Botox is a cosmetic skin rejuvenation treatment that restores a relaxed, youthful appearance to the skin by reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Injectable Botox is used to add volume to areas of the face that have become wrinkled due to underlying muscle contractions over time. It is a quick, painless, and highly effective procedure that smooths and refreshes skin on areas like the forehead, around the lips, between the eyebrows, beneath the chin, and crow’s feet around the eyes. It is a temporary solution that produces results that can last up to 3 to 4 months before a follow-up session will be required.
What is Botox?
Botox is a medical compound produced from a botulinum toxin commonly used to treat certain muscular conditions. It is also used cosmetically to temporarily paralyze facial muscles that relax the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Botulinum toxin, a neurotoxic protein, is produced by the species bacterium Clostridium botulinum that causes flaccid paralysis by preventing the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from the axon endings located at the neuromuscular junction. This is also the toxin that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning that can be life-threatening. Cosmetic surgeons use it in small doses to temporarily reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles in adults.
Is Botox Treatment Safe to Use?
Botulinum Toxin Facials have become highly popular as a cosmetic treatment to help erase frown lines and reduce facial wrinkles, primarily around the eyes and mouth. Botulinum toxin has been approved by the FDA as a safe ingredient for cosmetic use. In the past 10 years it has become one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures and its use is supported by a long and impressive safety record. Botox should only be performed at a registered physician’s office by a trained and experienced medical practitioner with intimate knowledge of the anatomy and structure of the face as well as the aesthetic implications of proper placement of the injectable solution. The final results are highly dependent upon the qualifications and experience of a practitioner who practices the injection of Botulinum toxin on a regular basis. Since 1988 Botulinum toxin has been used worldwide in millions of cosmetic procedures and has been proven to be safe if administered by a qualified medical professional.
Botulinum toxin should not be used by women who are pregnant or suspect they may be pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
The Benefits of Botox Injections
The most common benefits for patients who choose to have Botox treatment is to help minimize the appearance of wrinkles in the following problem areas:
Frown lines between the eyebrows
Crow’s feet around the outside corners of the eye area
Deep creases across the forehead
Lines around the neck and below the chin
Botulinum toxin may also be effective at counteracting excessive perspiration in the underarms and sweating of the palms and soles of the feet. The procedure can be performed on its own or used in conjunction with other cosmetic skincare treatments such as Juvederm, Dysport, Restalyne, or Radiesse. Botox can also be combined with other treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or a face, neck, or brow lift. Factors like skin tone, thickness of the skin, and depth of wrinkles will all play a role in the final success of the procedure.
Why Do Women Use Botox Treatments?
The quest for prolonging youth is something women have battled with for centuries. People have always looked for ways to reduce wrinkles by ingesting potions and powders, rubbing things into the skin like acid and animal blood, or trying to stretch the skin with tape and thread.
Today, Botox treatments are far more acceptable as a cosmetic treatment than it was a few years ago. Some people argue that older women who use injectable medicine to reduce the signs of aging are shallow and desperately trying to cling to youth. However, this has not deterred a growing number of women from turning to Botox as an anti-aging wonder drug to temporarily erase wrinkles. 60% of users are between the ages of 45 and 54, however, a number of younger women are now using Botox as a deterrent to help prevent the development of facial wrinkles as long as possible.
Women who prefer to steer clear of cosmetic surgery to get rid of their wrinkles can safely use this new aesthetic Botox procedure that works without visibly wounding the skin. Known as the ‘Liquid Face Lift’, Botox is a facial contouring procedure that strategically injects botulinum toxin as dermal fillers to create a younger, more youthful, and plumper face. It temporarily addresses concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, sagging, and volume loss in facial skin. It is a much more subtle approach to the problem of eradicating wrinkles than a traditional facelift procedure.
How Does Botox help Women Feel and Look Younger
How you are perceived by people is significantly influenced by your facial expression. Research has revealed overwhelming proof that attractive individuals receive better treatment and fewer judgments from others. Recent research by a US doctor has revealed that Botox can have a positive impact on first impressions.
The Botox Procedure
The procedure will be performed in the medical offices of your practitioner. A fine needle is used to inject the solution into specific facial muscles. Locations are carefully selected to ensure maximum results while preserving the natural expressions of the face. Little or no discomfort is experienced and no topical anaesthetic is needed prior to injecting the solution. Depending on the depth of the wrinkles and the number of areas to be treated, the entire procedure takes just a few minutes to perform and can be done during a lunch break.