What is Botox?
Botox is an injected
muscle relaxant that is used to temporarily
remove wrinkles and relieve other
conditions.
Botox is a derivative
of Botulinum Toxin Type A –
a bacterium that causes botulism.
It was originally designed to treat
neuromuscular disorders and conditions
such as “lazy eye” or
blepharospasm (an eyelid that will
not remain open). During treatment
of eye problems, doctors noticed that
fine lines and wrinkles near the eye
faded. The product was investigated
as a means of reducing these effects,
and has been used for over a decade
in this capacity.
Who is a candidate
for Botox injections?
People
who suffer from early signs of aging
are generally good candidates for Botox
injections. These signs include:
- Crow’s feet (Lines that
extend out from the corners of the
eye)
Candidates for Botox treatment may also
include patients who are not good candidates
for facelift or other facial procedures.
Other
conditions that Botox has been used
to treat include:
- Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Muscle spasms, including those
caused by cerebral palsy, strokes,
or multiple sclerosis
Though Botox injections
carry few complications, they are not
for everyone. Factors that make a person
a poor candidate for botox include:
- Medications or supplements
that may increase bruising or bleeding
- Allergy to Botulinum Toxin
Type A
- History of botulism poisoning
How is the procedure
performed?
Botox injections are
a fairly simple procedure. First,
the patient is asked to flex the facial
muscles in the area of treatment so
that the surgeon can determine where
the injection should take place. Then,
the Botox is injected, typically directly
into the muscle with a tiny needle.
The effects are usually seen within
three to five days, and should last
for a minimum of three months.
There
are no known long-term systemic effects
associated with Botox injections. Mild
side effects that can take place immediately
after injection may include:
Occasionally, patients
fail to see any improvement in appearance
from Botox injections.
If you are interested
in Botox injections, you may want
to contact a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist
for more information.
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