Over time, as we naturally age, overactive muscle movement gradually wears away the collagen in our skin, causing the skin to crease and wrinkles to appear. Botox treatments relax these muscles, preventing the formation of wrinkles and smoothing out lines. This works only on the specific muscles injected, leaving surrounding muscles to function as usual, enabling normal facial expression, just with less wrinkles and can also be regarded as a preventive treatment to not allow the formation of deeper wrinkles.
Botox is one of the many trade names for the protein called botulinum toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The protein is used in cosmetic medicine to treat moderate to severe brow furrow (glabellar lines), uncontrolled blinking, lazy eye, wrinkles, and facial creases. These procedures use a small amount of diluted botulinum toxin that enables controlled weakening of muscles.
Botox works to relax the contraction of muscles by blocking nerve impulses. The result is muscles that can no longer contract, and so the wrinkles relax and soften. It usually takes two to four days to see cosmetic improvement (with a follow up touch up treatment on the 15th day}and the effects tend to last from four to six months. Most patients require retreatment to remove wrinkles and lines as they begin to reappear, but after each injection the wrinkles return as less severe as the muscles are trained to relax.
Hyperhidrosis is a troublesome problem that results in awkward social situations for those that are affected. For example, salesmen with sweaty palms are at a distinct disadvantage. Unfortunately, topical and oral medications, iontophoresis, and surgery have not proven to be efficacious in the majority of patients. In fact surgery can result in compensatory hyperhidrosis in other parts of the body.
|
Because the eccrine glands are innervated by sympathetic nerves that use acetylcholine as the neurotransmitter, BOTOX is effective in temporarily reducing or abolishing sweat production in treated areas. Although hyperhidrosis is generally not considered a cosmetic problem, many patients will present to the Plastic Surgeon for treatment of this embarrassing disorder. |
