What is BOTOX?
BOTOX is a drug known most widely for its ability to temporarily smooth out facial wrinkles, though it also has several medical applications. Both its cosmetic and medical applications relate to Botox’s ability to block muscle contractions. Botox is manufactured by Allergan, based in Irvine, CA . Its key ingredient is the same toxin responsible for Botulism food poisoning.
Botulinum toxin is “the most poisonous substance known,” with the capacity to cause muscle paralysis and death in humans and other animals. The toxin is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum and has seven different forms known as serotypes (labeled A through G). Botox is a purified form of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTA).
How Does Botox Work?
The active ingredient in Botox, BTA, blocks nerve impulses to muscles by interfering with the release of a key chemical involved in nerve signal transmission. Specifically, BTA binds to sites at the tips of nerves, enters these nerve “terminals” and inhibits the release of acetylcholine. As a consequence, the nerve’s signal to contract fails to reach the muscle. Over time, however, the nerve can grow new connections to the muscle, which is why, for example, Botox’s effect on smoothing out facial wrinkles is only temporary (3-6 months).
What is Botox Used For?
Botox is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat several medical conditions (its “therapeutic” applications): Cervical Dystonia – involuntary movement and prolonged muscle contraction of the neck , Blepharospasm – involuntary forcible closure of the eyelids Strabismus – crossed eyes , Hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating, Dynamic muscle contracture in pediatric cerebral palsy patients (approved as an orphan drug)
Who can give Botox injections?
It is the best in the hands of an expert dermatologist. For many doctors, what's interesting is they have either physician assistants or nurse practitioners that are giving the Botox injections within their office WHICH IS UNETHICAL AND MALPRACTICE.
How is Botox applied?
Botox comes in a crystallized form in a small vial. On the date of your procedure, your doctor will add either normal saline or water to the small vial, draw up the Botox in a syringe, and then inject it into the muscles that are to be paralysed. Each doctor has his own solution. There are 100 units of Botox in a vial, so how many Botox units are injected into the area will depend on how much he dilutes the Botox. That's something you may want to ask your doctor; "How many units of Botox do you usually inject in a certain area?"
How much Botox is used in an injection?
Each doctor has his own solution. There are 1 units of Botox within a vial, so how many units of Botox are injected into the area will depend on how much he dilutes the Botox. That's something you may want to ask your doctor; "How many units of Botox do you usually inject in a certain area?"
What is "hyperhidrosis" and how can Botox treat this condition?
Hyperhydrosis is a fancy term for excessive sweating. The most common areas for hyperhydrosis are in the armpits, the hands and in the soles of the feet. Hyperhydrosis can be quite embarrassing and what's great about Botox is it paralyzes the small muscles around the sweat glands. So it really takes care of hyperhydrosis in those areas. Botox works for about six to eight months and works very well before the wedding day and before the Oscars
What is a "Botox party"?
A “Botox party” is really a slang expression for when a variety of patients get together, either in a doctor's office or in an informal setting, and all get Botox injections together. The reason that Botox parties have gotten a negative response is because many times there was alcohol served, and what is considered a medical procedure was really treated in an informal manner. There's nothing wrong with having a Botox party, but the members of the Botox party should always remember that it is, in fact, a medical procedure that requires an informed consent. Having a couple of beers before a medical procedure is never a good idea.
Can I receive Botox if I am pregnant?
There are no specific regulations against injecting Botox into pregnant patients, but I believe that the majority of dermatologists should not inject Botox into anyone that's pregnant.
It's important to tell your doctor whether or not you have any medical conditions before getting a Botox injection, specifically if you have a neuromuscular disease or any autoimmune diseases, you may not be a candidate for Botox injections. The other issue before a Botox injection, and what many patients neglect to tell their doctors is whether or not they're taking aspirin or any other anticoagulants, or blood thinners, before having a Botox injection. If you are taking certain blood thinners, or certain herbal medications that can make it more likely that you'll bleed after the procedure, you may be better off holding off on Botox injection for a week or two.
What are the potential side effects associated with Botox injections?
What I love about Botox is that it is, for the most part, safe and effective, and really works well. The major complications and side-effects with Botox are: one, sometimes there can be some bleeding at the site of injections. For most of us, we use a very tiny needle, so that's really not an issue. The second most common complication with Botox is that, for some patients, the Botox doesn't work, and for most of us, we will just re-inject that area. In terms of using Botox around the eye area, the number one concern is that sometimes you can get some eyelid drooping, and that's usually temporary and will go away. In terms of doing Botox injections around the mouth, the muscles are pretty tiny around there. As a result you can get some paralysis around the mouth, but again, that will usually wear off rather quickly.
What are the benefits of Botox?
What I love about Botox is it is safe, effective, and it really works. Botox involves a tiny injection into areas. Botox is relatively painless, and it does as it's advertised. Botox paralyzes those muscles and gets rid of wrinkles around the eye area. For other applications such as hyperhydrosis or excessive sweating, Botox really works. So Botox surgery is minimally invasive. It's a small needle stick and it really works as advertised.
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