Botulinum Toxin Injections

Botulinum toxin injections are cosmetic treatments that can give you a more youthful appearance by relaxing the muscles that cause facial wrinkles. Keep reading to learn everything about Botox injections and how they can help you take the years off.

What are botulinum toxins?

Botulinum toxins are toxins that affect the nerves and cause muscle paralysis. They are produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum that causes food poisoning. If someone consumes large quantities of botulinum toxins in food or the bacterium enters the body through a wound, it can cause an illness called botulism which is characterized by muscle paralysis. However, doctors can use very small quantities of botulinum toxins to smooth wrinkles and treat several health conditions.

What are botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections?

Botox is a well-known brand name of botulinum toxin type A. Doctors inject it into specific muscles to smooth facial wrinkles. It is also used to treat certain health conditions. The quantity of the toxin in the injections is a fraction of the amount that is needed to cause botulism illness.

How do botulinum toxin injections work?

Facial wrinkles are caused by repeated muscle contraction. Botulinum toxin injections work by temporarily paralyzing the nerves to a specific facial muscle. As a result, the muscle becomes weak or paralyzed and is unable to contract. Several muscles can be treated at the same time with multiple injection sites. When the facial muscles relax, there is improvement in the wrinkles. The effects of botulinum toxin injections last several months, after which they need to be repeated to maintain a youthful appearance.

What are the types of botulinum toxin injections?

Botulinum toxin A injections are available under different brand names. Your doctor will offer you one of the following botulinum toxin type:

• Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA)
• Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA)
• Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)
• Jeauveau (prabobotulinumtoxinA)

What is botulinum toxin used for? What do botulinum toxin injections treat?

Although botulinum toxin injections have gained popularity as a cosmetic treatment, there are several therapeutic uses for them in medicine today. Doctors use botulinum toxin to treat the following health problems:

• Overactive bladder
• Chronic migraine
• Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
• Strabismus (problem with eye alignment or crossed eyes)
• Blepharospasm (involuntary eyelid blinking or twitching)
• Dystonia (excessive muscle contractions)
• Cervical dystonia (painful contraction of the neck muscles)
• Involuntary movement disorders (tics)
• Spasticity in adults and children
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)

Botulinum toxin injections in plastic surgery

Botulinum toxins can be injected in various parts of the face to give it a more youthful appearance. Doctors use Botox to treat aesthetic concerns such as:

Upper Face

• Frown lines near the eyebrows
• Bunny lines above the nose
• Forehead furrows and lines

Eyes

• Crow's feet (wrinkles near the eyes)
• Tear troughs (deep creases under the eyes)
• Drooping brows or hooded eyebrows

Lower Face

• Lip wrinkles or lipstick lines
• Gummy smile
• Sagging jowls
• Chin dimples
• Neck bands
• Jawline and neck

How long do Botox injections last?

In most patients, treatment with botulinum toxins lasts for 3-4 months. Some patients may get longer-lasting results of up to 6 months while in others it may only last 2 months. In general, when you get botulinum toxin injections for the first time, they may not last for long. With repeat treatments, you will likely be able to obtain longer-lasting results. After 3-4 months, the effects of the botulinum toxin injection will begin to slowly wear off. At this time, you will need to return to the clinic for a repeat injection of botulinum.

How to prepare for Botox treatments?

At the time of your consultation, be sure to give your aesthetician all your health information. Before the procedure, you should follow your doctor's instructions. You may be asked to stop the use of certain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen that can increase the risk of bleeding with injection treatments.

What to expect with Botox injections?

The Botox injection itself is quick and only takes a few minutes. Your doctor will inject the botulinum toxin type A into the target muscles with thin needles. The total duration of the treatment will depend on how many areas of the face you are having treated. There is very little pain or discomfort with the injections. Your doctor might use a numbing medicine to reduce discomfort. It is worth noting that the results are not visible immediately. It can take up to a week for the Botox to take full effect.

There is no recovery time or downtime after Botox injections. You can return to normal activities after a few hours. Your dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon, or aesthetic expert will advise you to avoid touching, rubbing, or massaging the area for 4-6 hours. Essentially, you should leave the treated area alone. You may be asked to remain upright and avoid lying on your face for a few hours. You should also avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.

What is the best age to get Botox?

Botox treatments are not offered to individuals under 18 years of age. Most people in their 20s don't need them anyway. The average age when people start these treatments is the mid-30s. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely to notice deeper, more pronounced wrinkles and lines on the face that can benefit from Botox injections and help in looking younger, fresher, and rejuvenated.

What are the side effects of Botox?

The most common side effects of Botox are mild discomfort and swelling at the injection site. Some people experience headache or flu like symptoms. Rarely, there can be complications such as a crooked smile, drooling, droopy eyelids, or dryness/excessive tearing of the eyes. You can reduce the risk of bad side effects like muscle weakness from Botox by carefully choosing an experienced provider who is licensed to perform Botox cosmetic treatments.

Questions to ask your doctor

At the time of your consultation, you can consider asking your aesthetic provider the following questions:

• Do I need Botox or something else?
• Should I get the treatments now or wait?
• How much will Botox treatments cost?

Botox can help you look years younger with a quick, convenient treatment. The MeTime app makes it easy to find expert providers for Botox injections in your area. You can click and upload pictures and have suggestions sent directly to you. Interested in booking a consultation for Botox injections? Try the MeTime app now!