What is BOTOX that I keep hearing about? What exactly does it do, and how does it work?
BOTOX is one of the popular trade names for botulinum toxin, a protein used for one of the most commonly used cosmetic procedures. BOTOX temporarily reduces or removes wrinkles in the upper face. It is also used to treat hyperhidrosis or excess sweating. Since 2002, the FDA has approved its use to treat moderate to severe frown lines and has become a popular procedure as it is convenient requiring almost no recovery time, and it isn’t as invasive or intrusive as a cosmetic procedure which involves surgery and carries a higher risk of complications.
What are the advantages of BOTOX?
The flexibility and lower recovery time make BOTOX a more comforting prospect for many patients who want to reduce their wrinkles. As the toxin is metabolized over time by the body, the effects are not permanent. The effects of BOTOX can last from four to eight months. This timeline can be both an advantage and a drawback. The advantage is that any unsatisfactory result or unintended effect that the patient did not anticipate is only temporary. The corresponding disadvantage is that it is temporary-re-treatment will be necessary to maintain the same appearance, and the costs of the treatment can add up over time.
How does BOTOX work, and is it safe?
BOTOX is a neurotoxin that has the effect of freezing the muscles. They are used in minuscule quantities so that only the muscles in the injected site are affected. Many wrinkles that develop in the upper part of the face such as frown lines and forehead lines are primarily the result of muscle use and contraction. These types of wrinkles are progressive; they begin with minor wrinkling when the muscles are used when making an expression, but slowly become deeper and permanent, with age. BOTOX, which weakens the muscles that cause the wrinkles, is thus a great solution to these advanced wrinkles which no longer fade away. While botulinum toxin is a potentially dangerous neurotoxin in nature, its use in cosmetic dermatology has an excellent safety record.
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