Are you thinking of getting cosmetic Botox injections to eliminate wrinkles on your face? If yes, then you would need to know a little bit of what it is and how it works, how long the effect lasts, and so on. We have gathered the most frequent questions of the potential customers to the cosmetologists about Botox and its effects. Let’s get started.
How does Botulinum Toxin A work?
Well, Botox is an injectable remedy based on the purified botulinum toxin type A and some other proteins. In nature, it is a poisonous substance produced by a group of bacteria. In the pure form, it is one of the strongest and most dangerous toxins known globally and is considered to be biological weapons. In the past, it has taken thousands of lives due to food intoxication. When the poisoned food (mainly sausages) gets into the stomach, it causes severe paralysis of the body, and the victim dies of lack of Oxygen as the lungs are paralyzed and cannot breathe.
Now, these are not more than old scary stories because botulinum toxin is one of the most well-studied remedies on the market. It undergoes multiple stages of purification and refining before it turns into what all of us call Botox. So, how does botulinum toxin injections work? Well, when the toxin gets under the skin, the proteins of Botox prevent the nerve endings from receiving the signal from the brain. The muscles become insensitive, the tension in the tissues decreases, and the wrinkles disappear. It does not happen immediately, so you will not see the result directly after the injection. The whole effect will appear approximately until the end of the 2nd week, strengthen until the end of the 3rd month, and then gradually weaken. In total, it works for 4-6 months.
Does Botox Kill Nerves?
Botulinum toxin is covered with mysteries and myths. While thousands of patients enjoy their smooth skin from Botox injections, the others live in fear that toxin will harm their mimics or even kill the nerves. If you Google it, you will find hundreds of unsuccessful Botox injection examples. So, why did it happen? We will say that all these cases are not the false of Botulinum toxin (Botox) type A. It could happen for a few reasons:
- Doctor and/or patient neglected the contraindications to the procedure;
- Doctor has used low-quality (possibly fake or expired) product;
- Doctor has failed to determine the correct dose for the injection;
- Doctor and/or patient have neglected the hygiene rules before/during/or after the procedure.
Botox indeed may harm the nerves, but just if any of the stages of its application have been violated. So, the choice of the doctor is crucial.
Who should not get Botox?
Regarding the point above, it is essential to discuss cases when Botox injections are contraindicated. Otherwise, it may even lead to fatal consequences.
- Myasthenic and myasthenic syndromes;
- Tissue infections in the injection site;
- Concomitant use of aminoglycosides or spectinomycin;
- Pregnancy;
- Lactation;
- Sensitivity to drug components;
- Generalized movement disorders;
- Blood clotting disorder;
- High myopia.
What does Botox Feel Like when It Starts to Work?
Botox injections are not painful due to the usage of fine needles during the procedure. When the toxin starts working, you may observe some side effects:
- Pain and redness at the injection site;
- Swelling;
- Itching;
- Bruising;
- Sensitivity;
- Headache;
- Nausea;
- Drooping eyelid.
Some of these symptoms you are going to feel when the botulinum toxin starts working. They are temporary and should disappear within the next 2 days. If you have some severe reactions, or they do not disappear after 2 days, contact your doctor.
Final Word
A principle of work of botulinum toxin type A used in Botox and its analogs (Xeomin, Dysport, Azzalure) is simple. Preventing the nerves from receiving the brain signal does not allow muscles to contract and form wrinkles during your facial expressions (laughing, smiling, frowning, crying, etc.). If you choose a professional and experienced healthcare provider and follow all his/her recommendations, you will enjoy the most pleasant and beautiful outcomes – smooth and young skin without wrinkles and creases.
