| What Creates a Wrinkle? Many wrinkles are actually creases that have been worn into the skin by making the same expression thousands of times. These “expression lines”, often called frown lines or crow’s feet, are due to the contraction of a muscle under the skin in that area. We have known for years that surgically cutting those muscles will improve the wrinkle.
What is Botox?
Botox is a purified protein toxin produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Although Botox is a toxin, there have been no serious side effects. This is because it is used in extremely small amounts in the muscle only and does not spread throughout the body.
How is Botox Used?
A few drops of Botox are injected with a tiny needle into the muscle that creates a wrinkle. When Botox is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve impulse from reaching that area and, as a result, the muscle weakens. As the muscle weakens, the skin overlying the muscle relaxes and the wrinkles in the skin gradually soften and disappear.
Does a Botox Injection Hurt?
When Botox is injected, there is minor stinging for a few seconds. Once the injection is complete, there is usually no discomfort and temporary redness and swelling at the injection sites mild redness in the injected site.
Where Can Botox Be Injected?
The most common areas for the use of Botox are the frown lines between the eyebrows, the horizontal forehead lines, and crow’s feet. Botox may also be used in the neck to improve the appearance of jaw or in the palms or underarms to reduce sweating. Botox is not typically used for wrinkles around the mouth.
Does Botox Affect Other Facial Expressions or Create Numbness?
Botox doesn’t affect the nerve, so there is no numbness in the area of the injection. Also, the effect of the Botox is only in the immediate area of the injection. Therefore, the muscles related to other expressions are unaffected.
How Long Does a Botox Treatment Last?
The effects of Botox usually last from three to six months, at which another injection is required. After several treatments, the effects of Botox may begin to last longer, sometimes up to six or eight months.
How Safe is Botox?
Botox has been used safely and successfully in ophthalmology for over 10 years and for wrinkle therapy for over 6 years. In the amounts used for wrinkle therapy, the only possible side effects are temporary and localized to the area of injection.
Is The Treatment For Everyone?
There are very few restrictions regarding Botox treatments. Patients who are pregnant, are nursing, or have a neurologic disease should not be treated. |
