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Botox

Home Dermatology Clinic Botox

What is Botox?

Botox® is one of the most widely known brands of botulinum toxin injections. Botulinum toxins are neurotoxins that affect nerves and cause muscle weakening. You might get a botulinum toxin injection for cosmetic or medical reasons. Healthcare providers inject small amounts of Botox into specific muscles to smooth wrinkles, prevent migraine headaches and treat a wide range of other health conditions.

Botox injections are noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. They’re also used to treat conditions such as neck spasms (cervical dystonia), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), an overactive bladder and lazy eye. Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines.

Facial Botox

Why it's done

Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. Botox injections are also used to treat conditions that affect how the body functions. Examples include:

  • Cervical dystonia.In this painful condition, your neck muscles contract involuntarily causing your head to twist or turn into an uncomfortable position.
  • Lazy eye.The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles responsible for positioning the eye.
  • Muscle contractures.Some neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can cause your limbs to pull in toward your center. In some cases, these contracted muscles can be relaxed with Botox injections.
  • In this condition, excessive sweating occurs even when the temperature isn’t hot and you’re not exerting yourself.
  • Chronic migraine.If you experience migraines more than 15 days a month, Botox injections may help reduce headache frequency.
  • Bladder dysfunction.Botox injections can also help reduce urinary incontinence caused by an overactive bladder.
  • Eye twitching.Botox injections may help relieve contracture or twitching of muscles around the eye.

What cosmetic conditions can be treated with Botox?

Botox cosmetic injections are used to address signs of aging. This treatment can smooth fine lines and wrinkles in several areas of your face, including your:

  • Eyebrows.
  • Forehead.
  • Nose.
  • Eyes (crow’s feet).
  • Lips.
  • Chin.
  • Jawline.
  • Neck.
facial botox

Risks

Botox injections are relatively safe when performed by an experienced doctor. Possible side effects and complications include:

  • Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site
  • Headache or flu-like symptoms
  • Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows
  • Crooked smile or drooling
  • Eye dryness or excessive tearing

Although very unlikely, it’s possible for the toxin in the injection to spread in your body. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these effects hours to weeks after receiving Botox:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Vision problems
  • Trouble speaking or swallowing
  • Breathing problems
  • Loss of bladder control

Doctors generally recommend against using Botox when you’re pregnant or breast-feeding. And Botox should not be used in people who are allergic to cow’s milk protein.

Can Botox help reduce pain?

Yes. Many healthcare providers recommend Botox for pain management. Botox blocks nerve signals that control muscle activity, resulting in relaxation and pain relief.

Select your doctor carefully

Botox must be used only under a doctor’s care. It’s important that injections be placed precisely in order to avoid side effects. Botox therapy can be dangerous if it’s administered incorrectly. Ask for a referral from your primary care doctor or look for a doctor who specializes in your condition and who has experience in administering Botox treatments.

A skilled and properly certified doctor can advise you on the procedure and help determine if it best suits your needs and health.

How you prepare?

Tell your doctor if you’ve had any type of Botox injection within the past four months. Also tell your doctor if you take muscle relaxants, sleeping aids or allergy medications. If you take blood thinners, you may need to stop taking them several days before your injection to reduce your risk of bleeding or bruising.

What you can expect

Before the procedure
Most people don’t feel much discomfort during the procedure. But you may want your skin numbed beforehand, especially if your palms or soles are being treated for excessive sweating. Your doctor might use one or more of various methods available to numb the area, such as topical anesthesia, ice and vibration anesthesia, which uses massage to reduce discomfort.

During the procedure
Botox injections are usually performed in a doctor’s office. Your doctor uses a thin needle to inject tiny amounts of botulinum toxin into your skin or muscles. The number of injections needed depends on many factors, including the extent of the area being treated.

After the procedure
Do not rub or massage the treated areas for 24 hours. This may help prevent the toxin from spreading to a different area. You can return to your normal activities right after the procedure.

Results

Botox injections usually begin working one to three days after treatment. Depending on the problem being treated, the effect may last three months or longer. To maintain the effect, you’ll need regular follow-up injections.

Botox is generally safe when administered by a licensed healthcare provider. Ask your medical team if Botox injections are right for you.

Botox is safe to use long term, and you can stop using it at any time without your skin looking worse than it did before you started Botox. When used for cosmetic purposes, medical insurance does not cover Botox treatments. Botox injections use forms of botulinum toxin to paralyze muscle activity temporarily

Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes

After Botox treatment, most people notice the desired effects around the third or fourth day. Full results will be visible within 10 to 14 days.

Botox injections aren’t likely to harm your baby. Still, most healthcare providers recommend waiting until after you’ve given birth to undergo treatment.