Female Beauty

Botox “the brand name for the purified form of botulinum toxin type A” treats wrinkles around your eyes and forehead, but does have some side effects. Botox has been FDA approved as a temporary treatment for frown lines between the eyebrows. But it can be used to treat other facial wrinkles as well, such as the lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes (crow’s’-feet), forehead creases, lifting of eyebrows, “smokers lips“, chin dimples, and more.  Botox is also used for headaches, backaches, eye muscle problems, muscle spasms and excessive sweating.

Also, researchers have found that treating facial scars early on with Botox may improve the appearance of scars long-term. This use for Botox is experimental, however, and hasn’t been approved by the FDA.  Also, Botox is not very good for wrinkles around the mouth, as those muscles are used for eating, smiling, talking…  Do not go for Botox if you are pregant or breastfeeding, or have some neuromuscular disease.
Botox can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as laser resurfacing or collagen injections.  It is more affordable than you think, and is very safe, being performed millions of times.

How does it work?

If taken in large amounts by mouth, botulinum toxin causes the food poisoning botulism. But when injected in small doses into specific muscles, the purified protein Botox blocks the chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. When the muscles can’t tighten, the skin flattens and appears smoother and less wrinkled.
Botox treatments last for about 4 months and, during that time, because you cannot contract the muscles relaxed by the Botox, you tend to stop using those muscles, and the wrinkles slowly disappear.  Although the Botox wears off over time, repeated treatments show lengthening effects - probably because you stop using the muscles that caused your wrinkles.

How are Botox injections done?

A doctor uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of Botox into specific muscles. By carefully choosing the muscles to treat, the doctor weakens only the wrinkle-producing muscles to preserve your natural facial expressions.
The number of injections needed depends on your facial features, the extent and type of the wrinkling. For example, crow’s-feet usually require two to five injections. Furrows in your forehead could take eight or more injections.
Botox injections take about 10 to 15 minutes and are usually done in a doctor’s office. You may experience mild pain with the injections, but most people find the discomfort tolerable. The procedure requires no anesthesia.

What can you expect after the procedure?
Botox injections require no downtime; you can resume your normal daily activities immediately. You may have headaches for a few hours after the treatment. Take care, though, not to rub or massage the treated areas. This can cause the toxin to migrate to a different area of your face. If this happens, temporary facial weakness or drooping is possible.
You’ll notice results within a few days, but the full effect takes about two weeks. Results aren’t permanent, however. Once the Botox has taken effect, it takes three to six months for the affected muscles to begin functioning again. So to maintain your look, you need follow-up injections every few months.

What are the side effects of Botox?
Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. But side effects and complications can occur. These include:

• Pain and bruising at the injection site
• Redness
• Headache
• Flu-like symptoms
• Nausea
• Temporary facial weakness or drooping

Botox must only be used under a doctor’s care. It can be very dangerous if it’s administered incorrectly. Look for a doctor who is board certified in dermatology, ears, nose and throat (otolaryngology), or plastic surgery. Make sure the doctor has experience with Botox treatments. A skilled and properly certified doctor can advise you on the procedure and can help determine if it best suits your needs and health.

A final word

There are multiple botulinum toxin treatments available under different brand names. They are not identical, containing different levels of protein with different antibody formation responses. It is best to use the lowest level of protein with the lowest antibody response to minimize any complications from your immune system.  Discuss the exact brand with your doctor.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 14th, 2006 at 2:51 am and is filed under Health, Beauty Tips, Beauty, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.