Botox injections are the most requested non-surgical, cosmetic procedure in the U.S. Safe and effective, Botox can help eliminate wrinkles on the face, chin, neck and upper chest.
Botox injections are the most frequently performed non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
But what is Botox and what does it do?
Botox is the commonly known brand name for a purified preparation derived from a substance called botulinum toxin A. Two other brand names in the field are Dysport and Xeomin.
Botox works by stopping the messages being sent between nerves and muscles. When injected into an area of the body, the specific, targeted muscles in that location no longer move. It’s the power of these injections to weaken overactive muscles that made it an often-used treatment for a variety of medical conditions.
Botox was first used as a medical solution in 1962 in the treatment of muscle spasms. Since then, it has been utilized medically in treating twitching and crossed eyes, excessive blinking, and neck muscle disorders. Medical applications also include hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), prevention of migraines, Bell’s palsy and urinary incontinence.
The use of Botox for cosmetic purposes came as a happy accident when a Canadian ophthalmologist, Dr. Jean Carruthers, noticed her blepharospasm (eye spasms) patients began losing brow wrinkles while under treatment with Botox. She reported that, although the results were temporary, the procedure was simple, safe and effective.
Botox eliminates crows feet wrinkles and softens lines between eyebrows
As soon as the results reported by Dr. Carruthers hit the medical journals in 1992, the use of Botox for cosmetic purposes took off. In fact, the popularity was so high that in 1997, the supply of Botox temporarily ran out.
Since that first discovery of the benefits of Botox in the prevention of brow wrinkles, its cosmetic uses have greatly expanded.
As a beauty “secret” of celebrities, politicians, housewives and executives, Botox is now used for a variety of cosmetic “rejuvenations” including: preventing “crows feet”, softening forehead and frown lines, reducing any lines around the lips, lessening, eliminating, or preventing wrinkles and lines between the eyebrows, and even lifting the position of the eyebrow in a “Botox Browlift”. These injections are now also used to treat wrinkles in the chin, neck and décolletage.
Who is likely to benefit from Botox treatments?
If you are in good physical health and desire an improvement in your facial appearance you are likely a good candidate for this treatment. However, you must not be pregnant or nursing or have any sort of neuromuscular disease.
How effective are Botox injections and how long do the results last?
Botox is highly effective and the results usually last three months.
Is Botox painful?
Botox injections are described by patients as being, “nearly painless”.
Is treatment with Botox safe?
Botox has been injected into patients for both medical and cosmetic reasons millions of times. Correctly used, there are no significant long-term safety risks.
When injected by skilled and experienced hands, Botox injections are virtually painless, fast, safe and effective. This is an excellent treatment, especially for those individuals in search of a non-surgical lift and rejuvenation of the face that takes effect quickly, with no downtime.