Botox
The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin is a popular injectable that temporarily reduces or eliminates facial fine lines and wrinkles. The most commonly treated areas are frown lines, forehead creases, crow's feet near the eyes. Several other areas have been treated such as thick bands in the neck, thick jaw muscles, lip lines and gummy smiles.
Botulinum toxin is a purified substance that's derived from bacteria. Injections of botulinum toxin block the nerve signals to the muscle in which it was injected. Without a signal, the muscle is not able to contract. The end result is diminished unwanted facial wrinkles or appearance. Commonly known types of botulinum toxin type A injections include Botox®, Dysport® and Xeomin®.
Botulinum toxin can be used to
• Smooth crow's feet, forehead furrows, frown lines, lip lines and bunny lines
• Diminish neck bands
• Improve the appearance of skin dimpling of the chin
• Lift the corners of the mouth
• Soften a square jawline
• Correct a gummy smile
Who can go for botulinum toxin injections
Smiling, frowning, squinting and even chewing—basically any facial movement—can eventually lead to one of the most common signs of aging – wrinkles. They can make you appear tired or even angry when you are not. One of the quickest and safest remedies to remove wrinkles is an injection of botulinum toxin type A.
Botulinum toxin can be combined with other cosmetic skin procedures—such as chemical peels, laser treatments, dermal fillers or microdermabrasion—to further improve your results. This combination of therapies can even help to prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles.
What is the cost of botulinum toxin injections?
The average cost of botulinum toxin injections (e.g., Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®) is10k to 15k, according to 2017 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The cost of botulinum toxin injections can vary. It is based on a few factors such as how advanced the fine lines and wrinkles are, how aggressively you want to treat the areas of concern and therefore the amount of product used.
A surgeon's cost may be based on the expertise and qualifications of the person performing the treatment, time and effort the treatment requires and geographic office location.
When choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for botulinum toxin, remember that the surgeon's experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the procedure.
CARE TO BE TAKEN
Don't rub or massage the treated areas after the wrinkle treatment because it can cause the botulinum toxin to migrate to another area of your face. If this happens, you could have temporary facial weakness or drooping.
Although generally safe, botulinum toxin side effects and complications can include:
• Bruising and pain at the injection site
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache
• Nausea
• Redness
• Temporary facial weakness or drooping
• It is very unlikely that the toxin might spread beyond the treatment area, causing botulism-like signs and symptoms such as breathing problems, trouble swallowing, muscle weakness and slurred speech
Steps of botulinum toxin injection
Injections of botulinum toxin may seem like a simple procedure to you, since it's just a few shots. But it's actually both an art and science that only an experienced healthcare professional should do.
There are 43 muscles in your face and it's vital that the person who performs botulinum toxin injections understands and pinpoints the correct spots to optimize your treatment.
A very thin needle is used to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin into specific muscles. By carefully choosing specific muscles, your healthcare provider weakens only the wrinkle-producing muscles, preserving your natural facial expressions.
Botulinum toxin treatment injections usually take less than 15 minutes.
The number of injections you need will depend on your facial features and the extent of your wrinkles. Crow's feet, for example, usually demand two to three injections. Furrows above your brow could take five or more.
Recovery after botulinum toxin injections
No anesthesia is required. There is no down time or recovery time for botulinum toxin injections.
