Botox What it is and how it can benefit you

The first question you're probably asking is, "What is Botox?"

Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin.

Now you might be wondering, "Isn't that dangerous? Isn't it a type of food poisoning?"

The truth is, that yes, while the botulinum toxin is the culprit behind botulism, Botox is completely safe.

Botox is a very diluted version of the botulinum toxin, and carefully administered so there is no chance of food poisoning. When used correctly, the chance of any side effects, such as an allergic reaction, are low.

So how does it work?

Botulinum toxin works by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the juncture where muscles and nerves meet. This means that for a period of time, that muscle is unable to contract. In the 1950s, tiny amounts of the toxin were injected to treat such ailments as crossed eyes or uncontrollable blinking by paralyzing the muscles, doctors were able to alleviate some of the symptoms of these diseases. But after awhile, cosmetic surgeons began to notice another, very surprising effect of the injections: that it smoothed out the wrinkles around the areas of the injection.

So what can Botox do for you?

Some of the wrinkles that you get the lines that develop in your forehead when you raise your eyebrows, the creases that form between your eyes, and the "crows feet" that develop from squinting these are all caused by tension from the muscles in your face. Injections of Botox will paralyze these muscles and release the tension, reducing or even eliminating the wrinkles there.

Now, in order to decide if Botox is right for you, you also need to think about some of the limitations and drawbacks of getting the injections.

There are some wrinkles that Botox won't be able to eliminate. Sometimes wrinkles are caused by the natural loss of elasticity of skin as you age (smoking and sun exposure also saps the skin's elasticity), causing normally taught skin to sag and, as a result, create wrinkles. While there are treatments for this type of wrinkle, Botox is not one of them. You should also keep in mind how Botox works by paralyzing muscles.

This means that depending on the type of injection you're getting, you may lose the ability to do certain things with your face things like squint or raise your eyebrows, or even frown. And if there's a slipup made by your doctor, other muscles could be paralyzed, causing your eyelids to droop or giving you a slight tendency to drool. Fortunately, these sorts of mistakes are rare, especially in the hands of an experienced professional so make sure to pick a qualified cosmetic surgeon! Also, Botox isn't permanent the effects tend to wear off after a few months, meaning if you like the effects, you'll have to get another treatment (on the other hand, if you don't like what Botox does for you, then this limited period of effectiveness is a good thing).

On the other hand, many people love the effects of Botox and it is easy to see why! For one thing, it's inexpensive (at around $500 dollars a treatment, depending on where you go), especially when compared to other, more expensive cosmetic operations, such as a face lift. The effects are fairly rapid (most of time the effects take 3-5 days to show) and it is a very quick procedure, often involving only 10-30 minutes at your doctor's office, after which you can go home that day and continue with your life! The pain is minimal (most patients describe it as "like an insect bite") and almost never requires anesthesia. Compare this to a more invasive procedure, such as a face lift, which can cost thousands of dollars and much more recovery time.

In order to get the best results, there are a few things that can make the procedure go more smoothly. The most important is to have wrinkles that Botox can actually alleviate in the face or neck. Also important is to know as much as possible about the procedure (so you can avoid doing things like rubbing the injection site that evening) and to have reasonable expectations Botox can do a lot, but it can't fix everything. It also helps to be in good physical and psychological health, of course, and it is important that the patient not be using marijuana or anabolic steroids, or be a heavy consumer of alcohol. Those are all things that can limit the effectiveness of Botox.

Before receiving Botox, make sure you ask your doctor any and all questions you may have lingering in your mind, for your own edification as well as to decrease you worries. Also make sure that you tell your doctor about any sorts of allergies you have, as well as any medications (including herbal remedies! Many people forgot to mention these to their doctor but they are important!) and to follow any instructions that your doctor gives you.