subject: Botox - Here's The 411 [print this page] Getting botox injections has really become the thing to do and it's hard to believe that it's a relatively new phenomenon. The first use of botox was to take care of a problem that results in twitching of the eye muscles. After people noticed that it also reduced the appearance of aging it soon started to be used as a way to make people look younger.
Wrinkles are created when the skin is constantly contracting because of pressure by the muscles. There is a chemical called acetylcholine that is released by the nerve endings that makes the muscle fibers contract. Given enough time the flexibility of the skin is compromised and permanent wrinkles form. When botox is applied to the nerve endings they stop producing acetylcholine. This effect lasts up to 3 months and then must be repeated.
Where to inject botox is highly important to the success of the treatment. A doctor who is experienced and knows what he's doing will inject at the point where the muscles contract the most and not necessarily where the most wrinkles appear. Once the botox is injected it collects around the nerve endings and stops them from making any more acetylcholine.
Another benefit of botox that you may not be aware of is its use as a treatment for migraine headaches. In tests performed by Allergan, the manufacturer of botox, over 1300 patients suffering from chronic headache and migraine were treated with botox injections in the neck and head. After six months the treated patients reported almost a one third reduction in headache days over a group who received no injections. What started as a strange observation by some patients has now turned into an approved treatment by the FDA.
Is there anything to worry about when going for botox? The biggest problem you will likely experience is the damage to your bank balance. Botox is not cheap and you will be paying at least $500 every six months to keep the treatments current. There are very few insurance plans that cover botox so it's likely you will have to pay it all yourself.
It's your job when doing something as important as cosmetic surgery to make sure that you have the best practitioner you can find. Choose a doctor who performs the operation on a daily basis and has lots of experience in doing it. Be clear on post-op and pre-op instructions and make sure that you follow them.
