Botox

Question: Botox, what toxin is injected, how much is injected, how long does it last for, how does it temporarily eliminate wrinkles?

OnabotulinumtoxinA, also known as Botox is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles to help certain muscular conditions or can be used to temporarily improve wrinkles.  Botulinum toxin being one of the most toxic to humans, when being injected it has to be in small dosages.  For glabellar lines administration is 0.5 mL into five sites for a total of 2.3mL. Lateral canthal lines administration is a little more being 0.6 mL which is four units of the toxin injected into three different areas sites.  Botox lasts for three to six months and after that time frame can be re-administered to the patient. There are two strengths for injections 50 units and 100 units of vacuum dried powder in a single use vial for reconstitution.

Botox temporarily eliminates wrinkles by blocking the acetylcholine receptors on the muscle side of the junction, meaning that it is essentially paralyzing the muscles for a short duration. “When Botox is injected into a muscle that causes a wrinkle from forming. The effects of Botox are most noticeable in dynamic wrinkles, or wrinkles that are only present when the muscle contracts.” When going through with the procedure of injecting Botox into your body it is always necessary to research the possible side effects that it could have on you. Normally the risks are not sever it can cause minor headaches and the individuals may have pain by the injection sites.

Botox injections are among the most commonly sought after cosmetic procedures in the United States. Gregory Evans the president of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said, “For the third consecutive year, the overall growth in cosmetic surgery continues to be driven by significant rise in minimally invasive procedures, while surgical procedures remain relatively stable.” Meaning Botox and other smaller procedures are becoming more of a norm, as opposed to more intensive procedures.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/20/demand-for-botox-fillers-drives-us-cosmetic-surgery-growth/

http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/botox_cosmetic_pi.pdf

http://dermatology.about.com/od/cosmeticprocedure/a/botox.htm