What You Need To Know About Botox Injections

Now here is a product that started its life as a rare, paralytic illness called botulin, caused by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. This type of bacteria produces is one of the most powerful known toxins to man and just one gram of it is lethal to humans because it acts by blocking nerve impulses that lead to respiratory and musculoskeletal paralysis. Careful study and purification of this poison eventually lead to a modern tool used in cosmetic medicine to reduce the signs of aging, the Botox injection.

In its natural form the toxin's effects 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 botulinum toxin for health conditions and as a muscle relaxant to treat many muscle disorders, like lazy eye and uncontrolled blinking, before realizing its cosmetic potential.

You need the answer to this question before you can push through with your Botox treatment. Let your doctor decide this by making sure that he is well-informed about your medical history and present condition. Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have any disorders that affect your nerves and muscles, if you are breastfeeding, or if you are planning to become pregnant soon.

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 have realistic expectations of cosmetic procedures and generally 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.

Your doctor will administer several tiny injections of botox directly into the muscles of your face. Prior to injection, your doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The procedure takes only a few minutes and no anesthesia is required. Botox is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles with only minor discomfort. It generally takes three to seven days to take full effect and it is best to avoid alcohol at least one week prior to treatment. Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications should be stopped two weeks before treatment as well in order to reduce bruising.

During the procedure, which takes only minutes, small doses of Botox are injected into affected muscles. Botox binds to the nerve endings; blocking the release of the chemical acetylcholine and hindering signals for the muscle to contract. Botox then paralyzes or weakens the injected muscle and leaves surrounding muscles unaffected.

The muscle then relaxes, creating a smooth surface that lasts about three to four months before the muscle recovers its original strength. Even after the original effects of Botox are gone the lines that are left behind are not as deep and don't return to their original severity.

After the injection, you may notice some side effects like flu-like symptoms, headaches and nausea. Your may also feel some facial pain as well as muscle weakness. You may also have a temporary eyelid droop and a double vision. You should also expect some redness at the injection site.

You should notice an improvement in your frown lines within 3 to 7 days, the effects of which can last up to 4 months. However, results may vary. After a period of time, your frown lines will begin to reappear as the effects of Botox wear off. When this happens, you'll need to go for another treatment. As the treatment is repeated, the muscles start to thin, producing longer lasting results.