Do you think that you’re the right candidate to take on Botox Injections?

More and more women and men are turning to Botox injections to reduce the signs of aging, and to rid themselves of unsightly facial wrinkles. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Botox injections are the fastest-growing non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the industry. More than 1.6 million people received injections in 2001, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year.

Botox is a simple and speedy treatment. Despite the fact that Botox is a toxin which is derived from bacterium Clostridium Botullinum, it’s been safely and widely used by ophthamologists for more than ten years. Botox is regarded by some as the ultimate fountain of youth has been used for wrinkle treatment since the early 1990’s and no serious side effects have been documented. However it doesn’t mean that the treatment is right for everyone!

Botox can be used by anyone in good health and does not use drugs in any form. However, it is recommended for those who are between the ages of 18 and 65. Although there is no evidence to suggest Botox could harm an unborn child, it is always recommended that pregnant women, or women who are breast feeding, should avoid having Botox Injections.

For the success of the treatment, people should not take injections of Botox if they have an infection especially if the injection site is close to the infected area. It is unadvisable to have Botox treatment for people that have any allergic reactions to such medicines. So, separate test prior to such treatment should be conducted to make sure you are not having allergy to the Botox ingredients.

People on any type of medication may encounter serious side effects by taking Botox Injections. They should seek medical advice from their own doctor as some antibiotics like Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Clindamycin, and Lincomycin will react with Botox and increase the risks of side effects. This includes Quinidine for treatments in heart rhythm problems.

People with certain neuromuscular diseases such as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Myasthenia Gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome are also at risk of cardiovascular problems that may arise during or after having Botox Injection. They are advised to inform their doctor of their condition for safety precautions before treatment.

It is imperative that when administered it should be done by a trained medical practitioner working from a professional environment. If wrongfully administered there can be myriad risks that the patients may find themselves getting plagued with. Thus, if you are a right candidate for Botox Injections, get yourself a doctor with experience – someone familiar with injecting Botox Cosmetic.

Botox is derived from Botulinum toxin, a form of the deadly Botulism. It has been discovered nearly five decades ago and it was used to treat patients with neurological problems. There is several different Botulinum toxins, ranging from Botulinum Toxin A to Botulinum Toxin G. Botox is the registered trademark for a specific product which is created using one of the seven neurotoxins (botulinum toxin A). Botulinum is caused by the ingestion of the bacteria that is known as Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin is actually a neurotoxin protein that is released by the bacteria once ingested. The side effects that are caused by ingesting this neurotoxin can be as serious as paralysis! Although extremely dangerous and often fatal in other forms and concentrations the Botox injections appear to be quite safe as a cosmetic treatment in some parts of the world.

On 21 December 2000, Botulinium Toxin B was approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat cervical dystonia that eases the pain from serious contractions in the shoulders and neck, Trade names for Botulinium Toxin B are Neurobloc in the European Union, and Myobloc in the United States. FDA gave a green light to Botulinium Toxin A or better known as Botox Cosmetic on 15 April 2002 after the discovery about its effectiveness on improving the appearance of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines). Botox is also used in the treatment of migraine headaches, blepharospasm (involuntary blinking), severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), Achalasia (failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax), etc. However, the term Botox is used widely to describe the facial skin care treatment to reduce wrinkles and fine lines nowdays.

Botox injections work by tightening the skin and muscle so the skin will stay in its contracted position. Unfortunately, over the weeks, the effects of the treatment reduce and the lines and wrinkles return (making the treatment only temporary), therefore you have to return for injections every three or four months. Prices for each individual injection of Botox range from $250 to $500. That’s the price you have to pay for staying young and beautiful with Botox Injections!