What Are Botox Injections?
You may have seen all those articles of Hollywood celebrities who secretly had Botox. They looked decades younger than they really were. They had no lines and wrinkles, no sagging around the jaw and cheeks. It was is Botox had given them eternal youth.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Botox is a type of facial filler that is used for facial rejuvenation and anti-aging. It’s actually made from a neurotoxin from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. This toxin freezes muscle movement by blocking the signals the nerves send to the muscles.
How does that help you from looking older? In the hands of an experienced aesthetic doctor, Botox can be injected into specific muscles that activate the fine lines around the forehead, eyes and mouth. They usually look the most prominent when you squint, smile or frown. By temporarily paralyzing those particular muscles, your lines won’t appear whenever you talk or when your facial expressions change.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A BOTOX TREATMENT?
Botox injections take less than half an hour and don’t need any anesthesia. If you’re squeamish about needles, your doctor may apply a topical numbing cream.
It’s not a painful procedure since the docor will only be using very fine needles, but you can experience some mild discomfort or soreness that will go away in just a few minutes.
IS THERE A LONG RECOVERY TIME?
You can return to your normal activities the same day, but for the first 24 hours, you should anything that could bruise your face or cause the Botox to “migrate” to other parts of the face. You may see some mild redness and swelling, but this can be easily managed with over the counter medicines like aspirin or anti-inflammatories.
BENEFITS OF BOTOX INJECTIONS
Botox is considered a non-invasive alternative to plastic surgery. Face lifts will require hospitalization, anesthesia (and its corresponding risks) and weeks of bruising and recovery time. These are also more expensive, not just in terms of surgical costs but the medicines and post-operation consultations you will need to take to prevent infection.
So for many people who want a more youthful face, Botox is a safer and more affordable way of getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles. They may also feel that Botox looks more natural. Instead of altering their face shape, they are simply “freezing” the muscles that cause fine lines and wrinkles to look prominent. You still look like you – just a younger version of you!
