Botox

After the injection, Botox is absorbed by muscles, and gets into in a neurotransmitter which transmits muscle contraction signals. This is where Botox prevents the release of a chemical messenger, acetylcholine, responsible for producing muscle contractions. As a result, the contraction signal does not arrive at the muscle, and in fact a muscle paralysis occurs that is temporary and lasts 3 to 6 months. The inability of subcutaneous muscles to contract results in fading and removal of wrinkles and lines on the skin covering these muscles.

Botox injection is usually performed as an outpatient procedure in a clinic or a doctor’s office and there would be no need for hospitalization. Since the injection is performed with a very fine needle, it is not painful and does not require anesthesia. After cleansing the skin with disinfectants, the doctor uses an insulin syringe to inject small amounts of Botox to the forehead, above the eyebrows, and around the eyes. It may be accompanied with mild redness and burning sensation in the injection site which goes away within a few hours. It is recommended to avoid lying down and rubbing the area injected, within a few hours after the surgery until Botox is completely absorbed by muscles.

Usually, one or two days after the injection, lines and wrinkles gradually disappear and the effects last from 3 to 6 months. After this period of time, the effects of Botox go away and wrinkles appear again. Then the injection can be performed again if desired.

Botox is mainly absorbed by the muscles in the injection site, with very small amounts of it entering the bloodstream. Thus no significant systemic complications occur with the doses of Botox injected for treating wrinkles. However, like any other injections, mild redness and burning sensations may occur in the injection site, which will resolve after a few hours. Additionally, some people develop mild nausea sensations, headache or cold-like symptoms after the Botox injection, which will usually go away within 2-3 days.

A more serious complication which sometimes occurs as a result of Botox injection is droopy eyelids. Fortunately, this complication is relatively rare and happens in less than 3% of cases. Eyelid drooping usually occurs one week after the injection and gradually heals after 2 to 3 months. Fortunately, all Botox complications are transient and resolve within 6 months at most.

Botox Contraindications

It is recommended that women avoid getting Botox injections while breastfeeding or during pregnancy. However, no specific complication has been reported as a result of Botox injection in this regard.

If you have a specific disease or take a particular medicine, be sure to inform your doctor before Botox injection. Botox injection can cause severe muscular weakness in people with neuromuscular diseases. In addition, taking some medications (such as antibiotics of the same class as gentamicin) may exacerbate the effects of Botox.

Alternatives for Botox

Injection As previously mentioned, Botox injection mainly affects wrinkles caused by the contraction of subcutaneous muscles. The effect of Botox injection is more apparent in young and middle-aged candidates and less in the elderly.

Botox injections do not have much effect on the fine and superficial wrinkles caused by sunlight. It’s recommended to use sunscreens in order to prevent these wrinkles, and undergo skin peel treatments by special creams or surgical procedures in order to remove them.

If droopy eyebrows, droopy eyelids, or sagging cheeks makes one look older, Botox injections do not usually help, and may even worsen the appearance by exacerbating the drooping eyelids or eyebrows. In these cases, plastic and reconstructive surgeries (such as lifting skin, eyebrows and eyelids) usually have better results.

Another way to remove facial wrinkles is to inject substances such as fat, silicon or collagen into the skin which can be performed simultaneously with Botox injection or alone.

However, Botox injection is a simple, inexpensive and low-risk procedure for eliminating facial wrinkles. Your doctor can advise you on whether or not this is a good and effective way for you.

Other Uses of Botox

Apart from cosmetic surgery, Botox has other important uses in medicine, including:

-Treating strabismus (crossed eyes)

-Treating blepharospasm (frequent involuntary closure of the eyelids)

-Treating involuntary contractions of the muscles in the head and neck

-Treating tension headaches and migraines

-Treating excessive sweating Important

Note:

Although Botox injection is a simple, safe and effective treatment, it is considered an invasive procedure that must be performed in appropriate situations with access to first aid, according to the principles of sterilization.

In order to prevent any severe complications, avoid getting Botox injections at places like hair salons, fitness clubs and beauty institutes. Make sure this procedure is performed under the supervision of a doctor.

- What is Botox?

- What are the uses of Botox injection?

-Are the effects of Botox injection permanent?

- I’m 60 years old and want the wrinkles and lines around my eyes to be removed. Will Botox be effective?

- Is Botox injection painful?

-Is Botox injection dangerous?

-What are the contraindications for Botox injection?

-Are women allowed to undergo Botox injection while breastfeeding or during pregnancy?

-What are the differences between Botox injection in the doctor’s office and in a beauty salon?

-What is Botox?

 Botulinum toxin type A, commercially available as Botox, is a protein complex secreted by the bacterium called Clostridium which can cause severe food poisoning. For medical uses, this product is manufactured in its sterile purified form for injections.

-What are the uses of Botox injection?

-Facial rejuvenation

-Treating strabismus (crossed eyes)

-Treating blepharospasm (frequent involuntary closure of the eyelids)

-Treating involuntary contractions of muscles in the head and neck

-Treating tension headaches and migraines

-Treating excessive sweating

Are the effects of Botox injection permanent?

No. The effects last for 3 to 6 months and go away after this time with wrinkles appearing again. You can undergo this procedure again.

-I’m 60 years old and want the wrinkles and lines around my eyes to be removed. Will Botox be effective?

The effect of Botox injection is more apparent in young and middle-aged candidates and less in the elderly.

-Is Botox injection painful?

No. The injection, being performed with a very fine needle, is not painful and does not even require anesthesia. It can be done in a clinic or at a doctor’s office.

-Is Botox injection dangerous?

No. Botox injection rarely results in complications and is considered as one of the safest eye and face rejuvenation procedures.

-What are the contraindications for Botox injection?

If you have a specific disease or take a particular medicine, be sure to inform your doctor before Botox injection. Botox injections can cause severe muscular weakness in people with neuromuscular diseases.

- Are women allowed to undergo Botox injection while breastfeeding or during pregnancy?

It is recommended that women avoid getting Botox injections while breastfeeding or during pregnancy. However, no specific complication has been reported as a result of Botox injection in this regard.

-What are the differences between Botox injection in the doctor’s office and in a beauty salon?

Although Botox injection is a simple, safe and effective treatment, it is considered an invasive procedure that must be performed in appropriate situations with access to first aid, according to the principles of sterilization. In order to prevent any severe complications, avoid getting Botox injections at places like hair salons, fitness clubs and beauty institutes. Make sure this procedure is done under the supervision of a doctor.