Yahoo Lifestyle Everything You Need To Know About Botox
What is it?
“Botox is a protein that stops the communication between the nerve and the muscle, thereby relaxing the muscle,” explains Dr Joseph Ajaka, cosmetic surgeon at the Cosmos Clinic, Sydney.
What are the benefits?
“It relaxes the facial muscles leading to smoother skin with fewer wrinkles, without incisions, stitches or scarring,” says Dr Ajaka. He adds that it can also be used to manage excessive sweating and to ease tension headaches.
When will you see the results?
It usually takes two to five days and, in some cases, up to two weeks for the full effect.
Does it hurt?
According to Dr Ajaka, the needle is only slightly larger than that used in acupuncture, so there’s minimal discomfort (similar to a slight pinch). If needed, an icepack or topical anaesthetic can be used to numb the area.
Which areas of the face can it treat?
The most commonly treated areas include frown and forehead lines; crow’s-feet; and around the brow to lift or shape. Other areas include depressed corners of the mouth; neck bands; “bunny” lines on the nose; puckering of the chin; smoker’s lines; and lower jaw muscles to streamline the facial profile.
Can just one facial area be injected?
You can have the frown or smile lines treated alone, but I would not advise [just] the forehead to be treated as it can create an ‘angry man look’,” says Dr Ajaka. “An experienced injector will be able to advise the best course of treatment after detailed consultation.”
Are there any risks?
The most common side effects include mild swelling and bruising; however, according to Dr Ajaka, this is rare. “If Botox isn’t injected correctly, it may cause eyelid droop, uneven eyebrows or a crooked smile,” he says. “In some instances, they can be lessened by additional injections to the other side. In any case, the effects will go away over time, and will not be permanent.”
How long does it last?
Three to four months when injected in the correct doses, or for slightly less time if a smaller dose is used.
The bottom line?
Depends on the amount of Botox used, the injector (always visit a qualified medical practitioner or registered nurse), and the area treated. Prices start at $150 (for a brow lift) and range up to $1000 (for forehead, brows and eyes).
TRUE OR FALSE?
■ TRUE: Muscle relaxants have a range of uses.
“Botox was first used in humans for the treatment of strabismus [cross-eyes] in 1978,” says Dr Ajaka. “It’s now used to treat a number of medical conditions including cerebral palsy, migraine, urinary incontinence, excessive sweating, wry neck, and back and facial spasms.”
■ FALSE: You will look worse if you stop having treatments.
Once you cease injections, “you will simply revert to looking like you did before starting treatments”, claims Dr Ajaka, adding that “the effects can be cumulative with repeated treatments. The more you have, the weaker the muscle gets and the longer the effects last.”
■ TRUE: Muscle relaxants can be used around the lips.
While it can work wonders on smoker’s lines and to reverse a droop, it can’t be used to restore volume to your pout.
■ FALSE: Botox makes you look “plastic” and unnatural.
“With an experienced injector, patients can achieve a natural and more youthful appearance,” says Dr Ajaka.
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