Botox is a type of neurotoxin that has the effect of paralyzing or weakening the muscles. If Botox is administered in small doses, it can help in the reduction of skin wrinkles and can even help in treating other types of medical conditions. So, if you are thinking of getting a Botox, make sure that you consult this to your nearest Botox Carlsbad clinic first in order for you to get a preliminary assessment of your needs.
There is already a lot of treatments for health issues that the FDA has already approved in terms of Botox use. Some of these health issues that can be treated through Botox are eyelid spasms, excessive sweating, bladder disorders, and even migraines.
Basic Background about Botox
Botox is from the bacteria known as C. botulinum, and these are present in a lot of natural settings like soil, lakes, forests, including the intestinal tracts of mammals and fish. For C. botulinum that is naturally occurring from bacteria and spores, these are generally harmless. This only becomes a problem when the spores are transformed and there is an increase in a cell population, then there will be a point wherein the bacteria will start producing Botulinum toxin and this is a deadly neurotoxin that is responsible for botulism.
But, when used in the right amount and procedure, Botox is safe yet there are still a few side effects. Companies that manufacture Botox injections see to it that only a small dose of Botulinum toxin is being used. The effect of Botox when injected is the temporary paralysis of the muscles which is good for people that has various muscle or nerve disorders.
Below are some examples of commercial preparations of Botulinum toxin:
- Botox or the onbotulinumtoxin A
- Dysport or the abobotulinumtoxin A
- Xeomin or the incobotulinumtoxin A
- Myobloc or the rimabotulinumtoxin B
- Jeuveau or the prabotulinumtoxin A
Even with this diversity, people are still calling them “Botox” even though “Botox” is already a registered trademark that is being owned by one company.
Here’s How Botox Works
Since Botox is a type of neurotoxin, it will target your nervous system thereby creating a disruption in the nervous system that will signal the process that is responsible for stimulating muscle contraction, and this process is what causes temporary muscle paralysis.
The nerves will release a chemical messenger that is known as acetylcholine so that the muscle will have the ability to contract. This chemical messenger is released at the junction where the nerve endings will meet the muscle cells. Then, acetylcholine will attach to the receptors on the muscle cells and this will then cause muscle contraction. With Botox injection, this will prevent the release of acetylcholine, and this will stop the muscle cells from contracting, thereby making the muscles to be less stiff.
Common Cosmetic Uses of Botox
One of the main functions of Botox is to help in the reduction of the appearance of facial wrinkles. Botox injections have become the most popular procedure in terms of cosmetics use nationwide. There are already over 7 million people who had undergone Botox treatment in the year 2016 alone – imagine what the number is now!
Botox has become so world-renowned because it has effectively reduced the appearance of wrinkles, and the effect can last from 3 to 12 months which will depend mostly on the type of treatment that the patient had.
Below is a list of facial areas that people request the most with Botox injections:
- For glabellar lines or elevens which are wrinkles that manifest between the eyebrows which are called frown lines,
- For crow’s feet or wrinkles that you can see forming around the eyes
- For horizontal creases that form and appear in the forehead
- For Lines that you can see appearing at the corners of the mouth
Furthermore, there are also people who decided to try Botox injection in order to improve the appearance of their hair, however, there is still little evidence that will prove if this works or not.
Common Medical Uses of Botox
There is also an increasing number of healthcare professionals who are already using Botox as a way to treat different medical conditions, and most of these conditions are affecting the neuromuscular system.
The following uses of Botox have already garnered approval from the FDA, which is recommended for people ages 18 and above (unless otherwise provided):
- It can be used to treat upper limb for those who are 2 years old and above
- It can be used to treat crossed eyes, or strabismus for those are 12 years old and above
- It can be used as a treatment for severe underarm sweating or also known as hyperhidrosis
- It can be used as prevention to migraine for people who have migraine headaches that last at least 4 hours within 15 days or more days every month
- It can be used in the reduction of symptoms of an overactive bladder that is caused by a neurological condition (this is in the event that anticholinergic medications will not help)
- It can be used to treat eyelid spasms or blepharospasm that are caused by dystonia
- It can be used to treat cervical dystonia which is a neurological movement disorder that affects the head which leads to neck pain.
Cost, Duration, and Effectiveness of a Botox Procedure
The cost of a Botox procedure for medical use will be dependent on a number of factors such as:
- If the Botox procedure is for cosmetic or medical purposes
- As to who will administer the Botox treatment
- As to where the Botox treatment will take place
- As to the number of Botox injections that will be made
For cosmetic use, the average cost, duration, and effectiveness of a Botox procedure are as follows:
- For Botox treatment for frown lines or for crow’s feet, this will cost at least $376
- The procedure will last for 30 minutes at the most
- The improvement will start to appear within 1 to 5 days after the procedure
- There will be repeat treatments when deemed necessary and will usually happen every 4 to 6 months.
- The person who has undergone a Botox procedure can immediately resume work
