Whether you’re battling pesky wrinkles or a medical condition that requires muscle relaxation, you may benefit from botox. But before you decide to get the procedure, ask your doctor questions.
This treatment blocks nerve signals that make muscles contract. It smooths creases around the eyes and between the eyebrows, and it can also slow the formation of new lines. Contact Botox San Diego now!
Botox is an injection that uses a toxin to prevent a muscle from moving for a short time. It’s used to smooth wrinkles, and it is also approved to treat certain medical conditions like neck spasms, overactive bladder, and lazy eye (strabismus). Botox Cosmetic and its relatives are called neuromodulators. They’re made from a protein found in your body called botulinum toxin type A. Different brands use slightly different versions of this protein, and they may also have added proteins that affect how the medicine works.
When injected into the muscles, botulinum toxin blocks nerve signals that make your muscles contract. This relaxes the muscles, which helps reduce or eliminate unwanted wrinkles. Botox injections are a quick and simple procedure that can be done right in your doctor’s office. Your doctor may rub an anesthetic cream or ice on the treatment area to help numb it. Then he or she will inject the medicine into specific facial muscles. The entire treatment takes only a few minutes and doesn’t require general anesthesia.
You shouldn’t get Botox injections from more than one medical professional at a time, and you should wait a month between treatments to avoid the development of antibodies to the medicine. Using the same botulinum toxin more often than prescribed can reduce its effectiveness and lead to serious side effects.
Botox can cause side effects, such as bruising, a headache, and eyelid drooping (ptosis). Tell your doctor or health care provider if you have any of these problems. Also tell them about any other medicines you’re taking, especially those that prevent blood clots (aspirin, alteplase, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, ticlopidine), and vitamins or supplements. These can affect how well the medicine works.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox works by blocking certain chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract. It has been used cosmetically for decades and is considered safe for most people. But doctors should not use it on people with immunosuppressive medications or neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, if they have an infection near the injection site, or are breastfeeding.
Doctors dilute botulinum toxin powder in saline and inject it into targeted muscle areas. Unlike other fillers, it does not need to be massaged into place; it takes effect almost immediately. The results last about three to twelve months. After that, the effects begin to wear off. Treatments are typically repeated every three to four months to maintain the effect.
Some doctors also use it to treat neck spasms and other medical conditions that affect the neuromuscular system, such as blepharospasms (uncontrollable blinking) and some types of migraine. However, more research is needed to prove that it is safe and effective for these off-label uses.
Some patients report side effects including pain or bruising at the injection site; headache; flu-like symptoms; weakness in the neck, shoulders and arms; and temporary eyelid drooping and eyebrow weakness. The injections can weaken or paralyze the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles, causing them to become thinner and less noticeable. Some experts say this effect is reversible, but others are concerned that muscle atrophy could cause an unnatural or “frozen” appearance in the face. Some doctors warn that if people get too many injections, their muscles could train themselves to contract less often, so they would require the injections more and more frequently in the future. That could lead to a need for more frequent treatments, which can increase the risk of side effects and complications.
How Long Does Botox Last?
The results from Botox can last up to 3 – 6 months. It is recommended that you schedule follow-up appointments at appropriate intervals in order to maintain your results. It’s important to choose a highly-skilled injector who understands the anatomy of your face and provides the ideal dosage of Botox for maximum results and longevity. Avoiding excessive facial movements such as squinting and frowning will also help your results to last longer.
It is also recommended that you do not rub or massage the injected areas as this may cause the botulinum toxin to spread to other areas of your face and diffuse its potency and effectiveness. Similarly, you should not lay down for several hours following your treatment as this can also cause the toxins to spread and lose their effect.
Despite being a temporary solution, Botox is an excellent option for softening and relaxing dynamic wrinkles that can create a negative impact on your appearance. The best part is that regular follow-up treatments will not only prevent your wrinkles and lines from returning, but will also increase the longevity of your results.
Currently, the popularity of neuromodulator injections such as Botox, Dysport and Xeomin is higher than ever. These non-invasive treatments use the natural molecule botulinum toxin to relax muscles and prevent them from contracting, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles that can give away your age. These injectables have become a staple of cosmetic procedures and can be combined with other procedures such as facelifts and brow lifts for a more dramatic rejuvenation. For more information, speak to your doctor today.
What Are the Side Effects of Botox?
When Botox is administered by an experienced doctor or nurse, it is a safe treatment. However, like any medical procedure, it can have side effects. Most of these are mild, but if you do experience complications, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
The most common Botox side effect is pain at the injection site. This typically occurs when the needle pierces the skin and can be relieved with a cold compress or numbing cream. Some patients also report a slight stinging feeling during the injections. This discomfort usually subsides within a few hours.
A less common side effect is bruising and redness around the injection sites. This can be reduced by avoiding certain medications and supplements, including blood thinners and NSAIDs, for several days before the treatment.
Other possible Botox side effects include headaches; urinary retention; neck pain or spasms, called cervical dystonia; eye problems such as double vision, blurred eyesight, or decreased eyesight; and drooping of the eyelids or eyebrows. It is very important to tell your doctor or surgeon about any allergies or sensitivities you may have to any of the ingredients in the Botox formula. This can help avoid an allergic reaction, which is rare but serious and can lead to death.
A very rare but dangerous side effect of Botox is the spread of the toxin to areas away from the injection site. This can cause symptoms such as loss of strength and general muscle weakness, change or loss of voice, breathing difficulties, and difficulty swallowing. This usually happens if larger doses of Botox are used or if the injections are done into cervical muscles. It can also occur if the Botox is mixed with other substances.
Is Botox Right for Me?
The best way to know if botox is right for you is to schedule an appointment with a qualified cosmetic specialist who can show you the results from previous clients and explain what to expect during the injection process. For example, if you are a young woman in your 20s and want to reduce the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles, it is recommended that you get botox before these lines become deeply set in place. It is also important to remember that botox can only treat dynamic wrinkles – the ones caused by movement of facial muscles, such as frown lines or forehead lines. It cannot reduce static wrinkles that result from loss of elasticity or volume, such as the marionette lines, nasolabial folds or smile lines.
Botox is safe for most people, but you should not receive it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neurological condition or are allergic to cow’s milk protein. It is also a good idea to avoid this treatment if you are actively taking certain medications or supplements.
A trained professional can make the procedure very comfortable and pain-free. Akkina explains that she typically cleanses the skin, then applies a topical numbing agent or ice to minimize discomfort. She then injects the botox into the targeted area, using a thin needle. Once the botox is in place, she recommends avoiding massage or heavy physical activity for 24 hours to prevent the medication from spreading to other muscles. She advises patients to come in for regular treatments, which are usually spaced about three months apart. This will help the paralysis to wear off more quickly and maintain the results for longer periods of time.