What is a Botox Cosmetic?
A Botox Cosmetic is an injectable wrinkle muscle relaxer. It uses Botulinum toxin type A, or, more specifically, OnabotulinumtoxinA, to paralyze the muscle temporarily and to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles.
A Botox treatment is not that invasive and is considered a safe and effective treatment for wrinkles & fine lines around the eyes. Also, it is used on the forehead between the eyes. Botox was initially FDA approved in 1989 for the treatment of Blepharospasm and other eye muscle problems.
Years later, in 2002, the FDA further approved the use of Botox for cosmetic treatments for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. In 2013, the FDA approved it for the treatment of wrinkles around the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet). Also, according to a clinical study, Botox is a simple, safe, and effective treatment for the reduction of forehead lines and wrinkles.
Up to 2019, over 5 million procedures (approx.) were performed using Botox and similar medication to fight wrinkles. This makes Botox the number one nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in the United States.
How to prepare for Botox Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic requires minimal preparation as it typically involves a nonsurgical, in-office treatment. Though it is a minor procedure, you should reveal your medical history, allergies, or medical conditions to the cosmetic practitioner or physician before your procedure.
Your physician might ask you to remove all your makeup and cleanse the treatment area before the procedure. You should also avoid blood-thinning medicine like aspirin to reduce the risk of bruising.
What are the areas of the body that can be treated with Botox Cosmetic?
The injectable can be cosmetically used in the following areas:
- Around the eyes, the area that is commonly known as crow’s feet lines.
- In the area between the eyebrows (glabellar region), to treat moderate to severe frown lines.
Botox has FDA approval to treat various medical problems, including:
- Excessive underarm sweating.
- Lower limb spasticity.
- Overactive bladder.
- Chronic migraines.
How does Botox Cosmetic work?
Botox Cosmetic simply works by temporarily blocking nerve signals and muscle contractions. This, in turn, improves the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes, and more importantly, between the eyebrows. It also slows the formation of new lines by preventing contraction of facial muscles.
The botox treatment is hardly invasive, and it doesn’t involve incisions or general anesthesia. If you’re concerned about experiencing pain or discomfort, you can ask for a topical anesthetic or ice to numb the treatment area.
During the procedure, a thin needle is used to administer 3-5 injections of Botulinum toxin type A. With that, the targeted area between the eyebrows or the crow’s feet is injected. But, for crow’s feet, you’ll need three injections on the side of each eye to smoothen it out. Further, the entire procedure usually takes only 10 minutes.
What are the primary benefits of Botox Cosmetic treatments?
What began as a treatment option for muscle spasms soon transformed into a cosmetic procedure that offered a multitude of health benefits. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, almost 4.5 million people sought out this nonsurgical procedure in 2016 alone. While many sought it out for cosmetic purposes, it won’t be a surprise if that number continues to grow as the benefits of BOTOX® go beyond just providing an aesthetic improvement.
While Botox majorly helps in eliminating lines, wrinkles and reducing excessive sweating, the benefits of Botox span far beyond. Now, if you’re thinking about joining the 4.5 million Americans who seek Botox injections each year, consider the following benefits that await you, as Botox –
- Reduces facial wrinkles: Let’s start with the benefits that everyone knows. It is an FDA-approved cosmetic treatment used to reduce dynamic facial wrinkles. These are the very same wrinkles that appear when you make an expression, such as laughing, frowning, or squinting. It also relaxes the muscles across your forehead, between your eyebrows and around your eyes to help you look younger.
- Treats headaches and migraines: If you experience persistent headaches, then getting a Botox treatment can help. It can provide many patients with a treatment with fewer possible side effects than medicines for Migraine. While it’s still not sure how Botox helps migraines, it’s said that it works by blocking sensory nerves that send pain signals to the brain, and it relaxes the muscles that cause tension headaches.
- Treats muscle spasms: Botox was created to reduce eye spasms. This treatment is still viable today and extends to other parts of the body as well, managing muscle stiffness and twitching in the wrists, fingers, elbows, & ankles.
- Is cost-effective: Let’s get down to numbers now. Botox injections can cost you anywhere between $350 to $1500. This makes it one of the more affordable cosmetic procedures available in the market today.
- Is speedy: Imagine using your lunch break to find some relief for your muscle spasms or headaches? Administering Botox is relatively quick and easy. So, the results tend to appear pretty quickly. Some patients even report relief within a day or two. While others say, it can take up to a week. But, like many other procedures, individual results may vary.
- Reduces the effect of Bell’s Palsy: As a result of trauma to facial nerves, muscles can weaken, and there can be drooping eyelids, often on just one side of the face. But Botox is known for treating Bell’s Palsy by reducing tension in hyperactive areas and relaxing unwanted muscle movements, creating a more symmetrical facial expression, and reducing the signs of facial paralysis.
- Helps in relieving symptoms of an enlarged prostate: Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate, can find relief from their symptoms by injecting Botox directly into the prostate gland. Many men are now considering this treatment as a fruitful option as it produces long-lasting results, and there’s no need to take prescription medication as well.
- Reduces symptoms of overactive bladder: Incontinence, frequent trips to the bathroom, and the urgent need to urinate can disrupt your daily life. But, when injected into the bladder muscle, Botox can block nerves that trigger symptoms of overactive bladder, providing much-needed relief.
What to expect after Botox Cosmetic?
You should avoid massaging, rubbing, or applying any pressure to the treated area. If you do this, it can cause Botox Cosmetic to spread to other areas of the body and can negatively affect your results.
Also, keep in mind not to bend over or lie down for 3-4 hours after being injected between the brows. If you do that, it can cause the Botox to slip under the orbital rim. Doing this could create an eyelid droop too.
In most cases, you should be able to resume day-to-day activities immediately as there is little to no downtime expected after the treatment.
Although it’s crucial to have realistic expectations and understand possible improvements, noticeable results can be expected within 1-2 days post-treatment. Additionally, the full effect of Botox Cosmetic generally lasts up to 4 months, and additional Botox injections can be administered to maintain your results.
So, now you know almost everything about Botox Cosmetic and the many attractive benefits of Botox Cosmetic injections. These are just a few of its primary uses that we can help you with at The About Face Anti-Aging Institute. If you have any questions on Botox, please feel free to reach out to us. We have multiple convenient locations in the Central Texas area to serve you best.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!