Botox and its wrinkle elimination properties are one of the most recognizable cosmetic treatments. Its use has a beneficial effect on the appearance of the skin, which makes it one of the most frequently chosen aesthetic medicine procedures by women for years. Check what is worth knowing about botox and its use.

What is botox?

The name Botox, or botulinum toxin, also known as botulism, is one of the most popular substances used in aesthetic medicine. Despite the fact that it is one of the strongest poisonous substances, used in a controlled manner, in the right dose and under the supervision of a professional, it has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin. The use of botulinum toxin is helpful in smoothing out expression lines. It even allows you to smooth out the so-called lion’s wrinkles that form between the eyebrows. In addition, recently it has been used to lift the corners of the mouth.

What is the effect of botulinum toxin on the skin?

By injecting Botox into the wrinkle area, nerve impulse conduction is impaired, and as a result, facial muscle contractions are blocked. As a result, the skin does not undergo further wrinkling, which directly affects the appearance of the face and smoothing out wrinkles.
Temporary discomforts may occur after the procedure. They usually involve swelling and irritation of the skin, and even the appearance of a small hematoma. They usually disappear after a few days, and the effects of botulinum toxin on the skin are visible for about 6 months.

Side effects and contraindications

Like any medical procedure, botulism injection can have side effects. The procedure itself is considered safe and complications occur in approximately 2 percent of patients. In this case, headache, nausea and flu-like symptoms may occur.
Other adverse effects can be directly related to the face and include drooping eyelids, redness, spread of the toxin to an adjacent nerve, or facial muscle weakness. However, it is worth noting that the procedure performed by a specialist makes the risk of complications very low.
Like every treatment and wrinkle reduction with botox, there are some limitations and contraindications. It is worth remembering that the procedure cannot be performed by pregnant women and women in the menstrual phase of the cycle. Before performing the procedure, it is worth refraining from using drugs that reduce blood clotting. Taking them will significantly increase the chance of bruising on the face.

How to prepare for the procedure?

As for any medical procedure, you should prepare yourself properly for Botox. However, this usually takes place in a doctor’s office. The procedure itself does not require additional tests and a short questionnaire conducted by a doctor is sufficient. Before the injection itself, the doctor will wash and disinfect the skin.
Anesthesia is not used for the injection of botulinum toxin, and the skin is cooled down beforehand. The procedure itself is not painful and is usually compared to a minor sting or a mosquito bite. This procedure has no age restrictions and it happens that people under 30 already use it. An important piece of information is that the injection of botulism on the skin has a preventive effect. By reducing skin wrinkling, the wrinkle formation process is much slower and may even be stopped in some cases.

How is the procedure going

It is a rather short procedure that takes about a dozen minutes. The doctor conducts a short interview with the patient in order to avoid complications. After completing this part, the specialist who performs the procedure cleans, degreases and disinfects the skin at the treatment site and starts injecting the skin. The number of punctures and the amount of material used depends on the place where the procedure is performed.
After the end of the work with the needle, the skin is cooled down again and lubricated with the preparation with Vitamin K. This action is aimed at preventing the development of hematoma at the injection sites. Recommendations after the procedure include the prohibition of touching the area that has been subjected to the treatment of smoothing wrinkles, sudden movements, bending and laying. This prevents the botox from moving under the skin.

Summaries

The treatment of smoothing wrinkles with the use of botulinum toxin is a safe and quick procedure. It is intended for people of all ages and can have a preventive effect that will really slow down the aging process of the skin. The procedure itself is painless and takes about several minutes. Prior to its performance, you should refrain from consuming fever and painkillers that may affect blood clotting. However, it is worth choosing a specialist who will ensure full professionalism, which will allow you to avoid or minimize the side effects of the procedure.

The effects of botulinum toxin injections are fully visible after any hematomas have disappeared, which takes several days and lasts for about half a year.