Did you know that Botox is one of the most common facial rejuvenation procedures? Over the past decade, Botox has risen in popularity and has seen a marked increase in the number of procedures performed all over Canada and North America. As Botox becomes more popular, many people want to know the benefits of this cosmetic procedure.
What I would like to share is that Botox is one of the top non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the world used primarily to soften or eliminate forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Facial muscles are used to smile, frown or allow any facial expression and this muscle activity contributes to your facial lines and wrinkles. Facial lines often commence as dynamic lines and deepen becoming static lines which, over time, create permanent furrows. Once the muscles are relaxed, lines and wrinkles smooth and new lines are prevented from forming.
What is Botox?
Botox injections are noted primarily for their ability to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. They're also used to treat conditions such as neck spasms (cervical dystonia), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), an overactive bladder and lazy eye. Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines.
Botox injections use a toxin called onobotulinumtoxinA to temporarily prevent a muscle from moving. This toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. Botox was the first drug to use botulinum toxin.
A Brief History of Botox
Botox was originally FDA-approved in 1989 for the treatment of blepharospasm and other eye muscle problems. In 2002, the FDA approved the use of Botox for cosmetic treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. It was approved by the FDA for the treatment of wrinkles around the corners of the eyes in 2013. By 2016, over 4.5 million procedures were performed using Botox and similar medications to fight wrinkles!
What Are Some of the Uses for Botox?
Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. Botox injections are also used to treat conditions that affect how the body functions. Examples include:
Cervical dystonia. In this painful condition, your neck muscles contract involuntarily causing your head to twist or turn into an uncomfortable position.
Lazy eye. The most common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles responsible for positioning the eye.
Muscle contractures. Some neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can cause your limbs to pull in toward your center. In some cases, these contracted muscles can be relaxed with Botox injections.
Hyperhidrosis. In this condition, excessive sweating occurs even when the temperature isn't hot and you're not exerting yourself.
Chronic migraine. If you experience migraines more than 15 days a month, Botox injections may help reduce headache frequency.
Bladder dysfunction. Botox injections can also help reduce urinary incontinence caused by an overactive bladder.
Eye twitching. Botox injections may help relieve contracture or twitching of muscles around the eye.
What to Expect When You Visit Core Healing for Botox?
Botox works by temporarily blocking nerve signals and muscle contractions. This improves the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes and between the eyebrows. It can also slow the formation of new lines by preventing the contraction of facial muscles. Botox is renowned for its ability to reduce facial lines and bring about a youthful glow! It is a wonderful anti-aging measure that is affordable and accessible.
It is a minimally invasive procedure. It does not involve incisions or general anesthesia. If you are concerned about pain or discomfort, I can provide an ice pack to numb the treatment area.
During the procedure, I will use a thin needle to administer the injections of botulinum toxin type A. This will be injected in the targeted area around the face. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes and has no downtime.
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