The Basics of Botox®
Botox Cosmetic is a popular method for treating frown and other unsightly lines from people’s faces. It is capable of temporarily smoothing moderate to severe frown lines between the brows for up to four months.
Botox was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic use in April 2002. It had been approved in 1989 for the treatment of several medical conditions. Botox is related to botulism, a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin produced by bacteria.
Botulism, when it is not in a controlled environment, can cause paralysis or even death. They are all a part of a neurotoxin group called Botulinum Toxin. This group has seven types, A through G. The toxin attaches to nerve endings. This attachment prevents the release of chemicals that trigger muscle contractions.
In a nutshell, Botox and all forms of botulinum toxin block the signals that tell your muscles to contract. Many people, upon reading about botulism, wonder why individuals want something purposely injected into their bodies that can cause paralysis. The reasoning? If a group of muscles in the body can’t move, the skin can’t wrinkle.
Botox has a distinct benefit over other means of reducing wrinkles. For starters, it is a simple, 10-minute, non-surgical procedure. In addition, it is not a permanent procedure. While facelifts are permanent, there is often the risk that the patient won’t be completely thrilled with their improved facial features. Botox is not permanent. This means that if the results aren’t what an individual wants, he or she can just wait the 4 months out. Like a bad hair cut.
The procedure itself is also quite simple. The doctor treats your frown lines by administering several tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause frown lines. These injections do not require an anesthetic but the doctor may numb the area with a cold pack first.
If your frown lines are bothering you and you feel Botox might be the solution to your problem, contact the Houston med spa experts of Dermagenix at 713-662-3376 to schedule your Botox injections or to learn more about Botox injections.
