How is Botox treatment done?

What is Botox?

As of January 2021, Botox was the most popular cosmetic procedure searched online in Canada with a monthly search volume of over 18 thousand. Botulinum toxin type A, also known as Botox, is derived from the bacteria that cause botulism. Doctors use Botox to treat certain muscular conditions. It has recently been adapted and used cosmetically to remove age-related facial lines and wrinkles. When botulinum toxin is injected, it inhibits nerve signals that cause muscles to contract. Therefore, the muscles relax and resultin fewer wrinkles. This effect lasts between 3 and 6 months. The muscles then move again, causing the appearance of wrinkles to return. Doctors prescribe it in small doses to treat a variety of health issues including wrinkles, excessive sweating under the arms, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, and strabismus.

What are the benefits of Botox?

Botox helps with many conditions including:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Muscular disorders
• Neck spasms
• Migraines
• Excessive sweating
• Cold hands
• Overactive bladder

What Is the Treatment Procedure?

Your healthcare practitioner will first check if you qualify for Botox injections by conducting a physical examination, gathering medical history, and asking you about your expectations and goals for getting Botox injections. Botox treatment only takes a few minutes.

Before administering Botox (or another Neuromodulation) injections, the treatment area will be cleansed with alcohol or an antiseptic like beta dine. The powder form of botulinum toxin is diluted with saline before being injected into the neuromuscular tissue.

At the intersection of nerve endings and muscle cells, acetylcholine, a chemical messenger, is released by the nerves to cause any muscle to contract. The muscle cells shorten or contract when acetylcholine binds to receptors on the cells. Most patients opt to have topical anaesthetic ointment applied to the treatment locations to numb the area.

Botox injections function by paralyzing or weakening muscles or by obstructing nerves. Depending on what you are treating, the effects can last anywhere from three to twelve months.

It’s possible to experience short-term pain, burning, or numbness at the injection site. Nevertheless, Botox injections can occasionally result in bleeding or rapid bruise at the injection site. Botulinum toxin takes 24-72 hours to start working. The complete effects of botulinum toxin may take up to 5 days to manifest in extremely uncommon situations.

What Are the Side-Effects of Botox?

Depending on the location being treated, botulinum toxin injections can have different side effects. Most problems are minor and become better within a day or two. Possible negative effects of Botox include:

• Pain, swelling, bruising at the injection site
• Headache
• Neck ache
• Drooping eyelids
• Stomach indigestion
• Eye redness

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not get Botox done.

Planning to get a Botox treatment done? Consult a healthcare provider at MedCare Aesthetics today and take that first step in achieving the look you desire!