Nearly everyone in the world has heard of botox treatment now. It has been around sometime now, and while it used to mainly be the Hollywood A-Listers that were having this procedure done, it is much more accessible to the average person now.
When deciding who you should choose to administer your botox, you must research your clinic well, and ensure the person injecting you is suitably qualified like botox santa rosa ca, or any other clinic whose employees gained an on-campus or online medical degree.
Let’s have a look now into what exactly botox is, and who can administer this well known cosmetic agent.
What Exactly Is Botox?
The full name for botox is botulinum toxin, and is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
You may have heard of Clostridium botulinum before, but if not you will almost certainly have heard of it’s more commonly well known name – botulism.
Botulism is a bacteria that is most commonly found in food that has spoiled for one reason or another, and a common sign of botulism poisoning is the paralysis of different muscles in the body.
Botox was first used to treat medical conditions in the 1970s, when it was first used as a treatment to help with crossed eyes and twitching eyelids, and eventually it’s uses for the cosmetic industry were discovered.
How Does Botox Work?
As we have said, botox is derived from Clostridium botulinum that we know causes muscle paralysis.
Botulinum toxin works in much the same way, although it is much safer and is used in very small doses.
Botox is injected into the area that is being treated, and it works by essentially blocking the signals between nerves and the muscles they go to.
If this signal is blocked, then the muscles cannot contract, and are paralysed.
This paralysis of certain muscles can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and even stop new wrinkles forming if it is used regularly.
Botox is not just used for wrinkles however, it can also be used to treat certain medical conditions.
Botox injections are available worldwide these days, so you can get a Botox injection in Alpharetta or any town or city that you live in.
What Can Botox Be Used For?
As we have already discussed, botox can be used for both cosmetic and medical reasons.
The most common areas to treat cosmetically are on the face. Popular areas of treatment are the vertical lines that form above the nose and between the eyebrows, crows feet, or smile lines at the side of the eyes and the horizontal forehead wrinkles that we all get as we grow older.
There are also many medical conditions that can be aided with a botox injection. The original two that were the first use of botox were strabismus – crossed eyes, and blepharospasm or twitching eyelids.
Since then, botox has been used to treat many other conditions, such as cervical dystonia, which is an incredibly painful condition when the muscles in the neck will cramp and contract causing the neck to twist. This condition causes immense pain of both the neck and shoulder muscles. By paralysing the muscles in this area, it can give relief to the sufferer.
Hyperhidrosis is another very upsetting condition that causes the person with the condition to produce too much sweat. Usually from the armpit area. The sweat reaches such a level that the person may have to change their clothes several times a day, and is very embarrassing for them, an cna lead to mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Botox given into the armpits can paralyse the sweat glands, means they do not produce as much, if any, sweat. If you’re going through this condition, learn what the best treatment for hyperhidrosis is.
Another common problem that can be treated with botox is urinary incontinence, or the inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder. Botox can help to give back sphincter control to the person living with this humiliating condition.
Is Botox Permanent?
Many people are under the misconception that you only need a one off treatment of botox to treat whichever issue you wish to correct.
However, this is not true. Botox is only a temporary solution. Botox usually lasts around twelve to sixteen weeks, but this really depends on the area being treated, and on the individual themselves.
Having a botox injection is relatively quick, and can be done in a short appointment. There is no anaesthesia involved.
The botox is injected into the area being treated, and the effects will take place within a week or so of it being injected.
Your doctor will discuss with you if you should stop taking any medications in the lead up to your appointment.
Who Can Administer A Botox Injection?
This really depends on the country that you are in when having the botox administered to you, and in places like the USA, the requirements can vary from state to state.
In general, however, someone who is administering botox should have a medical degree. In the United Kingdom, only a doctor, nurse or dentist can administer botox, and they will have had to do a course in these injections on top of their medical degree to allow them to inject it into another person.
It is important to check the regulations in the area you live, and ensure the person you are seeing is fully registered, licensed, and up to date with their knowledge.
The clinic that you are going to should also be hygienic, and preferably certified for its cleanliness.
Your chosen clinician should meet with you before administering any botox to discuss your needs, what you would like to get out of the appointment and what is achievable, and you should be fully informed of any risks and side effects.
Are There Risks?
There are risks and side effects with any procedure, and botox is no different.
The most common side effects are bruising, headaches, swelling and pain at the injection site.
You may also experience numbness, nausea, diarrhoea and feeling generally unwell.
If you are at all concerned about any side effects, make sure to speak to your doctor.
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