Botulinum toxin is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum type A. The toxin is beneficial to health and cosmetic procedures. This article explains more about what Botox is made from.
Botulinum toxin injection, commonly referred to as Botox,is a common cosmetic injection that has gained popularity because of its ability to smooth skin creases, fine lines, and wrinkles. The skin develops creases and wrinkles on contraction points when a patientmakes facial expressions such as surprise lines on the forehead. The creases become prominent also due to collagen loss, a protein that maintains the skin structure. The patient can also use botulinum toxin to smooth facial scars and improve various health conditions. This article will explain what botulinum toxin is made from.
What is BotoxMade from?
Botulinum toxin is a wrinkle muscle relaxer. According to Nigam & Nigam (2010),botulinum toxin is made froma toxin produced bythe bacterium clostridium botulinum type A, which is responsible for botulism food poisoning.The toxin causes the injected muscles to numb, preventing the muscle movements that lead to the formation of creases, fine lines, frown lines, or surprise lines. The toxin is injected into facial muscles of the forehead, chin, around the eye, eyebrows, lips and jawline. A cosmetic doctor or aesthetic practitioner does the botulinum toxin injection.
Benefits of Botox
Enhances Beauty
A patient can enhance beauty by smoothing facial creases, fine lines, frown lines, and surprise lines. The eyebrowsmay “fall” from their original positions as a patient ages; a botulinum toxin injection can help to lift them, or the client may want them shaped to their desired shape.
Improves Health Conditions
Botulinum toxin injection helps improve conditions like muscle pain. According to Matak et al. (2019), the toxin relaxes the muscles reducing the pain. The toxin can improve conditions like migraines, neck spasms, excessive sweating, and overactive bladder.
Minimally invasive and Almost Immediate Results
The botulinum toxin is minimally invasive with no downtime; the patient can resume work immediately after the procedure. The toxin results are visible after three to five days and at least a month for full results; the results will last for three to five months.
Procedure for Botulinum Toxin
Urdiales-Gálvez et al. (2017) explained that the cosmetic doctor would examine the patient face and mark the injection points; this will help to achieve the desired outcome. The toxin results depend on the cosmetic doctor and the botulinum toxin type.The cosmetic doctor will inject the marked points and massage the area to align the toxin. The procedure is not painful, and the time taken will depend upon the number of injections and the depth of the crease. The toxin does not have immediate results, but a few results will be seen after three to five days, noticeable results after 10 to 15 days and full results after at least a month.
Cost of Botox
The average cost of botulinum toxin is £500, depending on the type. The cosmetic doctor’s experience and location, the number of injections, the area treated, and the crease’s depth will determine the botulinum toxin’s cost. Highly experienced cosmetic doctors will charge more highly than the less experienced. Some cosmetic doctors charge per the area treated, while others charge according to the number of units injected. The cost per area treated is effective when dealing with a large area with deep creases, while the number of units is effective when treating a small area or doing touch-ups.
Aftercare for Botox
Başar&Arıcı (2016) explained that one should avoid alcohol and blood thinners for at least for 48hours to help reduce botulinum toxin side effects like bruising; this will help speed up recovery. One should not touch, massage, rub, or lie on your face for at least a week. Only a cosmetic doctor or aesthetic practitioner should massage the treated area. Applying pressure on the treated area can cause the toxin to spread beyond injection points, causing botulism-like signs and symptoms. The botulinum toxin is a sterile procedure; touching the treated area can introduce bacteria. Avoid using ice as a remedy for the side effects; it can also introduce bacteria.
Side Effects and Complications of Botox
Botulinum toxin is a safe procedure with minor side effects like headache, nausea, bruising, and flu-like symptoms. The toxin side effects last a few days; side effects that last more than two weeks are uncommon, and patients should see a cosmetic doctor immediately if they experience prolonged side effects.Complications with botulinum toxin are rare, but they can occur if it spreads beyond the treated area, causing botulism-like side effects. The client can also experience blurred vision and frozen facial expressions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Botox
Where Can I Get Botox?
A patient can get a botulinum toxin injection in a hospital or clinic specialising in cosmetics. The clinic should have a qualified cosmetic doctor or aesthetic practitioner who performs the procedure. A patient should buy the botulinum toxin from the cosmetic doctor performing the procedure.
How Long Does Botox last?
Botox results can last three to five months, depending on the area injected, the severity of the creases, the amount injected, and how often a client does touch-ups. The toxin lasts for a few months in first-timers than clients who have done touch-ups.
When Will I See theBotox Results?
A patient can notice minor botulinum results after three to five days, major results after 10-15 days and full results after a month. The amount injected and the depth of the creases also determine how soon you will see the toxin results.
Conclusion
Botulinum toxin injection is made from the bacterium clostridium botulinum type A, which is responsible for botulism food poisoning. The toxin is injected into facial skin muscles for cosmetic purposes like enhancing beauty by smoothing wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet. The toxin also helps improve health conditions like pain, migraines, neck spasms, excessive sweating, and overactive bladder. The toxin procedure is not painful, even though a patient may initially experience discomfort. After injection, the patient should not touch, massage, or lie on the treated area. The patient can reduce the chances of botulinum toxin complications by injecting at a hospital or clinic with a qualified cosmetic doctor or aesthetic practitioner.
References
Başar, E., &Arıcı, C. (2016). Use of botulinum neurotoxin in ophthalmology. Turkish journal of ophthalmology, 46(6), 282.
Matak, I., Bölcskei, K., Bach-Rojecky, L., &Helyes, Z. (2019). Mechanisms of Botulinum Toxin Type A Action on Pain. Toxins, 11(8), 459.
Nigam, P. K., & Nigam, A. (2010). Botulinum toxin. Indian journal of dermatology, 55(1), 8–14. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.60343
Urdiales-Gálvez, F., Delgado, N. E., Figueiredo, V., Lajo-Plaza, J. V., Mira, M., Ortíz-Martí, F., … &Rebenaque, C. V. (2017). An expert group consensus report recommends preventing the complications associated with dermal fillers in facial aesthetic procedures. Aesthetic plastic surgery, 41(3), 667-677.
In today's world, people's eating and exercise patterns have changed, and it is often lifestyle that is the cause of many diet-related illnesses. I believe that each of us is unique – what works for one does not help another. What is more, it can even be harmful. I am interested in food psychology, which studies a person's relationship with their body and food, explains our choices and desires for specific products, the difficulty of maintaining optimal body weight, as well as the influence of various internal and external factors on appetite. I'm also an avid vintage car collector, and currently, I'm working on my 1993 W124 Mercedes. You may have stumbled upon articles I have been featured in, for example, in Cosmopolitan, Elle, Grazia, Women's Health, The Guardian, and others.
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