Overview | How Botox works | Treatment steps | Results and myths | Botox Cost
Did you know that Botox*, or Botulinum Toxin, has been in cosmetic use for decades now? It is a minimally invasive botox injectable wrinkle muscle relaxer, using OnabotulinumtoxinA to relax the muscles temporarily.
Botox injection is considered as an effective and safe treatment, originally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1989. It also has multiple applications that extend beyond reducing forehead wrinkles and fine lines, as noted by the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.
Let’s take a look at some important information regarding Botox injection treatment to help you understand this cosmetic wonder better. I will endeavor to answer all questions as put forward by my patients frequently.
How does the treatment work?
Botox works smartly by creating a temporary block in the nerve signals and muscle contractions on your face. Not involving any general anesthesia or incisions, the Botox is injected into the targeted site to reduce muscle activity. This helps improve the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes and between the eyebrows, as supported by research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information. It reduces dynamic lines or lines in action. Botulinum Toxin injection can also slow down new lines from forming by preventing facial muscle contraction.
Which parts of the body can be treated with Botox?
Cosmetically, Botox is injectable into the area around the eyes, also known as crow’s feet, and the area between the eyebrows, to treat moderate to severe frown lines, forehead lines, and neck platysma bands.
The FDA has also approved Botox to treat many other medical conditions such as:
- Excessive underarm sweating
- Lower limb spasticity
- Overactive bladder
- Chronic migraines
As per Stanford Healthcare, Botox can also be used to treat down-turned corners of the mouth, neck wrinkles, and lines on the upper lip.
What are the steps for the botox treatment?
The pre-treatment steps include informing the dermatologist about your medical history, medical conditions, and allergies so that they can assess your Botox treatment for any risks or possible complications. You may also need to avoid taking any blood-thinning medications to reduce the risk of bruising.
At The Bombay Skin Clinic, I begin the procedure with a topical anesthetic or simply using ice to numb the areas. Post this, I ensure the removal of all make-up and cleanse the treatment site to eliminate all impurities. Then, using a thin needle, I administer around three to five injections of Botox into the targeted site. To smooth out crow’s feet, I usually inject three times on each side of the eye. The procedure does not take more than ten minutes.
At The Bombay Skin Clinic, I ensure to use only a light version of Botox Botulinum Toxin with a customized adjusted concentration based on years of experience, training, and patient results. Patients have praised the results, which appear without the frozen look that many people fear.
Are there any risks or side-effects?
I always caution my patients that Botox treatment can cause potential side-effects. Besides the temporary injection bruising and discomfort that clears up in a few days, other effects may include:
- Neck pain
- Allergic reactions, like rash, itching, and asthma
- Dry eyes
- Double vision
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Drooping or swelling in the eyelid area
Harvard Health Publishing notes that the most severe yet rare effects can include nausea and flu syndrome.
I personally make every effort to ensure that possible risks and side-effects are minimized for my patients’ comfort, well-being, and safety.
What are the expected results?
Every patient reacts to Botulinum Toxin Botox treatment differently, so results will vary from one procedure to another. I also advise my patients to have realistic expectations and understand the possible improvements thoroughly. Generally, results are noticeable within one or two days post-treatment. The full effect generally lasts up to approximately four months. Botox can also avoid the return of fine lines by relaxing the facial muscles.
Your doctor will recommend whether additional sessions will be required to maintain your results.
What are some myths about Botox?
Let me help clear up some popular and untrue myths about Botox treatments. Contrary to popular belief, they are not painful; Botox injections only cause a slight pinch that many people hardly feel. Botox also does not cause you to lose the ability to make facial expressions; with a skilled dermatologist, this is not a concern.
Botox does not worsen wrinkle formation; instead, the old wrinkles will only slowly return as they were before treatment. Finally, Botox is non-toxic. It has a long and well-established history of being used for a range of different medical conditions.
Are there any self-care tips for the future?
After the treatment, there is little to no downtime, and in most cases, you should be able to resume normal activities almost instantly. I recommend not rubbing, massaging, or applying pressure to the treated site, as this can cause the Botox to inadvertently spread to other body areas. If you have been injected between the brows, do not bend or lie down for about four hours. Doing so may cause an eyelid droop.
I also recommend that you avoid heat and hot showers for the first 24 hours and keep your head elevated to reduce swelling. Johns Hopkins Medicine also asks you to avoid strenuous exercise during the day of the procedure.
What are the alternative solutions to skin problems?
There are some other alternatives to Botulinum Toxin treatment that you may consider for treating wrinkles and fine lines. These include FaceXercise, vitamins, facial creams, chemical peels, face patches, acupuncture, and other injectable treatments. However, these treatments do not yield the same results as the Botox injection.
How much does Botox cost?
The cost of Botox treatment will vary among patients and their requirements. On average, a single Botox session would cost approximately INR 6,000; the overall cost can go upwards of INR 20,000 depending on the treatment area, the number of sessions required, and more.
Closing thoughts
Eager to try out a Botox Botulinum Toxin treatment and get smoother, younger-looking skin? Why wait any longer? This painless and safe treatment is here to solve all your skin wrinkles and skin crease woes. Consult with an experienced and trusted dermatologist to battle the signs of aging and flaunt beautiful skin today!
References
- Harvard Health Publishing: https://www.health.harvard.edu/skin-and-hair/understanding-botox-injections
- Stanford Healthcare: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/b/botox/conditions-treated.html
- Johns Hopkins Medicine:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6489637/
- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/75/7/951
*Botox is a trademark of Allergan Inc.
Dr. Batul Patel is a celebrity dermatologist and the medical director of The Bombay Skin Clinic an award winning clinic located in South Mumbai & Bandra. She is a passionate and dedicated dermatologist with expertise in all fields of dermatology, trichology and aesthetic dermatology. She has been practicing for more than a decade. Her range of expertise include emsculpt NEO, coolsculpting, fillers, acne treatment, lasers, skin rejuvenation, hair loss, hair transplant, PRP & pigmentation treatments.
