Botox is a toxin produced
by a bacteria called botulinum. Although in very large doses it can cause
botulism, Botox is safe in the doses used for cosmetic and therapeutic
purposes. It has been used safely for decades in the United States. It
originally was used to restore a normal voice for people with a vocal
chord condition called spasmodic dysphonia. It has also been used to treat
uncontrollable eye twitches and embarrassing sweating of the palms and
underarms. In the mid 1990's, plastic surgeons began using Botox injections
to treat facial wrinkles.
Wrinkles
that Botox Will Target
(Botox is only effective for dynamic wrinkles)
Botox will dramatically
improve (and often vanish) horizontal forehead creases, scowl lines between
your eyebrows, crow's feet, and vertical wrinkles of your upper lip
Botox is ineffective for fine wrinkles because they are not due to facial
expression. To address fine wrinkles, you should see chemical peeling
and. Botox is also ineffective for heavy skin fold wrinkles around your
mouth that are due to sagging cheeks. To address the wrinkles from sagging
cheeks, you should see Facelift.
How Botox Works
Dynamic wrinkles, such as crow's feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles,
are due to repetitive facial expression. Weakening the muscles responsible
for these facial expressions can dramatically improve these wrinkles.
With Botox, these muscles can be weakened without detracting from your
facial expressiveness.
The Procedure
Botox can be injected
by your plastic surgeon in the office. You may experience brief mild discomfort
as you are being injected. Following injection, recovery is immediate:
you may place make-up and return to work immediately. A few experience
mild bruising which improves within a few days. You will begin to see
improvement in your wrinkles within 24 hours and continue to see improvement
for 5 days. Some people may experience a result which is partial or asymmetric,
and these people may require additional botox.
How Long Does Botox Last?
Botox results may last about six months, although the range varies from
3 to 12 months.
Risks
of Botox
No negative long-term effects have been observed. Very few short-term
problems have arisen. If Botox is injected too close to your upper eyelids,
temporary upper eyelid droop may result. This can take months to improve.
Injection of your forehead will diminish your ability to raise your eyebrows.
This is not a problem for most, but those with marked eyebrow droop may
find that their droop worsens following injection. Risk of allergic reaction
is extremely small. Women who are pregnant not receive Botox.
Important
· Botox is only effective for dynamic wrinkles. If you have fine
wrinkle, consider chemical peels.
· If your Botox results were inadequate (they didn't make your
wrinkles go away), then wait at least one week before getting more botox
in the same area. If you get more botox too soon, it may cause a problem
with paralysis of the surrounding muscles as well.
· Because Botox occasionally causes bruising (especially when injected
for crow's feet), do not have injection of botox for your crow's feet
immediately before an important event.
· Satisfaction following Botox injections is immense, as long as
the recipients understand that benefits are temporary. Botox injection
is a powerful treatment because of its dramatic effect and immediate recovery.
This introduction
has been made only for an informative purpose.
For personalized data on request to your home, and for further information,
please contact us at:
Radu VOICU
M.D.
Specialist in plastic and reconstructive Surgery
PLASTIC SURGERY
DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CF 2 - BUCHAREST
