Botox for wrinkle treatment

Botox is the trade name for Botulinum A toxin  and Botox injections are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world.  Botox has been safely used with no long-term side effects for over twenty years.

 

Botox  first began to be used in 1980 to treat many muscle disorders such as lazy eye, eye ticks and uncontrolled blinking. Cosmetic treatments were pioneered by dermatological surgeons in 1987. Now Botox for wrinkle treatment is most commonly used to improve the appearance of  three different areas: the frown lines between the eyebrows, the horizontal forehead lines, and "crow's feet" or "laughter lines".

 

Botox is a purified preparation of botulinum toxin Type A, obtained from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When injected into muscle tissue in small quantities, botulinum toxin causes a temporary softening of the treated facial muscles and this allows the lines to soften over a few weeks to months. By doing this, the muscles cannot contract and therefore tend to relax. When the muscles relax, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles continue to work in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected by the treatment.

 

We use very fine needles and a cooling device on the skin just prior to treatment to keep discomfort to a minimum.

There are very few side effects from this procedure. Occasionally temporary numbness or a mild headache may be experienced although Botox  is being used to treat migraine successfully in some patients. Minimal bruising may occur at the site of injection.

 

In 1% of patients or less a temporary droop of the brow or eyelid may occur. While allergy to any medicine is possible allergic reactions toBotox are extremely rare.

Injections take effect about three to seven days after treatment and the effect lasts three to four months. Repeat injections will be required after this period of time to maintain the skin smoothing effects. After several treatments, the effects of Botox may begin to last longer, sometimes up to six to eight months.

It is advisable not to rub the area, not to bend over for a prolonged period and to use the treated muscles regularly for three to four hours after treatment. This helps avoid side effects and gives the best results