- The treatment is used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing the underlying muscles.
- Botox is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment, with more than 6 million treatments given each year.
Botox is used to treat certain muscular conditions by refining facial muscles and can help to remove wrinkles and improve the youthful appearance of your skin. When used correctly, it has a number of safe cosmetic benefits and does not require any discomfort. Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium from which the treatment is derived, is found in many natural environments including soil, lakes, and forests. The bacterium can also be found in the intestinal tracts of mammals and fish, as well as in the gills and organs of certain shellfish. Such naturally occurring instances of Clostridium botulinum bacteria and spores are generally harmless, especially in the small doses administered with our treatments.
Botox is able to be safely administered because it is diluted to a less potent state.The diluted solution is then injected directly into the affected neuromuscular tissue. It takes 24-72 hours for it to take effect, and in very rare circumstances, it may take as long as 5 days for the full effect to be experienced. Botox should not be administered to pregnant or lactating women, nor by people who have had a previous allergic reaction to the drug or any of its ingredients.
How Botox Reduces Wrinkles
Botox is administered by injecting the safe botox solution directly into the affected tissue in extremely small concentrations. It works by preventing signals from the nerve cells reaching muscles, therefore relaxing, tightening, and soothing them and providing more of a tight look and feel. Nerves release a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine to stimulate the contraction of muscles, and when secreted, acetylcholine attaches to receptors on the muscle cells and causes the muscle cells to either contract or shorten. Once botox is introduced, acetylcholine is no longer able to be secreted and carry out its message, resulting in the muscles of the skin tightening.
Botox is one of the most widely used treatments, and for good reason. The toxin results in a condition called botulism, a severe, life-threatening illness, but patients who receive botox have no chance of contracting this because the solution they are receiving is altered and much more diluted. It is a very common treatment for loose skin and wrinkles that is backed by years of scientific research and direct clinical use. The science behind treatments demonstrate the medical value in treating muscle stiffness & spasms with botox, and is proven to be safe from its millions of satisfied participants.
Only about 1% of people who engage in botox treatment develop side effects or antibodies to that make subsequent treatments ineffective. Along with its intended effects, the botox may cause some unwanted effects if you receive too strong of a dosage. These can include:
- Mild pain, local edema and/or reddening of the skin at the injection site.
- Numbness.
- Headache.
- Lethargic feelings.
- Inability to chew, swallow, or breathe.
Botox’s popularity continues to increase, with the minimally-invasive procedures increasing in frequency over 700% since 2000. This dramatic increase shows that its lasting effects make it a viable treatment for anyone who suffers from skin damage or wrinkles. Botox blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and smooth out. Botox can be used on the forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, bunny lines, chin, skin bands on the neck, and around the mouth (for smoker’s lines and wrinkled corners of the mouth). Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity often will not resend to treatment.
Botox is NOT a facial filler – it merely relaxes the muscles that are creating the wrinkles.
Contact the Biotech Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa to get all of your Botox questions answered and schedule your Botox consultation with the expert in beauty, Dr. Trini Vega