Is Botox Right For Me?
Botox gets a lot of press these days and for good reason. Each year, millions of patients have Botox. Botox is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment that patients choose!
As much as you might hear about Botox in the media, there’s a chance you might not know how it works or what it even is. Here’s a quick guide to the basics of Botox.
What Is Botox?
Botox actually comes from a natural organism called Clostridium botulinum. Botox is actually classified as a neurotoxin, called the botulinum toxin. When the neurotoxin is consumed in large quantities, it can cause you to develop botulism.
This can then cause deadly respiratory failure. A neurotoxin is a kind of poison that targets the nervous system. While this may sound scary, it is actually the reason that Botox works.
How Does Botox Work?
As mentioned above, the botulinum toxin targets the nervous system. The toxin paralyzes muscle tissue. A wrinkle gets caused by muscles contracting due to a chemical called acetylcholine.
This chemical acts as a messenger to the muscles and is a neurotransmitter. The botulinum toxin blocks acetylcholine from being released, relaxing muscles. When Botox is applied in measured doses, it can target specific muscle groups in the face and other areas.
What Happens During A Botox Procedure?
Since Botox is a dangerous substance, it can only get administered by a professional. During a Botox procedure, the doctor dilutes the toxin with sterile saline.
Botox comes in the form of a powder. Once the powder is fully diluted, it is then injected into targeted muscular tissue. After Botox, it could take 3 to 5 days to see the full results, though this is uncommon. The entire procedure only takes about 10 minutes to complete.
Botox is not a permanent solution to wrinkles. The effects will last up to 4 months before you will need to go back in for another session. The cost of a Botox session depends on the size of the area that you are having treated.
What Can Botox Do?
Botox actually has many different uses. It’s mainly used to reduce wrinkles, particularly in the face. It is also FDA approved to treat other conditions. These include migraines, muscle spasms, overactive bladders, crossed eyes, excessive sweating, and eyelid spasms.
There are also some non-FDA approved Botox applications currently under study. Botox may help treat hay fever, cerebral palsy, laryngeal dystonia, and achalasia.
Why Should I Get Botox?
If you don’t have the conditions listed above, Botox is good for reducing wrinkles. Looking younger will make you feel more confident and attractive.
As we age, our skin ages with us. Skin that is older loses much of its elasticity and ability to bounce back. Botox can be a great option if you want to look as young as you feel inside!
Want more information about Botox? Schedule a consultation at the Pinke Eye Center in Shelton, CT to see if Botox could be right for you! It’s time to take your youth and beauty back!
