Botox: a guide for Beginners

It’s no longer a hidden fact that lots of celebrities are keeping themselves younger looking and fresh by undertaking the non-surgical aesthetic treatments like Botox. Although it is important to maintain a healthy diet and do regular exercise for achieving a healthy body as well as reduce the effects of ageing, more and more men and women are also getting Botox treatments to augment their looks and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Many famous celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow have openly admitted that they use Botox to defy the effects of ageing. This has set a trend among the public as well. A huge number of regular folks is booking their appointments with cosmetic practitioners to get the botox anti-wrinkle injections.

Despite all this popularity and demand, the idea of having a botox treatment is quite daunting for many. So if you are planning to have Botox injections then it is vital to understand what is Botox , its side effects and what kind of results should be expected from the treatment.

While lots of people believe that it is a miraculous drug that can provide a refreshing and youthful appearance, there are some limits to its use. Achieving natural results with botox is possible without giving a ‘frozen’ or expressionless appearance.

So if you are heading for botox injections for the first time, it is very important to have complete information about it. To guide you and add to your knowledge, here is a beginner’s guide to Botox treatment.

The basics about Botox

Botox is actually a brand name given to the botulinum toxin type A by its manufacturer, Allergan. It is actually a poison that is generated by bacteria which cause muscle paralysis. It     blocks the transmission of signals from the nerves to the muscles. This stops the activity of the muscles resulting in giving a smooth surface skin.

Botox can also be used a preventive treatment if you have a very strong muscle movement. Botox actually freezes the muscles that unable you to develop any wrinkle-causing expressions. Any formation of wrinkles from these muscles will take a long time to develop.

A brief overview of Botox history

Botox has been around for 100 years! You might feel surprised by this fact but this is true. In 1989 it got approval for treating eyelid spasm. During the 1990s it was used for treating the bladder spasms, excessive sweating and cerebral palsy among kids. In 2002, it was approved by FDA for the treatment of upper face wrinkles followed by FDA approvals for various other uses including a variety of medical conditions.

Why is Botox an effective wrinkle solution?

As explained above, botox is a muscle relaxant that prevents the muscles from contracting resulting in smooth skin. The wrinkles and lines are formed as a result of muscle overuse over a course of time and decrease in the natural collagen production in the skin. So by relaxing the muscles through Botox, the signs of ageing can be prevented.

The body areas treatable with Botox

Botox is very effective for the facial wrinkles and lines especially the upper face wrinkles. The effects of botox injections last for about 3-6 months. The treatment is simple and quick to perform with little to no recovery time required, which makes it an ideal treatment for the people having a busy lifestyle.

In addition to the anti-wrinkle treatment, Botox also provides relief to the patients suffering from hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating. The botox causes a temporary blockage of the sweat glands in the affected area which significantly reduce perspiration. The effects of Botox hyperhidrosis treatment lasts for about 9-12 months.

It is has also been found effective for reducing the migraine/headaches. The botox injections are given on the head, shoulders and neck which helps in reducing the intensity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Although the risks with Botox are quite low when injected by trained and qualified hands but it does not mean that the risks are eliminated altogether. Some common risks are an infection, asymmetry of facial features and in severe cases damage to the nerves. These factors should be considered seriously by the individuals who consider taking botox treatment.

Benefits of having Botox treatment

Risks do not mean that it does not have benefits. The botox injections offer a variety of benefits.

• It is a highly effective, safe and quick treatment to fix the ageing lines and wrinkles.
• The treatment has no downtime and the patient can resume the routine work after having the botox injections.
• Botox gives stunning results when used in combination with other non-surgical anti-ageing treatments such as dermal fillers.
• It not just reduces the present signs of ageing but can also provide prevention from further development of lines and wrinkles.
• The side effects of botox treatment are temporary which include swelling, bruising and redness.

What is an appropriate age for botox?

Botox is not meant for everyone. If you have ageing concerns and wants to prevent pre-mature ageing then you can opt for botox treatment. There is no hard and fast age limitation to have Botox but it is not recommended for the people of age 18 years or younger.

From the perspective of prevention, you can start having the Botox injections from your late twenties before the development of deeper lines and wrinkles. However, this is again variable from individual to individual depending on your skin quality.

The average cost of Botox injections

The Botox cost depends on the number of areas that require treatment and the quantity of botox units used for treatment. It can be from $150 for a single area to $700 for a complete face. The amount of botox required by males and females to treat wrinkles also differs because males have stronger facial muscles as compared to the females.

Seeking Botox treatment

As botox is a massively popular treatment, there is a large number of practitioners offering botox injections. But it does not mean that they all are alike. Therefore, before undertaking the botox treatment, always do thorough research about the practitioner. Ensure that the practitioner is qualified, professional, trained and experienced which is of paramount importance.