Botox Cosmetic

Take a Shot at Beauty with Botox

A simple fix to those annoying deeply set facial, Botox Cosmetic is not new to the skin rejuvenation scene. Touted as a pharmaceutical launch comparable only to Viagra, the entry of Botox has sparked an amazing avalanche of opinion on how people normally feel about physical appearance and the lengths to which they are willing to go to look younger. Are baby boomers so desperate to hold on to their youth that they’d allow poison to be injected into their skin? Then there are the endless articles inquiring if doctors who enjoy “Botox-bashing” have hit a low point in medical ethics. And let’s not forget the movie industry: How do we deal with Botox-treated actors who can no longer have the ability to show facial expression?

Over a decade has passed since a Vancouver ophthalmologist, Dr. Jean Carruthers, noticed that those patients who received Botox injections to treat conditions eyelid twitching were really happy with the results and were requesting further treatments to help give them a more youthful, relaxed appearance. Call it serendipity that Dr. Carruthers was married to another Dr. Carruthers (this one a dermatologist) who promptly began to look into foregoing the use of Botox for uncontrollable eyelid twitching and see instead if it indeed would help eradicate wrinkles.

A Positive Side Effect

Botox Cosmetic, or botulinum toxin type A, is the neurotoxin (poison) produced by bacteria most commonly known to cause botulism, a form of food poisoning. This toxin leads to muscular paralysis, which is why botulism is such a serious condition.

Botox is a great example of turnig a side effect into a positive outcome. Translate paralysis into relaxation of the muscle and you can see that there are going to be possible benefits to many medical conditions that arise due to prolonged or permanent contraction of the muscles. Used to treat such conditions as spastic colon, blepharospasm (eyelid twitching), strabismus and neurological disorders such as cervical dystonia, the use of Botox is continually being expanded by medical professionals and is also helping reduce excessive sweating of the palms, underarms and forehead.

Different Lines, Different Sites

As you age, the epidermis thickens, becoming lack luster. Our oil glands start to dry up and our skin becomes dry and rough. Blotchy skin conditions are exacerbated by continuous sun exposure. These are all epidermal skin changes that typically respond nicely to your choice of skin bleaches, topical vitamin A creams or OTC retinols as well as glycolic acid products, chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Down in the dermis, the collagen and elastin fibers are deteriorating. This results in loose, sagging skin, fine wrinkle lines and an increased likelihood of bruising.

The muscles on the other hand have been working overtime to show just how expressive you really are. Take a good look in the mirror. Remember when your mother told you to get that look off your face or your face would freeze?

Over the past 30+ years each and every time you smiled, frowned or raised your brows in surprise you were building those muscles of facial expression as much as if you were building a bicep from lifting weights. The more that bicep is exercised the larger it becomes. Over many years, we overwork the muscles of facial expression in much the same way until they thicken, leaving deeply grooved wrinkle lines.

These are not the fine little wrinkle lines that respond to topical skin rejuvenation therapy. This is where Botox comes in. Botox helps temporarily paralyze these muscles that have literally frozen in place, inducing relaxation and a smoothing out of the wrinkles. Be sure to incorporate or maintain an active skin rejuvenation regimen in between treatments to keep the surface skin looking its best.

Lunchtime Facelift

Called the “lunchtime facelift”, Botox is a quick, simple series of injections using a tiny needle into the unwanted wrinkles. You’ll be asked to make that undesirable expression. It may seem strange, but you may find yourself forcing a smile in order to say goodble to your crows’ feet.

Let’s face it, nobody likes shots, even if we’re asking for them. Applying an ice pack to the area about to be injected for just a minute or two helps minimize the pain associated with the injection. The use of an ice pack can also help reduce some of the potential bruising and swelling.

Botox may be a “lunchtime facelift” but you still may have a touch of redness at the site of each injection. For any immediate bruising, use a concealer to camouflage the injection site.

Life tends to go on as normal after you’ve had your Botox injections. While you can pretty much go back to your normal routine immediately, it is crucial that you keep your head upright for 4 hours after the injection. This prevents Botox from spreading to adjacent muscles where you don’t want it to go. This means no naps, laying down, exercising or even shoe shopping.

Truly a Quick Fix

Within 2 weeks, you should see your improvement. If you have paper-thin fair skin, you may find your results are quite rapid. For people who have thicker, oilier skin, 2 weeks is a pretty typical time to wait.

Nobody’s face is perfectly symmetrical and a touch-up, particularly after your first treatment is normally required. Should you find that you have a hint of a frown or one brow goes up a little more than the other side leaving you looking somewhat quirky, dermatologists would usually advise you to wait for a touch-up until a full 2 weeks after the initial treatment have passed. This will allow everyone to judge how fully the treatment took as well as plan for adjustments to future treatments. Most dermatologists will make some arrangement so that the patient does not have to pay the entire amount all over again.

Touch-ups and Follow-ups

Nothing, not even a facelift is permanent. You can expect the effects of Botox to last between 3 to 6 months. You will find that repeat treatments may extend the time between further injections. One theory is that like the bicep you worked so hard to build, lack of use will result in a soft, flabby muscle. Paralysis of the facial muscles due to Botox helps soften these muscles of expression you’re no longer using over time. Don’t use it (the muscle) and lose it. In this case, you’re losing the wrinkle. This is the rare instance when not working out works to your advantage.

Botox helps temporarily paralyze these muscles that have literally frozen in place, inducing relaxation and a smoothing out of the wrinkles.

Manageable Side Effects

Fortunately problems are relatively minor and temporary. Side effects can include temporary paralysis of adjacent msucles such as eyebrow or eyelids resulting in ptosis, a drooping of the eyelid. This tends to last only 3-6 weeks. And it’s unusual if the doctor stayed at least 1 cm away from your eyebrows when injecting. Prescription eye drops may help improve this while you wait for the side effect to wear off. Local bruising or temporary swelling of the treated area are also possible.