Botox For Beginners
Botox or Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It has several medical uses ranging from cosmetic to prevention of migraines. When you think of “Botox,” your mind may automatically jump to the image of a celebrity who has obviously had “work” done. You may have even seen or heard a horror story about Botox gone wrong. Most of the time those images are scattered across online media outlets and magazines as a sort of scare tactic when, in all actuality, those types of cases are extremely rare and few and far between. Botox actually has several health as well as cosmetic benefits.
Cosmetic Botox
As we age, we begin to see signs of the passing years appearing on our face, especially around and between our eyes and across our foreheads. Laugh lines, frown lines and the dreaded “crows feet” are not experiences that anyone looks forward to during the aging process. Unfortunately, not much can be done to prevent them from occurring (although sun protection and using a daily moisturizer will help) but there are some alternatives that will minimize their appearance significantly! Botox is one of them.
Botox works when the serum is injected directly into the muscle underneath the problem area. The protein in botox reacts with the nerve endings in the underlying muscle fibers — the same fibers that are causing the appearance of wrinkles in the skin. The effect on the muscles takes only seconds to achieve, although the skin’s appearance takes a bit longer to change. Within a few days, the muscles have been relaxed long enough that the skin will also stay relaxed. The timing of this is actually a benefit to most patients. Rather than a sudden and dramatic change, the effect is a gradual relaxation of the appearance of wrinkles in the skin. Most clients notice the effects within a few days of the first injection, but the maximum effect is usually not present for a week or so. The results will last from 2-4 months, depending on several factors such as age and skin condition.
Doctor Ben Brashear is happy to discuss your treatment goals and perform a facial analysis to determine the appropriate treatment areas for you. The actual injection process takes about 10 minutes. As with any procedure, there are some risks involved with the injection of Botox. If you have any questions about side effects, the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Brashear Family Medical is happy to help!