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Botox has become the
fastest growing cosmetic procedure in the
world. With its increasing popularity and
constant references in the media and
reality television as the new trend in
fighting wrinkles, it’s important to do
your research on its pros and cons before
deciding whether this is the treatment
for you.
What is Botox
and how does it
work?
Botox
is
a protein derived
from
botulism
toxin, which is the
same toxin that causes food poisoning. When
used in a medical setting as an injectable form
of sterile, purified Botulinum toxin it is
injected underneath skin into selected facial
muscles and existing frown lines in order to
minimize or smooth out lines and wrinkles on
the face. When low doses of
Botox
are
used, it actually paralyzes or
relaxes
facial
muscles, giving the
recipient a clean, smooth facial appearance.
This offers patients who may not be ready for a
face-lift a non-surgical alternative for a more
youthful appearance. Injections are carried out
by a very fine needle and are not very
painful.
The most common areas treated
are the frown lines between the eyes on the
forehead, and the horizontal lines on the
forehead and the crow's feet. Botox is also
used to treat medical conditions such as
cerebral palsy, dystonia, migraines and
excessive
perspiration.
What are the risks
associated with Botox
treatment?
Despite being
derived from the botulism toxin which is linked
to food poisoning and, patients receiving Botox
injections do not face many risks. The most
risk is encountered when the treatment is
administered by an untrained person. A small
percentage of people will experience some pain
and bruising around the area the Botox was
injected and in very rare cases minor
haemorrhaging has been reported. Patients can
experience recurrent headaches, nausea or
flu-like symptoms in the week following the
procedure. These side effects however are
believed to affect less than 10% of patients.
If Botox is
injected in the incorrect area it can cause a
droopy eyelid or face. Fortunately these
effects are rare and in these situations, the
effects of Botox are only temporary and should
wear off in between three to six months.
The
Benefits of
Botox
Botox is very popular and the number of people
both men and women seeking the treatment is
increasing all over the world. T
he
procedure takes little time, no anesthesia is
needed and the person can get back to his/her
usual activities almost immediate
ly. The effects appear in 3-5 days and lasts
for +- 4 months and improve the appearance of
the skin resulting in the patient looking years
younger than they are.
Who should
avoid using
it?
Pregnant or breastfeeding
women should not have Botox. Other
contraindications are diseases associated with
muscular weakness. The treatment could cause
bruising for people on anticoagulation agents
or aspirin therapy. People with
hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in
the drug formula should avoid it. Likewise,
anyone with cardiovascular disease may be at
risk during a Botox procedure and should tell
their doctor of their condition.
Botox is recommended for
patients between the ages of 18 and 65. People
outside this age bracket should carefully
consider all the risks involved before deciding
to go ahead with the treatment.
Conclusion
Although there are risks
associated with the use of Botox, the positive
feedback from patients seem to far outweigh
these risks. Botox seems to be a positive
development for the field of cosmetic surgery
and is a less intrusive and drastic measure to
the other cosmetic procedure aimed at regaining
youth. The fact that it’s easy, affordable and
quick and requires little if any recovery time
definitely make it a more attractive option for
many.
Do however note that
l
ittle is known about
the long-term cosmetic effects of Botox
and as the effects of Botox are only
temporary, patients must factor in the
cost of repeated
treatments.
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