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Information, costs, and side effects
What
is Botox? Botox injections are a diluted form of botulism
which is injected into facial muscles to paralyze or weaken the
muscles that form wrinkles.
What
kind of wrinkles do Botox injections treat?
Wrinkles that are caused by muscle contraction, such as frown lines,
crow's feet, forehead creases, and neck bands can be safely and
successfully treated with Botox.
The History of Botox: Last year, the procedure
was performed in the United States more than 1.6 million times,
a 46 percent increase since 2000 and a 2,356 percent increase since
1997.
Botulinum toxins were first researched in the late 1960s to treat
neurological disorders. Botox was first approved by the FDA in 1989
to treat eye muscle disorders (blepharospasm, uncontrollable blinking,
and strabismus, crossed eyes). In 2000, it was approved to treat
cervical dystonia (a disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder
contractions). As an unusual side effect of the eye disorder treatment,
doctors observed that Botox softened the frown lines between the
eyebrow.
In April 2002, the FDA was satisfied by its review of studies
indicating that Botox reduced the severity of frown lines for up
to 120 days and approved the drug. It is under review for approval
to treat brow furrow, migraine headache, chronic tension headache,
upper limb spasticity, juvenile cerebral palsy, and hyperhidrosis.
The
avergae cost of Botox
Botox treatments: $325.
What to expect at your visit.
You will be asked to contract the facial muscles (frowning, squinting)
that affect the area to be treated. This will help your surgeon
determine the best location for the injection.
The injection is normally injected directly into the muscle with
a tiny needle.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery makes these suggestions:
- Ask questions about the benefits and risks involved in the procedure.
- Choose a medical setting using sterile techniques. Necessary
equipment should be available to respond to any potential problems.
- Avoid alcohol and remain upright for several hours following
the procedure.
Results of Botox injections: Results are normally
seen within a few days. Results generally last 3 months and require
occasional touchups.
Recovery after Botox: There is generally no recovery
period. You can go directly back to your normal activities.
Safety
and side effects
botox is proven to be safe and effective. Over the past 20 years,
Botulinum Toxin Type A has been evaluated in more than 200 studies.
There are no documented systemic complications associated with Botox
injections. Botox has been widely used for more than 11 years with
over 1 million people.
For more information, read an FDA
article on Botox treatments and see Botox
before and after photos.
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