Botox - Minimally Invasive Wrinkle Reducer
Botox is a very popular wrinkle reduction injection that is used by millions of people around the world. It is best known to be used to diminish frown lines, crow’s feet, and get rid of neck bands. The injection was approved by the FDA in 1989 for non-cosmetic use but was recently approved for cosmetic use by the FDA in 2002. The reason that Botox works, unlike fillers and other treatments, is because the chemical in it is technically a toxin known as botulinum toxin A. This is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, which is commonly known to cause botulism, a form of food poisoning. However, the amount of toxins that your body receives when it becomes paralyzed from botulism is multiplied many times compared to what you receive from Botox treatment.
Botox treatment takes a minute portion of this toxin and injects it into the skin, causing the muscles to become paralyzed. This inherently eliminates fine lines, wrinkles, and other facial blemishes simply because the muscles cannot move to produce them anymore. The non-cosmetic form of this treatment is often used to eliminate muscle spasms that are involuntary, and was originally tested in the 1960s to treat crossed eyes. On a cosmetic level, the amount of toxin that a person is injected with is very minimal and safe, and only serves to paralyze the muscles that are in the treated area for a period of time.
In most cases, patients will need re-treatment every 6 to 9 months depending on the amount of treatment that they get and how many areas are treated. It is essential that patients understand that the use of Botox is not a permanent solution but a temporary relief from facial lines and wrinkles. Some side effects include bruising, nausea, neck pain, headache, trouble swallowing, and upper respiratory infection. However, these only occur in the most severe cases and the majority of people receive treatment with no negative effects.
Botox have had different reactions to different treatments, so it should be known that your body’s response might not be the same over time. For instance, you may build up antibodies over time, rendering the toxin useless because your body knows how to defend against it. All in all, for most who use the treatment, it is effective in providing temporary wrinkle relief. It is also one of the most affordable treatments available, and can be administered in a few minutes with no recovery period.