The use of botulinum rejuvenation for cosmetic purposes has increased dramatically over the past few years as more people realize that achieving a fresh, youthful appearance is safe and convenient.
Pioneered for cosmetic use in 1987, botulinum toxin is a purified form of one of the world’s most poisonous substances. It is produced by a bacterium, clostridium botulinum and infection with this bacterium is the cause of botulism. However, when carefully injected by cosmetic surgeons in very low doses, botulinum toxin “type a” is a modern tool that can reduce the signs of aging.
In its natural form the toxin’s effects are much different than the positive medicinal and cosmetic potentials it has in its purified form. Purified botulinum toxin is the first bacterial toxin to be used as a medicine. Doctors first used botulinum toxin for health conditions and as a muscle relaxant to treat many muscle disorders (E.g. lazy eye and uncontrolled blinking) before realizing its cosmetic potential.
The BOTOX Procedure
Botox® is the trade name of botulinum toxin “type a”. Botox® rejuvenation is a simple procedure in which cosmetic surgeons carefully inject a low dose of toxin into an individual’s facial muscles, causing temporary relaxation of the injected muscles.
Cosmetic uses for Botox® include treating common signs of aging with botox injections, such as, the horizontal lines on the forehead, vertical lines between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose, fine lines or crows feet at the corners of the eyes and the muscle bands often visible on the neck – otherwise known as “turkey neck”. Botox® is an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure since it is non-invasive and features practically no recovery time.
During the botox injections, which takes only minutes, small doses of Botox® are injected into affected muscles. Botox® binds to the nerve endings; blocking the release of the chemical acetylcholine and hindering signals for the muscle to contract. Botox® then paralyzes or weakens the injected muscle and leaves surrounding muscles unaffected.
The muscle then relaxes, creating a smooth surface that lasts about three to four months before the muscle recovers its original strength.
Even after the original effects of Botox® are gone the lines that are left behind are not as deep and don’t return to their original severity.
Ideal candidates for Botox® injections are young to middle age men and women who do not have significant sun damage but want to eliminate lines and wrinkles on their face and neck. They have realistic expectations of cosmetic procedures and generally are satisfied having a procedure that might have to be repeated every three or four months in order to maintain results. Botox® can also be combined with other plastic surgery procedures to enhance outcomes.
It is recommended that patients who anticipate having Botox® rejuvenation treatments avoid taking any kind of aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medications before their treatments because these medications can cause patients to bleed and bruise more easily.
To ensure patients can avoid potential hazards and achieve optimum results Botox® injections are performed in the comfort and privacy of our Centre by trained and experienced medical professionals. This is one of the many cosmetic injectables procedures available at 1 Cosmetic Surgery Center. Our trained plastic surgery surgeons will review your expectations and recommend the best procedure for your individual needs.
Is it safe?
Even though botulinum toxin is a highly dangerous, life-threatening substance, in small doses is pretty much harmless. Therefore, when it comes to the reduction of fine lines, Botox is considered safe. In fact, there have been only 36 cases of side-effects linked to this substance.
Having that in mind, a lot of doctors believe that cosmetic application carries less risks than a therapeutic one since the doses are usually quite small.
One research in 2005 found that side-effects are more likely to appear with therapeutic use. This is mostly because higher doses are required to treat some conditions.
However, just in case, always choose a certified dermatologist or a plastic surgeon for Botox injections. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should skip the Botox then.
What are the side-effects
Although Botox is relatively safe, you can still experience minor side-effects. They usually include:
Headache
Pain, bruising, and swelling
Chills
Fever
Keep in mind that some side-effects are directly linked to the area of injection. For example, if you were injected around the eye area, then you might experience:
Uneven eyebrows
Dropping eyelids
Excessive tearing
Dry eyes
Injection around mouth might cause you to have a crooked smile. But, all these side-effects are temporary, and they will fade in a few days.
Long-term effects
All Botox effects are temporary, and they will last approximately six months; therefore, the majority of people repeat this procedure over time. However, when it comes to long-term effects, we still have limited information.
But, one study included 45 patients who received Botox injections over 12 years. During that time, there have been a couple of cases with the same side-effects. They included:
Dropping eyelids
Difficulty swallowing
Vomiting
Neck weakness
Blurred vision
Difficulty speaking
Edema
