Mirror mirror on the wall, how can I have the youngest looking face of them all? In the old days, women wanting a wrinkle-free face would reach for little strips of tape that would be placed on the temple and into the hairline. The result was their crows feet disappearing and a smother looking face. But when used, women needed to be careful of how they turned their face so that their friends would not see their little hidden secret. Now fast forward to 2003 where women and men alike are receiving injections of Botox for that flawless-looking face. When done correctly you can loose almost 20 years off of your appearance, but when over done, two words come to mind…Joan Rivers.
What is Botox? Botox is a manufactured toxin that comes from botulism, a form of food poisoning that causes paralysis and death. There are several different strains of Clostridium botulinum that release toxins classified as A through G. Botox is a Type A toxin that has been used medically for years.
This Type A toxin has been primarily used when treating painful muscle spasms, most commonly in the neck. The muscle, when injected, would become paralyzed for about three months, relieving this painful debilitating condition. In addition, Botox was often used for treating children with a lazy eye.
Most recently, it was found that small doses carefully injected into a specific muscle around wrinkle lines, would paralyze the underlying muscle and smooth out the skin. The results were obvious shortly after the injection.
What is the procedure? Physicians, primarily plastic surgeons, have been trained in the use of Botox. They have been able to identify areas on the face that the injection will help improve the appearance of. Once the areas of facial rejuvenation have been identified and marked, the simple injection process begins.
Botox is injected into the defined area using a very small, 30-gauge needle. The patient may begin to experience some discomfort at the site of the injection, but this is brief. Ice is then applied to those injected areas in order to decrease the incidence of swelling and bruising. It may take a few days in order to see those results, but the underlying small facial muscles will be chemically paralyzed for a period of up to five months.
What are the complications? In general, complications are somewhat rare and usually minor. As noted in medical literature there are no reported allergic reactions as a direct result of receiving Botox injections. In some cases, a patient may experience some localized redness or bruising. Before receiving Botox injections it is very important to inform your doctor regarding the use of aspirin or coumadin, drugs that thin the blood and can cause bleeding.
Additionally, paralysis of surrounding muscles can occur. It has been noted that when “crows feet” around the eyes are injected, a patient may develop a drooping of the eyelid. This side effect is rather short lived.
Is Botox safe? Botox has been used medically in qualified hands since 1980 with minimal side effects. Two Canadian physicians in the mid-1990s have pioneered the use in cosmetic surgery and numerous medical articles have been published in support of its use.
One complication that has been cited in a few instances is headaches. In the January 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, an article was published focusing on Botox entitled “Severe, Intractable Headaches After Injections with Botulism A Exotoxin.” The story mentioned four cases of the complication, which would make up roughly one percent of all the patients studied.
What should I do? In the event that you have the desire to undergo this procedure, you must seek out a very qualified and experienced physician. This practitioner must have a proven track record and a detailed understanding of facial musculature and architecture. The procedure should be completed in an accomplished medical facility. Seek out recommendations from other patients who have undergone the procedure. Be sure to investigate the cost, as most insurance companies will not cover this expense and even though it is cheaper than surgery, the injections are quite costly.
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