An Introduction to the Benefits of BOTOX® Injections

Although they are called “laugh lines”, the wrinkles that appear near the eyes and across the forehead and cheeks are not all that funny, and can make someone look a great deal older than they are. Such a condition actually begins with a chemical in the skin called acetylcholine which causes the nerve and muscle to contract and which creates the wrinkle. Until only a short while ago there was no available treatment for preventing the creation of the chemicals that lead to the wrinkle, but today there is the well-known BOTOX® injection that works as a serious anti-wrinkle treatment.

The injections are developed from Botulinum Toxin Type A, which is also used often to combat an incredible array of other conditions that include migraine headaches, pain from arthritis, and more.

Before any treatment begins, the patient and the physician review the areas of the face that need to be addressed with anti-wrinkle injections. Often the facial plastic surgeon maps out the region where the injections are to occur and then a numbing agent is applied to provide the patient with a more comfortable experience. The injections are intended to interfere with the acetylcholine release that causes the wrinkles, though this can only last for roughly 90 days before more BOTOX® cosmetic is going to be needed.

The most common side effects of the injections are a bit of discomfort at the injection point along with temporary swelling, and an occasional headache, bout of nausea, or some flu-like symptoms though these are very rare and short-lived. Some patients see results immediately, though it may take up to one week for the full effects to appear. Generally the injections last for a three month time span, though some patients can enjoy their results for up to five months as well.

While some patients are happy with the results of BOTOX® injections alone, there are some that also seek out additional treatments that range from chemical peels to facelifts.