Botox is the commercial name for a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin that has cosmetic and medical treatment applications. Botox is injected in liquid form through a needle directly into the muscles or nerves desired, by a medical professional. The procedure is relatively painless and generally takes only a few minutes to complete.
Uses
Common cosmetic Botox treatments include injections into the brow line to release and relax the wrinkle lines between the eye brows, injections into facial creases around the mouth and eyes, and injections in the underarm area to treat excessive sweating that antiperspirants cannot control. Botox is used for medical treatments in cases of muscle stiffness in the arms and hands, eye spasms in the muscles around the eyes, and abnormal head and neck pain in cases of cervical dystonia.
Function
Botox works by disabling the nerve cells from sending signals to the muscles in which they are embedded. This prevents the muscles from contracting. In cosmetic purposes, this causes the muscles to relax, and hence the lines at the surface of the skin above the muscles begin to fade and disappear over time. The relaxation of muscles also has medical implications as stated above.
Benefits
Beyond the desired results that can be achieved by using Botox, the major benefit of this course of cosmetic or medical treatment is that it is a non surgical option. It can be administered by many types of medical professionals in an outpatient procedure that is fast, often occurring in a matter of minutes. Botox is generally covered by most insurance as a course of medical treatment. However, as a cosmetic procedure it is generally not covered by insurance; the out-of-pocket cost, as of 2010, is around $400 for one area of treatment, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Side Effects
Botox has the potential for extreme side effects. Problems swallowing, breathing and eating can develop, with the extreme complication of death as a result of these developments. A feeding tube can be required if swallowing problems occur. According to the Botox Medication Guide, these side effects can take up to three months to lessen. Other potential side effects include botulism, which results in drooping eyes, double vision, loss of bladder control, trouble speaking, blurred vision and loss of strength and muscle control all over the body.
Considerations
While Botox is a non surgical option for treatment of certain medical and cosmetic conditions, it is not a permanent fix. The neurotoxin is slowly filtered out of the body by the internal organs and eventually must be re-administered. The effects of Botox generally stay in place for three to six months. The user must then decide whether to absorb the cost of another doctor visit and cost of medication to continue treatment.
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