Botox

Botox: While dermatologists have many ways to treat the telltale signs of facial aging, one of the most popular approaches is to temporarily "disable" the muscles that cause wrinkles by injecting botulinum toxin, or botox.

Using this toxin, dermatologists are able to quickly, easily and safely rid men and women of lines that can make them appear older - and even angrier - than they feel.

Facial wrinkles can be classified into two types, those resulting from sun damage and the natural aging process of the skin and those wrinkles produced by lifelong contraction of facial muscles, which are also made more apparent in sun damaged skin, also called muscular lines.

Muscular lines disappear when the muscle that produces them is rendered inactive or weakened by a muscular blocking agent like botox – which typically occurs a few days following the procedure.

By eliminating the excessive muscular pull, the surface of the skin stretches out and the wrinkle disappears.

Pioneered for cosmetic use in 1987 by dermatologists, botox 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.

The toxin’s effects in its natural form 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 botox for health conditions and as a muscle relaxant to treat many muscle disorders, such as lazy eye and uncontrolled blinking, before realizing its cosmetic potential.

They discovered that when injecting the toxin into the muscles surrounding the eyes, the wrinkles in the skin covering that muscle would disappear.

Today, cosmetic uses for botox include treating the vertical lines between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose; squint lines or crows feet at the corners of the eyes; forehead horizontal lines; and the muscle bands often visible on the neck, commonly known as "turkey neck."

During the procedure, which takes only minutes, small doses of botox are injected into affected muscles.

The toxin binds to the nerve endings, blocking the release of the chemical acetylcholine, which would otherwise signal the muscle to contract.

The toxin then paralyzes or weakens the injected muscle, leaving surrounding muscles unaffected.

After injection, the muscle relaxes, creating a smooth surface that lasts about three to four months before the muscle recovers its original strength.

Even after the actual effects of botulinum toxin are gone, the lines that are left behind are not as deep and don’t return to their original severity.

Botox exerts its effect almost instantly after being injected into the muscle.

Still, the optimal cosmetic result is achieved only after about five to seven days when the muscles become completely paralyzed as the toxin spreads and becomes absorbed by the muscles.

The 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 generally do not want to endure the "downtime" necessary for many cosmetic surgical procedures, and 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 cosmetic procedures to enhance outcomes.

In general, botulinum toxin treatments are safe.

Only occasionally, there are side effects, such as allergic reactions, been reported.

The most common side effects are related to the procedure itself and include local redness, swelling and mild pain.

In some patients, bruising can last up to five days.

Another reported side effect is temporary drooping of the eye after injecting botox into the muscles around the eyes.

Dermatologists recommend that patients who anticipate having botox 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.

Patients can avoid potential pitfalls and achieve optimum results by having experienced medical professionals, such as dermatologists, administer the procedure in clinical environments.

Unfortunately, the nonsurgical approach to anti-aging has created a revenue source for inexperienced, under qualified practitioners.

In some cases, the concept has been sold to people in party-like atmospheres complete with alcoholic beverages.

Injections of botulinum toxin are first and foremost a medical procedure and patients are compromising their safety by having it performed in an inappropriate setting by untrained, non-medical professionals.

Botulinum toxin treatments that are being performed in casual social settings, often referred to as ‘Botox® parties,’ rather than in a controlled medical environment contradict the seriousness of this medical procedure.

It’s ironic that people who wouldn’t go to a party to have their hair colored would even think of having a medical procedure done in such a setting.

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