Botox works through a chemical blocker that inhibits muscle contraction. Originally, it was used to reduce eye muscle spasms. Then somebody noticed that people who received it experienced a smoothing of forehead lines. The rest, as they say, is history.
Botox to the Rescue
Unlike cosmetic procedures, Botox does not eliminate wrinkles. It works on the cause of the wrinkles: muscle contraction, especially between the eyebrows. One of the benefits of Botox is that if you begin taking injections when age lines are just beginning to show, the action of the drug prevents the lines from getting worse, essentially putting off a part of the aging process.
Injections of Botox can take as little as ten minutes. There is very little discomfort, and no major recovery period or limits on activity. The full results are visible within a couple of weeks, and you don’t have to put up with looking bruised, swollen or red between the injection and its effect.
Your doctor must select the exact muscles on which the injections are to work, then plan and time them so that they take effect in the right place. Among the benefits of Botox, this ability to pinpoint the exact location of where the improvement will take place is an important one.
Botox vs. Surgery: Which Is Right For You?
One of the major benefits of Botox is its price compared to plastic surgery. Depending on how many injections you need, it can cost as little as one-tenth the price of a cosmetic procedure. While the injections must be repeated to remain effective, each set of injections tends to last longer than the previous one, thus reducing the total number of treatments needed to maintain the results.
Unlike plastic surgery, which can be costly and difficult to change or repair, Botox is effective but not permanent. Any time you want to discontinue using it, you can do so without any damage or expense.
Consult Your Doctor
Your doctor can tell you about the benefits of Botox when it is used in conjunction with plastic surgery procedures. When work is done on the forehead and eyes, Botox can complete the eradication of wrinkles that neither could accomplish alone.
The benefits of Botox are many and the side effects few, but only your doctor can tell you if you are a good candidate for injections. If you are pregnant or nursing you should definitely not use Botox; if you have any kind of chronic ailment such as heart or liver problems; or if you are taking certain medicines, Botox may not be right for you.
It is important to research the education and experience of the cosmetic surgeon you choose to perform your facelift, breast augmentation, or other plastic surgery procedure.
