What
is Botox?
Botox is made from 'botulinum toxin', a
poison produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This
bacterium causes botulism - a severe form of food poisoning. In small
quantities, however, Botox merely blocks transmission between
the nerve endings and muscle fibres around the injection site, which
then causes weakness of the nearby muscle.
What is Botox used for?
As more and more celebrities have admitted to having had botox treatments,
it has become an increasingly popular choice for ordinary women (and
men) looking for a quick way to look younger.
Botox is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment for moderate to severe
frown lines. It's most commonly used on the upper third of the face,
to reduce frown lines, forehead creases and crows' feet around the eyes.
Lines around the lips and corners of the mouth are also treatable, but
not always advisable. Untreated areas of the face aren't affected, so
you can usually still smile and frown, but the skin on the treated areas
won't wrinkle as much as usual.
What Botox can't do
Botox can't correct fine lines caused by the sun, or natural, age-related
skin sag. For very heavy lines, you may need more than one treatment.
Botox may be unsuitable for use around the
mouth as the muscles there are important for facial expressions and
eating.
Unfortunately, when it is overdone, Botox
treatment can leave the face with a lack of expression. This is reputed
to have caused a problem for some actors.
Who can have Botox treatment?
Your doctor or qualified practitioner will tell you if Botox treatment
is suitable for you.
Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have any disorders
that affect your nerves and muscles, if you are breastfeeding, or if
you are planning to become pregnant soon. Also tell your practitioner
of any medicines you are taking, as some medicines interact with Botox.
The Botox injection procedure
Your doctor or practitioner will administer several tiny injections
of Botox directly into the muscles of your face. Prior to injection,
he or she will determine where to administer the injections by examining
your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area.
The entire Botox injection procedure takes approximately 10-15 minutes
and does not require an anaesthetic. Discomfort is usually minimal and
brief.
After the injection
You should notice an improvement in your frown lines within 3 to
7 days, the effects of which can last up to 4 months. However, results
may vary.
After a period of time, your frown lines will begin to reappear as
the effects of botox wear off.
How often can Botox injections be given?
You can receive botox injections every 4 months.
How much does Botox treatment cost?
Each treatment costs around £200.
Possible side-effects of Botox
- headache
- flu-like symptoms
- facial pain
- temporary drooping of eyelids
- squint and/or double vision
- twitching of the eye
- drooling from the mouth
- nausea
- muscle weakness
- redness at the site of injections
Occasionally injected muscles become too weak, which could result
in droopy eyelids, difficulty in raising the eyebrows, or drooling from
the corner of the mouth, depending on where the Botox was injected.
This effect corrects itself as the Botox wears off.
People who use Botox too often may develop an antibody to the toxin,
so treatment stops working.
Since it is still
a relatively new treatment, any possible side effects of long-term use
are still unknown. Botox should only be administered by experienced
and well-trained doctors or nurses. A high dose could cause poisoning,
or an exaggerated effect.
Cautions/contra-indications
Do not have Botox treatment if you:
- are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
- have an infection where the Botox will
be injected
- have a neurological disorder (for example
Myasthenia Gravis)
- are allergic to any of the ingredients
There are also a number of medicines that may
interact with Botox (eg. quinidine, some antibiotics). It is important
to tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines.
If you are considering have Botox injections:
- Be sure that a qualified doctor performs the procedure.
-
Make sure that the doctor
is trained and qualified in cosmetic skin surgery of the face.
-
Ask questions and be
informed about the benefits and risks involved in the procedure.
-
Avoid alcohol and remain
upright for several hours following the procedure.
-
Choose a medical setting
using sterile techniques. Necessary equipment should be available
to respond to any potential problems.
Source:
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
