Posts Tagged ‘Muscles’

Possible Side Effects of Botox Injections

Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Isabel Baldry recently asked:


You may be torn between having a botox injection or not. You are certain that you want to get rid of these ugly frown lines that makes you look older than you really are. However, you are scared because of the possible side effects that it would cause.

In the first place, what is BoTox? A cosmetic treatment involves injection of bacteria called Botulinum Toxin to remove unwanted frown lines or wrinkles. Administration is usually done through a number of injections of small amounts of botox. They say that the procedure only takes 10 minutes, does not require anesthesia and causes only a minimal amount of discomfort.

They would be lying if they tell you that having a BoTox treatment would not cause any side effect. This procedure may sound simple since it is non-surgical in nature. However, what is injected into your skin is a kind of bacteria, which is foremost, a foreign body that the body would expectedly reject at first. This is aside from the fact that this bacterium is commonly found in spoiled food.

So you ask yourself this question: Why in the world do they have to use bacteria found in spoiled food? The answer is simple: you want the effect that this bacterium does, which is paralysis. Scientifically speaking, this is how it works. The botox attach to the nerve endings causing acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that triggers muscle contractions are to become impeded. When this happens, muscles stop to contract. In fact, people may die of botulinum toxin if it attacks the respiratory system or the muscles in the chest. So going back to the botox treatment context, if this injected area of the face cannot move, it definitely cannot wrinkle. However, note that these effects are also temporary – lasting only about six to eight months.

So now you think it does not sound so bad, after all. Then, what side effects are we talking about? The more normal ones include redness at the injection site, local numbness, swelling, bruising, muscle weakness and ****** pain. There can also be temporary headache, nausea and other flu-like symptoms. Some have even reported cases of upper respiratory tract infection. Other complications would include squinting, double vision, ptosis (drooping of the eyes) or even dysphasia (impairment of speech and language comprehension) in extreme cases.

These complications do not happen very often, but are still possible. It is also important to note that botox treatments are strictly not encouraged for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people who are allergic to botox or have infections in the forehead, and those who are under specific medications. You will need to consult your doctor if you have any related concerns.

They say that wrinkles on your face are supposed to be called character lines – that each you find on your tells a different story. They say that these lines mark wisdom, experience and achievement. But if you believe more in youth and appearance than wisdom and experience – then Botox is your choice.

All cosmetic procedures involves some amount of risk. Any procedure that goes contrary to what is natural is risky. However, if you think it is all worth it, go ahead.





Botox®

Friday, September 11th, 2009
Patricia Woloch recently asked:


Strength of toxicity depends on size of the dose. The botulinum toxin is the most poisonous protein in the world if given in a large enough dose, and can paralyze muscles throughout the body. But when Botox is injected in a cosmetic treatment, the dose is so miniscule that it affects only the specific muscle it was injected into. That tiny “toxicity” is the beauty of a Botox injection, and the reason it works.

How Botox Works

Botox injections temporarily paralyze the muscle. It prevents the nerve impulse from connecting to the muscle, so in effect, it makes the muscle deaf, unable to respond to neural messages.

If you have frown lines, it’s because over the years, for whatever reason, the muscles in the forehead have been contracting, and have formed those vertical wrinkles. They tend to make the face look cross or upset when you don’t feel that way. You might have been frowning all those years simply because some lighting was too bright, but the resulting lines cause people to form an inaccurate impression of your feelings.

By paralyzing the muscle, Botox prevents it from contracting. So for the four to six months that the injection is effective, you do no frowning. This tends to smooth out your forehead lines. When you have repeat Botox injections, the muscle starts to unlearn its habit of contracting. So you would end up frowning less often even if you stopped having injections.

Any side effects?

There have been over 200 studies done and over a million people have had Botox injections, but systemic allergic reactions have been extremely rare. You might have some bruising or tenderness at the injection site. This is not because of the Botox itself, but because of the injection. A very fine needle is used, but it can still leave you with bruising for a few days, depending on how easily you tend to bruise. Some people experience some temporary nausea, headache or neck pain, but again, this is very rare.

Botox was originally used to treat crossed eyes and uncontrollable blinking. There are ongoing studies to determine its usefulness in treating other medical conditions that involve muscle spasms.

Its cosmetic effect was discovered accidentally and in 2002 the FDA approved its cosmetic use. It is now the most popular cosmetic procedure in the U.S. and used widely for people aged between 18 and 65.





Can Botox Make The Face Numb?

Thursday, August 6th, 2009
Mary Rogers recently asked:


Botox is used to look younger, get those wrinkles away and have a better texture. But what if the wrong person is performing the procedure? What can happen to the face and is it permanent?!

The botox is a very strong and dangerous toxin; when used in a large amount it can cause major damage. The botox injection is a very serious procedure that should be taken seriously and made wisely.

The best place to have botox treatments with no risks and complications is at a certified clinic that has a lot of experience with botox treatments and knows how to deal with complex situations. The botox parties that became so popular are problematic because if anything happens during the injection it is not like treating the patient at the clinic with all the needed equipment.

When going to uncertified places the botox might not be preserved right, or may be cheap or an imitation. Also the person whom performs the injection has to know exactly how much to inject and where, so marks won’t be left.

The botox injections can cause: small hemorrhages, bruises, headaches for a few days, muscles numbness on the face where the injection was given and around it, saggy eyelid or saggy eyebrow, pain, nausea, infections, and more.

The complications of the botox injections can last between a few weeks to a few months. Yes it is temporary, but imagine going with a saggy eyelid to work for a whole month or trying to talk to people and smile at them, but not being able to. Imagine trying to get your face pretty and making it numb. Now, all you need to do is simple, don’t be fooled, have the injections but don’t take any risks - go only to certified places!

A few tips before you begin looking for a physician:

Botox injections need special skills and training, talk to your physician and make sure he has certifications.

The botox needs to be treated well, so make sure your physician has the right conditions for the botox and knows exactly how to work with it.

The patients should be under observation before and after the injection, so the physician will be able to tell if any changed occur.