Overview
Botox, a product first introduced to treat optic muscle disorders, also proves beneficial in reducing facial wrinkling. Treatment with Botox injections typically reduces wrinkles by 80 percent, although results are temporary, according to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery. Patients who choose Botox treatments to minimize wrinkles must receive follow-up treatment periodically to maintain their appearance.
Identification
Botox, medically known as the botulinum toxin type A, is a compound that stops muscle contractions by paralyzing facial muscles. The toxin works by disrupting the release of acetylcholine, a chemical necessary for muscle contractions. When the muscles don’t contract, wrinkles cannot form on the face.
Wrinkle Types
Static wrinkles remain visible on the face even when people don’t laugh, smile, frown or move their face. These wrinkles occur as the elasticity of facial tissue decreases as part of the aging process. Dynamic wrinkles occur as a result of muscle contractions. Dynamic wrinkles often develop between the eyebrows, on the forehead and at the corner of the eyes. Botox proves helpful in treating dynamic wrinkles, but is less effective in treating static wrinkles.
Procedure
Physicians apply numbing cream to the face before treatment to minimize pain due to the injections. Then the doctor marks the injection area with a pen prior to beginning the procedure. A syringe and needle injects the Botox under the skin at the marked points. Doctors may inject Botox in the areas where the muscle contracts, rather than directly in the wrinkle. After treatment, patients can complete their normal daily activities, but doctors may advise them to avoid sun exposure. Reduction in wrinkling is usually seen within one week of treatment and results may last for three to six months, according to DermaNetwork.
Side Effects
Some people experience side effects after undergoing Botox injections. Common side effects include pain and redness at the injection sites, flu-like symptoms, nausea and headache. Drooping eyelids and muscle weakness may also occur, although these side effects usually disappear in days or sometimes months after Botox injection, according to the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery.
Warning
If you are considering using Botox injections to reduce wrinkles, consult a doctor who is trained in administering the product. Ask if the doctor uses a product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and purchased in the United States. Unscrupulous people looking to make a quick profit at the expense of unsuspecting patients may use fake Botox products. In November 2004, the FDA investigated a case in which four people in Florida were temporarily paralyzed after receiving an unapproved botulinum toxin. The FDA reports 31 arrests and 29 convictions for injecting unapproved toxin as of July 2008.
