Botox Description & Benefits

Botox involves administering injections directly into the muscles that cause moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles to smooth the appearance of facial skin. The term Botox is short for botulinum toxin A Botulinum toxin A. Botox treatments are a diluted form of botulism which paralyzes or weakens the muscles that form wrinkles. Results last for three to eight months and are visible a short while (usually just a few days) after the Botox is injected into the affected area. Botox injections treat minor imperfections in facial skin, including laughter lines, wrinkles, creases, and acne scars, making it appear more youthful. Botox also treats common signs of aging such as horizontal lines on the forehead, vertical lines between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose, fine lines and crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes.

Botox takes just a few minutes, and during the procedure very small doses of Botox are injected into the muscles underneath the wrinkled area. The exact location of the injection depends of the location, size and use of the muscles. The Botox procedure does not usually require anesthesia, although sometimes an anesthetic cream will be applied to the area to be treated. Botox procedures typically last about half an hour, and the results of Botox injections are most noticeable one to two weeks after the procedure.

Botox: Duration of Results

Botox results last approximately three to six months. The effects of Botox treatment can be maintained by small ‘top-up’ Botox injections two or three times a year. Ideal candidates for Botox injections are young to middle aged men and women, usually between 35 and 60, who do not have significant sun damage but want to eliminate lines and wrinkles on their face and neck.

Botox Recovery

After the Botox treatment you will need little or no recovery time. You can resume your normal activities immediately, but your doctor may advise you to stay out of the sun. You should not rub or massage the treated area for at least twelve hours after your Botox injections. Your doctor will also instruct you to avoid bending or lying down for three to four hours after your Botox treatment, to keep the toxin from moving to other facial areas and allow it to make a solid connection to the muscle. Any discomfort, bruising or swelling can be treated with mild over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen. Do not use aspirin as this may make the bruising worse. Avoid strenuous exercise, sun exposure and drinking alcohol for the first two weeks after Botox injections. You may need to return to the doctor’s office in two to three weeks so that the results can be checked and topped up with more Botox if necessary.

Shop for Botox Recovery Products

You can find a way variety of products designed to help you have the best preparation and recovery from your procedure at the:

Botox Store

Botox Costs

The average cost of botox is anywhere from $400-450, depending on the physician and areas treated.

Botox Side Effects & Risks

Some possible side effects of Botox injections include difficulty swallowing, speaking and breathing.  Side effects also might include headache, neck pain, nausea, bruising at injection area, or upper respiratory infection. Some patients have different reactions to later treatments that did not occur with the first treatment. This can happen for several different reasons. If you somehow change certain patterns with your muscle movement, it is possible that the treatment will affect those muscles differently. You may also develop antibodies to the toxin over time, preventing your muscles from reacting the way it did previously.

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