Botox is a neurotoxin made from the botulinum toxin, which is produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It is widely used in medical and cosmetic procedures in small doses. Injections of Botox in Edgewater, NJ is well-known for decreasing the appearance of skin wrinkles and treating crossed eyes, excessive sweating, certain bladder disorders, and eyelid spasms.
What is Botox?
The botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum is highly toxic. One gram of crystalline toxin can kill one million people and several kilograms may end humanity. But, in a therapeutic setting, Botox is harmless and produces minimal side effects. Only tiny botulinum doses are used to make Botox injections.
The drug paralyzes muscles temporarily, which benefits a variety of disorders.
Botox causes temporary muscle paralysis by targeting the nervous system and disrupting signals for muscle contraction. Muscles contract when nerves produce acetylcholine (chemical messenger) at the meeting place of the nerve endings and muscle cells. The chemical messenger connects to receptors on muscle cells, causing them to contract.
Botox injections hamper acetylcholine production, which halts muscle cell contraction. The toxin decreases abnormal muscle contraction, which reduces stiffness in the muscles.
Cosmetic Uses
Here are the primary ways Botox injections are used cosmetically to reduce signs of aging and improve overall appearance:
- Diminish Wrinkles and Lines on the Face or Neck
As you grow older, fine wrinkles and lines start to appear on the face and neck. With in-depth knowledge of underlying anatomy, practitioners diagnose the muscles causing the appearance of wrinkles and lines and know the exact muscles to treat. With the right Botox injections, any undesirable wrinkles are softened for a smoother and younger look.
- Brow Lift
Your brown’s position depends on the functioning of the nearby muscles: corrugator muscle, frontalis muscle, and orbicularis oculi muscle. A professional Botox injector with a deep understanding of facial anatomy knows the right muscles to inject in order to achieve the desired brow position. A brow lift is usually used to give the eyes a more open appearance, or arch the eyebrow tail.
- Balance Irregular Lips and Decrease the Look of a Gummy Smile
Numerous people feel that their gum shows too much when they smile, or they have an irregular lip position. Fortunately, such problems can be corrected through the injection of small doses of Botox into certain muscles in the mid-face.
Beyond cosmetic uses, medical providers use Botox in the treatment of various health conditions associated with muscles. Such medical conditions include the following:
- Crossed eyes
- Eyelid spasms
- Cervical dystonia (a neurological movement disorder)
- Primary focal hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- An overactive bladder
Botox Procedure and Possible Risks
Powdered Botulinum toxin is diluted in saline and injected straight into neuromuscular tissue. The toxin takes effect in 24 to 72 hours, and its effects might last for 3 to 12 months, based on the treatment.
Most people do not experience any side effects after Botox injections. However, it is possible to experience the following:
- Mild pain and swelling around the injection spot
- Flu-like symptoms
- Numbness
- Temporary weakness in nearby muscles
- A headache
- Impermanent eye drooping
- An upset stomach
In addition, some people have a genetic predisposition that leads to an unusual response to the treatment. For others, antibodies to Type A botulinum toxin may develop and render future treatments ineffective.
