WRINKLE REDUCTION
Botox has been shown to reduce visible aging,help stop appearance of a permanent frown
By Joshua L. Fox
When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? When other people see you, what do they see? Our appearance often reveals our emotions. If we’re happy, a glow may be seen in our faces. And if we’re not having a good day, our faces may also tell that story through tightened muscles and wrinkles. Our facial expressions change as our emotions do.
Some people are perceived as being weathered, upset, or angry even when they’re not. This is because of the lines between their brows or because they always seem to be frowning. If you are one of these people, Botox may be right for you.
What is Botox?
Manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Allergan, Botox (botulinum toxin type A) is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It helps reduce the appearance of unwanted expression lines on the face. Most of these wrinkle lines are caused by excessive muscle contractions. In simple, nonsurgical procedures, only a few tiny injections that take only about 10 minutes to complete are injected into specific muscles, blocking the release of acetyicholine, a chemical that would otherwise signal those wrinkle-causing muscles to spasm, or contract. The results are a smoother-looking appearance because of the less-frequent muscle movement. The effects can be seen within a few days and last for up to four months.
Is Botox safe?
Botox has been used safely and effectively for more than a decade in the treatment of eye muscle disorders, as well as neurological movement disorders that cause severe neck and shoulder contractions. Last year alone, Botox was rated number one among the 8.5 million cosmetic procedures performed, with a 46 percent treatment increase from 2000.
Where can I get Botox? Is Botox right for me?
Because treatments are simple, any health care professional can administer Botox, but cosmetic physicians are generally more experienced in doing so. Fortunately there are cosmetic dermatologists in Queens who are experts in the area.
Botox is safe, effective, and affordable for everybody. Though the treatments are relatively risk-free and simple, the most important advice doctors could give patients is to make sure that their chosen physician is an expert in Botox treatments because even simple procedures can result in unwanted side effects if treatment is not administered accurately.