|
| |
Botulinum toxin injections, or as known by its trade name, Botox, is a very popular cosmetic treatment and is used for a variety of purposes such as
fighting wrinkles and lines.
|
Please note that we are not involved in any way with cosmetic surgery, or any procedures like Botox injections, but are manufacturers of skin care products, but include these information pages on our website for the interest of our visitors, since it also deals with looking good in the broadest context. |
On this page
Botox was developed and approved by the FDA to treat two types of eye disorders (blepharospasm and strabismus) and later to treat cervical dystonia, which is a neurological disorder causing severe neck and shoulder contractions.
The botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle that controls and forms the deep vertical lines in your forehead and the scowl lines between your eyes. Although it is claimed that the injection will keep the muscle relaxed for up to four months, people have reported that the muscle in question returned to normal activity much sooner.
Since Botox prevents the muscle from contracting the results can be amazing, and some lines seem to disappear leaving the face with a far more relaxed look.
Botox is not indicated for people under 18 years or older than 65 and is administered through small injections into the muscles of your face. Local anesthetic is not normally used and the pain is that of a pinprick.
Your plastic surgeon needs to reconstitute the Botox before injection, and should not add more than 4 cc of sterile saline to the vial, since it would result in a diluted and less effective solution. A vial contains 100 units of Botox and about 15 units should be used in scowl lines and 20 units for your forehead or upper lip.
If Botox is injected too close to your upper eyelids, temporary eyelid droop may appear but allergic reactions do not often appear with the use of Botox.
Should the Botox injection not achieve the desired effect, wait at least 7 days before re-injecting the same site, as it does take some time for Botox to have its full effect on the muscle/s in question.
Some individuals have a small amount of bruising after Botox injections and it may therefore be a wise precaution not to have it done at least 4 days before an important appointment.
There is really no recovery time, and you can face the public eye as soon as the injections have been delivered. Slight swelling and redness may occur, but not to such an extent that it will be unsightly.
The effects of Botox are NOT permanent and repeated injections will NOT make the muscle less active. Repeated injections may in actual fact cause the muscle to respond less and less to injections and more units may be required to achieve the same results.
You may find some information that suggests that repeated Botox injections into the same muscle will cause it to "thin" and that it would result in fewer injections, spaced further and further apart, but that is simply not the case.
- Safety of Botox injections
- Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers are advised not to have Botox injections since it has not been established if Botox has any effect on the fetus or if it can be found in breast milk.
- Botox injections are also contraindicated in the presence of infection at the injection site and patients with neuromuscular disorders may be at an increased risk of clinically significant side effects including severe dysphagia and respiratory compromise from typical Botox doses for cosmetic use.
- Headaches after having Botox injections are not uncommon and some people experience nausea.
- Warning regarding Botox parties:
- Visitors to this site are warned not to participate in "Botox parties" where untrained people inject each other in non-clinical conditions.
- Botox is a drug and should only be administered by qualified medical personnel, and preferably a plastic surgeon or dermatologist that is very well versed and skilled in injecting the correct amount into the correct muscle or muscle groups.
- Alternative to Botox
- A new acetyl hexapeptide cream has been developed that also interferes with facial muscle contraction, and is another viable option to look at. To read more on Crème de Vie, manufactured by Rex, Rafferty & Argent Cosmeceuticals, please click here.
| |
|
