Botox

Time has etched the lines of life on your skin.  Some days you tell yourself they give your face its character, other days it really is age creeping upon you.

If you are thinking of smoothing out those facial lines you are probably considering Botox treatment.  Botox is a non-surgical procedure that temporarily relaxes and smoothes the facial muscles around the wrinkles making them less noticeable. But not all facial wrinkles are suitable for Botox treatment.

Botox is the brand name of a highly dangerous pathogen botulinum toxin type A, which if taken orally in large amounts causes a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.  But when injected in small doses into specific muscle groups Botox blocks the chemical messages that cause muscles to contract, so the muscles to relax making the skin look smoother.

So is Botox for you? If you want to minimise the appearance of your wrinkles then yes it is.  But Botox does not work on all wrinkles for instance it is ineffective against wrinkles caused by expose to the sun and its subsequent damage; it is also less effective around the mouth as you need to eat and talk and if your muscles are paralysed then ask yourself if this is a good idea.  The thickness of your skin and the degree of wrinkling are also factors to take into account.

Botox though is good for the frown lines between your eyes, crow’s feet at the eye corners, creases on the forehead, and the thick bands on the neck.

Botox can also be good for headaches, minor back aches, muscle spasm and excessive underarm sweating called hyperhidrosis.  Botox may also work in reducing facial scaring although this treatment is still experimental.

Before the procedure you will need to see your doctor who will explain what is involved and what you should expect from the procedure.  He will take a medical history and it is best to be honest giving as full and account of any health problems and medications you are already taking.  Go with a prepared list of drugs and ailments.

Photographs of your face may be taken, these are used as a before and after assessment and for long-term review.

You should know what you expect from this treatment, it is certainly not going to make you look like Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom or a latter-day James Dean.  You should get a good idea from the discussion what Botox can and can’t do for you.

Tiny amounts of Botox are injected into specific muscle bundles and by choosing them others are preserved to maintain natural facial expressions.  The number of injections you need will depend on your skin type and the depth of the furrows.

The whole procedure takes less than 30 minutes although some discomfort may be experienced it is tolerable.

After the injections you can return to normal activities but you may have a headache for a few hours afterwards.  Do not rub or massage the injected sites as this can spread the toxin to other areas causing facial weakness or drooping.

The full effect will take about two weeks but will be noticeable in a few hours after the injections.  Botox has a temporary effect and lasts for only about three to four months when the process has to be repeated to keep the muscles smooth.

When done by a competent doctor side effects and complications are rare but they can occur.  Here are some of the most common:

• Pain and bruising around the injection site
• Redness
• Headaches
• Flu-like symptoms
• Nausea
• Temporary facial weakness or drooping

Spread of the toxin from the injected muscles may also occur and cause some distressing botulism-like symptoms these can include: problems in swallowing, muscle weakness, slurred speech and breathing problems.  It goes without saying if you experience any of the above then visit your doctor.

Botox is safe if used by an experienced practitioner but it can be dangerous when used by the inexpert.  Ask your doctor how many procedures he has done and what is his success rate.  If he is experienced and good at the job he should have no troubles giving you this information.

If the doctor refuses to answer your questions then shop around for another who will give you full and honest responses.