Wrinkles and lines are an inevitable part of the aging process. But if you take steps to minimize them, they can look less pronounced and make you appear younger. Injections of a special botulinum toxin known as BOTOX can temporarily reduce or eliminate frown lines and crow’s feet on the forehead and around the eyes. The treatment also can be used to diminish thick bands in the neck, gummy smiles or other facial features that are overly pronounced.
The botulinum toxin in BOTOX works by blocking nerve activity and causing the muscles that contract to relax. It is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments without surgery today. It is administered more than six million times a year.
In addition to cosmetic uses, the FDA has approved BOTOX injections for medical conditions such as spasticity in people with certain neurologic disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS). The medication can help decrease the frequency and severity of headaches in some migraine sufferers and is used to treat severe sweating under the arms (axillary hyperhidrosis) in some adults.
Before BOTOX treatment, the injector 413 Medical Aesthetics botox will mark the sites for injection and apply a topical anesthetic to minimize discomfort. Then the injector will inject BOTOX into the target areas, which takes only about 15 minutes. You should begin to see a difference in the area after the first injections, and the results will continue developing over the next few days.
BOTOX results usually last about three to six months before the effects wear off, but they can be maintained with regular follow-up sessions. You should avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas to prevent the toxin from spreading into unintended areas. It is also important to inform your doctor of any activities that can increase the risk of bleeding, such as taking blood-thinning medications; having a recent surgery, including dental work; having an infection at the planned injection site; having weakness of the forehead muscles; or having a tendency to have bleeding problems or a drooping eyelid.
BOTOX is not suitable for everyone. It should not be given to children under 18 years of age, and it should not be used for the treatment of chronic migraine headaches or muscle spasticity due to neurologic disorders. Adults who have urinary incontinence caused by nerve damage and are not using clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) should not receive BOTOX injections for this condition, as the medication has been shown to cause bladder retention in some patients.