Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in Havertown. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that over seven million Americans underwent treatment in 2017. If you are thinking about getting Botox, it’s important to have a thorough understanding of what the procedure entails.
What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable filler made from the botulinum toxin, a protein that restricts movement of your muscles. This prevents them from contracting, which helps eliminate wrinkles that occur in response to facial movement – such as between the eyebrows, forehead lines and crow’s feet.
These are the three areas for which the FDA has approved the use of Botox as a cosmetic treatment. It will not work on static wrinkles – those that are visible even when you aren’t making an expression or otherwise moving your face. In essence, Botox helps prevent dynamic wrinkles from becoming permanent ones.
Because of its muscle-relaxing properties, Botox has other uses beyond cosmetic surgery. It is effective at treating excessive perspiration and eyelid twitching by blocking the nerve signals and freezing the muscles associated with these functions. It is also frequently prescribed for conditions such as migraines, overactive bladder and crossed eyes. The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology has even found evidence that Botox treatments help prevent depression because frowning is associated with negative mood.
The Safety & Efficacy of Botox
As long as you stick with a licensed and trained provider, Botox has proven to be quite safe and effective. There is always the risk of side effects in any procedure, but these are rare and tend to be minor. Some patients experience headache, bruising and drooping eyebrows or eyelids.
More serious adverse effects such as muscle weakness, double vision, difficulty breathing or swallowing and incontinence occasionally affect those receiving Botox treatment, but these are confined to therapeutic treatments where other diseases may factor in. There have never been any cases linked to dermatologic use because the doses are so low.
It takes between 5-14 days for the effects of Botox to become fully noticeable. Results last about three to four months, so maintenance injections are required in order to achieve long-lasting results. Other than the prick of a needle, the procedure is mostly painless. Your doctor can use a numbing cream if you’re worried about pain. The process takes just a few minutes and you should be able to resume normal activities immediately after treatment.
If you’re considering Botox in Havertown, schedule an appointment with an experienced cosmetic surgeon in order to ensure the best results.