What BOTOX® Injections Can Do for You

BOTOX® injections have been hailed as one of the most wonderful advances of modern medicine and are the most popular of all cosmetic enhancement procedures in the US, with almost half a million procedures done every year. People tend to think of BOTOX® injections as plastic surgery, but in fact, it isn’t surgery at all.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a derivative of Clostridium Botulinum, which is a kind of bacterium. It is dangerous if ingested, but safe when used to “freeze” the face. This freezing process is what eliminates wrinkles and crow’s feet, lending a more youthful look because wrinkles don’t appear. The basic principle is that if you are unable to move your skin, you cannot make a wrinkle.

BOTOX® injections are normally given by a plastic surgeon, on an in-patient basis, which simply means that you do not have to be hospitalized and the procedure is done at the doctor’s facility. In most cases, there is no anesthesia, although a numbing cream is sometimes applied to the area that will be treated. BOTOX® injections are normally completed in just a few minutes, and then you can go home or go about your normal activities. You can usually see results within a week or so, and the results generally last anywhere from three to six months.

There are few risks associated with BOTOX® injections, but the toxin does counteract the efficiency of certain medications. So, you should always make your doctor aware of all medications you are taking. BOTOX® injections are contraindicated for use in pregnant women because it can affect the placenta. You should not use BOTOX® injections if you are breastfeeding.

Perhaps the biggest drawback, to some patients, is that BOTOX® treatment freezes the muscles of your face. This helps to eliminate wrinkles, but by the same token, it also eliminates facial expression to some extent. This is a deal breaker to many.

If you are unhappy with the results of BOTOX® injections, though, the effects will wear off after a few months. BOTOX® injections are relatively inexpensive, and millions of people swear by it to maintain a youthful appearance.