Everything you need to know about Botox Treatment

Doctors have been using Botox for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. Botox is a brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are other brand names, such as Dysport and Xeomin.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can’t contract. That makes the wrinkles relax and soften.

Botox is most often used on forehead lines, crow’s feet and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox. It can also be used for lip lines and for the chin and corner of the mouth and neck.

What are the Benefits of Botox?

Botox is most effective on wrinkles that haven’t quite set that is dynamic wrinkles that appear while you’re moving your face, such as when you frown. “If you don’t move the muscle too much, you won’t form the wrinkle,” says Columbia University dermatologist Monica Halem MD.

How is a Botox Procedure Done?

Getting Botox takes only a few minutes and doesn’t require anesthesia. Botox is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles with only minor discomfort. It generally takes three to seven days to take full effect, and it is best to avoid alcohol starting at least one week before the procedure. You should also stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications two weeks before treatment to reduce bruising.

How Long Does a Botox Injection Last?

The effects from Botox will last three to four months. As muscle action gradually returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and need to be treated again. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are being trained to relax.

What are the Side Effects of Botox?

Temporary bruising is the most common side effect of Botox. Headaches which end in 24 to 48 hours, can happen, but this is rare. A small percentage of patients may develop eyelid drooping. This usually ends within three weeks. Drooping usually happens when the Botox moves around, so don’t rub the treated area for 12 hours after injection or lie down for one hour after the procedure.

Who Should not Receive Botox?

Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a neurological disease should not use Botox. Since Botox doesn’t work for all wrinkles you should consult with a doctor first.

What to do when you Give it A Try?

If you decide to give it a try:

Don’t be a pill. You’re more likely to get a bruise at the site of the needle injection if you’re taking aspirin or ibuprofen; these medication thin the blood and increase bleeding which causes the bruise. Skip the pills for two weeks in advance of your treatment. You should also tell your doctor before treatment about any supplements you’re taking, even if they’re natural, because some also thin blood. Your doctor may ask you not to use those supplements for two weeks before your treatment.

Go easy. Ask your doctor for a more natural, expressive look. Your doctor can adjust the does accordingly.

Don’t party on. Spas and parties are fun, but not for injections. These wrinkles treatment should only be done by a doctor who is board certified in dermatology or plastic surgery.