Cosmetology

What is Botox

Botox is a drug made from a toxin called bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Although it is a toxin, when used in small quantities by medical professionals, it is a safe and effective treatment option for various aesthetic issues. It is available under various brand names, but Botox is the accepted generic term for these treatments because it was the first one to become well known and widely used.

When injected into the skin, Botox blocks the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles. This means that the muscles cannot contract. When the muscles are relaxed, so too are the wrinkles that become soft and significantly fade away. While Botox has many well established medical uses, including providing relief from chronic migraine pain, it is best known for its cosmetic applications.

Botox treatments use almost painless injection into the skin to ensure that it reaches the desired facial muscles. The number of injections will depend on the area to be treated. This is an outpatient procedure so no hospital stay is required and there is almost no downtime or recovery period.

Botox for Scar Reduction

Acne is a common problem that almost everyone goes through during puberty, although it may appear at younger or older ages. In most cases, the condition improves with time and gradually fades away once puberty is over. While acne goes away on its own, it often leaves behind scars and skin blemishes. These scars, along with those from accidents, injuries and even surgical procedures can have a huge negative effect on a person’s self confidence about their appearance. This is not just a cosmetic problem, feeling self-conscious about one's appearance affects your ability to interact with others and to function effectively in social, professional and family environments and the ability to develop strong personal relationships.

Botox is the most effective way to reduce the appearance of scars and the disfigurement they cause. When an acne pimple is disturbed or becomes infected because of being touched or popped, the resulting inflammation results in the skin developing a scar that remains after the acne has gone. The scar is the result of the damaged skin around the inflamed area being pulled and stretched. Tension causes increased scarring from wounds. That is why a cut on the knee will have a bigger and deeper scar than the same sized cut on the arm. The constant flexing of the knee causes increased scarring. The muscles of the face are constantly moving, even though you may not know it. That is why acne and other facial scarring occur.

Botox disrupts the nerve signals to the facial muscles, so they do not keep moving. This relaxation means that the scarring is significantly reduced. In some cases the use of dermal fillers may be required to complete the damage repair. Your doctor will discuss with you the full course of treatment and the expected results after completing an examination of the scarring condition. The number of Botox injections and how many treatments will be required will depend on the severity of the scarring issue.

Botox Injections for Wrinkles

Botox is an effective way to reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. Facial wrinkles are caused by the constant flexing of the muscles of the face. Over time, as the elasticity of the skin reduces, it loses its ability to contract after muscles make it expand. The facial muscles are constantly moving, even though you may not realize it. In time the loss of flexibility leads to the skin becoming loose and developing folds (wrinkles) when the underlying muscles relax and the stretching tension goes away. While muscles in any part of the face can be treated with Botox, the most common areas are the wrinkles between the eyebrows, the fine lines around the eyes (crow’s feet) and the laugh lines around the mouth and on the cheeks.

Besides reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the face, Botox can also prevent/reduce the appearance of new wrinkles by restricting the contraction of the facial muscles.

Botox injections for wrinkles are an outpatient procedure, so you will be able to return home after the treatment is over. The only normal side effect is slight bruising or discomfort in the treated area. This will fade away in one or two days. Your doctor will advise you of any precautions you may need to take in the days immediately following the procedure. You will notice the improvement in the wrinkles in one or two days after the completion of the treatment. Additional future treatments may be required to maintain the results. Your doctor will tell you about this.

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