botox apart from other cosmetic procedures such as chemical peeling and laser resurfacing, is that it deals with wrinkles relating to movement. Originally, it was offered only for frown lines, but this quickly expanded into crow’s feet and worry lies as well. In fact, today, it can be used on marionette lines, bunny lines, smokers’ lines, turkey gobblers, and necklace lines. Usually, it takes up to 10 days for the results to become apparent, and they last for up to around six months, although this becomes longer with repeat treatments.
Who Is it For?
Most Botox candidates are women between 45 and 65. However, it is becoming increasingly common for men to seek the treatment as well. Furthermore, many younger people now have preventative Botox, which means that they have it before they have wrinkles in an effort to avoid them altogether.
How Does it Work?
Botox looks a little bit like water. It is injected in key places in the wrinkles using a very fine needled. The cost varies, ranging from $500 to $2,000 depending on how large the area that has to be treated is. It is important to not take any ginko biloba, ginseng, vitamin E, alcohol, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before or for a few days after the treatment, as this increases the chance of bruising. Other complications are very rare, particularly if you have had the treatment performed by a registered and licensed professional.
There have been horror stories of “frozen faces” when people have had Botox, as well as Botox addictions. Both horror stories are 100% true. However, this is why it is so important that you have the treatment completed by someone who is licensed and trained on the administration of Botox. Firstly, they will make sure that you only have as much Botox injected as necessary and they will refuse repeat treatments if you don’t need them yet. And they are also good at recognizing whether you have had treatment before, so you don’t have to try “doctor shopping” as such for Botox. The reality is that if you have too much Botox, your face will look like it is frozen, and that is not a good look to go for.