What is Botox?

Botox is a nonsurgical therapy that can make a remarkable difference in softening and virtually eliminating deep furrows and wrinkles between your brows, creases on your forehead, and crow’s feet around your eyes. Botox is a medicine that is injected with a very fine needle in the skin with very little or no discomfort to the patient. It is used very safely, simply and effectively. By relaxing the underlying muscles, Botox reduces wrinkles. Botox is a remarkable treatment for dynamic wrinkles resulting from repeated use of facial muscles.
 
How Does The Botox Work?

Botox acts as a nerve impulse blocker. Botox actually prevents wrinkles from appearing by relaxing the underlying muscles so they don’t contract. Botox binds to the nerve endings and blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing your normal facial expression to be unaffected.

What Is The Botox Treatment Like?

Botox therapy is a simple and safe procedure performed by professional doctors. The injection takes just minutes, and there is no significant pain, as they use extremely fine needles. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office. Usually makeup can be reapplied before patients leave the clinic, and normal activities can be resumed immediately after the procedure. Some results from Botox therapy will be seen in the first few hours, but it generally takes one to two weeks for the full effect to become apparent. Botox treatment may be repeated a couple of times a year to maintain the desired effects.

Who Is Suitable For Botox Treatment?

 

Trained and qualified doctors or dentists should only give Botox, and an increasing number of dental practices are now offering facial aesthetics services. Botox is generally a safe and useful treatment, but it may not be suitable for everyone. The doctor or dentist will check your medical history and health to ensure that you are a suitable candidate. It is important that you tell your clinician if you are currently on any medication or recently stopped, you are breastfeeding, have health conditions affecting your muscles or nerves or if you are known to have any allergies.

 

Are There Any Botox Side-Effects?

 

Botox is generally considered to be a very safe procedure, but it is possible for side-effects to occur.

 

These side-effects include:
•    Headaches
•    Flu-like symptoms and generally feeling unwell
•    Nausea (feeling sick)
•    Drooping of the eyelids (this is temporary)
•    Facial pain
•    Eyelid twitching
•    Redness and mild pain at the site of the injections
•    Weakness in the muscles
•    Double vision
•    A squint

 

It is important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you develop any speech problems, difficulty swallowing or breathing difficulties after having Botox treatment.

 

Who Should Avoid Having Botox?

 

Botox is not suitable for everyone, and you should not have Botox injections if you:
•    Have an infection at the planned site of the injection.
•    Are currently pregnant or feel that you may be pregnant.
•    Have allergies to the ingredients found in Botox.
•    If you have a condition that affects your nerves or muscles.
•    If you are currently breastfeeding.

 

You should take care when having Botox treatment:
•    If you have a disorder that increases your risk of bleeding; for example, hemophilia.
•    If you have a history of swallowing difficulties (dysphasia).
•    If you have chronic breathing difficulties.
•    If you have epilepsy.
•    If you have had eye surgery.