Botox Continued
The Botox Injection Procedure
Ever hear of a Botox Party? A physician invites a large group of patients to his/her office, provides refreshments and a festive atmosphere, and then calls individuals one by one to a treatment room. Fifteen minutes later, they're back at the party and feeling fine. This popular way of treating Botox patients is indicative of the ease with which Botox may be injected. The Botox treatment is routinely performed on an outpatient basis.
Patients are placed in a reclining chair for the procedure. The physician will assess the frown lines between the brows by asking the patient to make several expressions. This is an important step since each individual uses the muscles of the brow area differently.
The physician will next clean areas to be injected with a sterile solution and may use a topical anesthetic (although most patients find the procedure nearly painless without one). The physician will make (on average) 4-5 injections on each side of the forehead and perhaps 2-3 on the side of each eye. Patients feel only a tiny pinprick. A few minutes rest in a reclining position and the procedure is finished.
Possible Complications
Botox treatments are considered very safe. Risk is manifested in the possibility of side effects such as headache, localized pain, and flu-like symptoms. Botox should NOT be administered if an infection is present in the area to be injected or a patient is pregnant.
Use caution when considering Botox if you have a disease that affects your neuromuscular system, are currently breastfeeding, or are considering getting pregnant. Certain medicines can interact with Botox as well, so make sure your physician knows what you are taking and at what dose.
On rare occasions, Botox treatments have resulted in a drooping lid or eyebrow area. This occurs in patients who already have a droopy lid. A physician should be able to assess this situation before injections are made.
Results
Within a very short time, results from the Botox procedure are visible. Most patients notice improvements within 3-10 days. Lines in the brow and eye area will soften dramatically in most cases. The common misconception that Botox freezes the muscles is inaccurate. Botox, when properly administered, allows patients to have limited facial activity while restricting the muscle movements that have caused lines and crevices to form.
The Botox injections will last up to 4 months in most patients. Results depend upon the skill of the administering physician. Choosing a qualified, experienced cosmetic surgeon will help assure an excellent end result.
By MS Kauffman
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