Posts Tagged ‘Botox Injections’

Bridal Party Botox - A Good Idea?

Monday, July 27th, 2009
Steve Dubin recently asked:


DATELINE: COHASSET AND PLYMOUTH, MASS… South Shore Skin Center, one of the most progressive dermatology practices in Massachusetts with offices in Plymouth and Cohasset, cautions consumers about “Botox Parties” where Botox injections are one of the highlights of the party.

 

Botox parties are very popular, especially with brides and their bridal parties who want to look their best on the “big day”. Botox is used to treat lines around the eyes, frown lines between the eyes, and lines on the forehead that often appear with age. Botox works by relaxing the muscles that contract to form these lines, creating a smoother appearance in the treated areas. Yet, there is significant health risk to those who receive Botox injections outside of a doctor’s office.

 

South Shore Skin Center warns consumers of the dangers of receiving Botox injections anywhere but a physician’s office:

 



The Botox used in a home setting or other non-medical environment may not be direct from Allergan, the makers of the highest grade of Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin A) which is FDA approved. There is no guarantee that the solution being used at a party is even safe for injection.



 



If laboratory botulinum toxin is used, rather than Botox Cosmetic, systemic effects may occur as were seen in the case of the doctor, several years ago, who paralyzed several patients and himself by injecting high concentrations of veterinary grade botulism toxin. Individuals should check to be sure that the bottle says “Botox Cosmetic”.



 



If the Botox is not reconstituted properly and/or not kept refrigerated, it may become inactive.



 



If sterile conditions are not observed when reconstituting or administering the Botox, infection may develop. 



 



At a Botox party, there are no medical personnel on hand to assist in case of an immediate adverse reaction.



 



Administration of Botox by those who are untrained may not be done correctly. Improper placement of the Botox may result in brow droop. Other side effects include bruising, headache and lid droop.



“Although a Botox type of solution may be obtained outside of a physician’s office, we do not recommend using it. The risk of serious illness, adverse effects and infection is significant when a questionable solution of Botox is injected by those who are not qualified,” explained Dr. Richard Eisen, dermatologist at South Shore Skin Center.

 

He continued, “At South Shore Skin Center, patient safety is a priority. For anyone who is interested in receiving Botox Cosmetic, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist.”

 

Dr. Eisen is among Allergan Corp.’s national training staff in the use of Botox Cosmetic. South Shore Skin Center uses only the highest grade of Botox Cosmetic available, known as Botulinum Toxin A, which is an FDA approved, highly purified form of the Clostridium Botulinum bacterium made by Allergan, to ensure patient safety. Qualified medical staff who administer Botox Cosmetic at South Shore Skin Center are fully trained.

 





Benefits of Botox Cosmetic Injections

Friday, July 24th, 2009
Spero Theodorou recently asked:


A Safer and More Affordable Alternative to Surgery

BOTOX cosmetic injections are an FDA approved treatment for the removal or reduction of wrinkles and frown lines. These injections contain a purified version of the muscle toxin obtained from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. This purified form, when injected in little amounts straight into the line or wrinkle-causing muscle, causes the skin creases to smooth out. BOTOX may be a short term treatment (results last for just a few months) but it’s safer and more affordable than surgery.

Treats Not Just Wrinkles

As mentioned earlier, the FDA has approved the use of BOTOX treatment only for correcting lines. However, BOTOX injections can also be used to decrease excessive hand, forehead or armpit sweating; for respite from muscle twitches; to treat frequent urination and infections of the urinary tract in men; for alleviation of chronic jaw and back pain; and for relieving migraine headaches. Studies suggest that BOTOX cosmetic injections may also help patients with arthritis.

So Many Benefits

Here’s an overview of the other benefits of BOTOX cosmetic injections:

•    Great for reducing laugh lines and crow’s feet.

•    Causes very little discomfort as the needle used is tiny.

•    Takes very little time to perform (usually 10 minutes).

•    Causes no loss of sensation in the treated region.

•    Improves the advantages of collagen, Perlane, and Restylane.

•    Nil recovery time.

•    Lends a more youthful look.

A Worthwhile Option

BOTOX cosmetic injections have their own share of side effects such as headache, nausea, swelling, symptoms similar to those of a flu; redness on the treated region; and rarely breathing or swallowing problems or serious allergic reactions. However, this treatment doesn’t pose the risks of plastic surgery, making it a good option for improving wrinkles.





What is Botox? the Answer May Surprise You

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Jan Edwards recently asked:


What is Botox?

 You would have to be living under a rock to have never heard of Botox, but exactly what is Botox is a question that not everyone truly knows the answer to.  Botox is an injectable product that plastic surgeons are regularly using to reduce or eliminate major facial wrinkles.  What else is Botox? 

                     Botox is also a toxin created by botulinum – a type of bacteria.  If you thought the term botulinum sounded familiar, that is probably because you have heard of botulism, which is of course a dangerous condition caused by the same bacteria as Botox.

 Botox reduces wrinkles by “paralyzing” the muscles in the area where it is injected; that being the case, Botox is most effective at helping reduce those wrinkles that result from facial expressions.  Commonly, that includes horizontal forehead crevices, vertical forehead lines on either side of the nose, and the like.

 In addition to the cosmetic uses of Botox, Botox can also be used to help control excessive underarm sweating and muscular issues such as tics and muscular spasms in the neck, throat, or other muscles, and also to help relieve some vocal chord difficulties. 

 What is Botox as associated with the nerves?  Botox affects the nerves, so that when it is injected into a muscle, the nerves in the muscle are affected and the amount of activity in the muscle is reduced.

 What are Botox side effects?  Just about anything you put into your body, via injection or otherwise, can have side effects.  If you decide to use Botox injections, you should call your doctor if you experience difficulty swallowing or breathing, weakness in your muscles, difficulty speaking, swelling of the eyelids, lips, or tongue, headache, dizziness, or exhaustion.

 What are some cosmetic alternatives to Botox?  There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments to help reduce facial wrinkles.  Before receiving Botox injections, it is a good idea to discuss other options with a qualified healthcare provider.





Botox: A Hit In The Cosmetic World

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
Robert Thatcher recently asked:


Who would have thought that something that is supposedly poisonous could have so many people clamoring for it?

Skepticism proven wrong

When botox hit the market, many were skeptical on the effects of these newly developed chemical. A protein complex made from a bacterium called clostridium botulinum, many feared that the chemical will have the same effect on the skin as it has on the body. For those who do not yet know, botox come from the same toxin that can cause food poisoning in humans.

It turned out to be quite effective and a huge huge success especially in the cosmetic surgery business. It is also being used to relieve pain in muscle areas of people who have has chronic pains. Its is actually so effective that people who were normally confined to their homes because of the pain now live normal lives.

Popular alternative

Since botox inhibits the release of acetylcholine, a chemical responsible for the contraction of muscles in various parts of the body, it is primarily used to clear out wrinkles and frown lines in the face through injection in the areas of concern. The effect of the drug can last for several months. Only small amounts of the toxin are however used for these cosmetic procedures. Too much use of the toxin can produce disastrous side effects.

In 2001 alone, almost 1.6 million Americans have had botox injections in different areas of their bodies. This is a significant increase from 2000’s figures. In fact, botox injections are even more popular than the immensely popular breast enhancement and breast augmentation procedures.

Botox parties

The procedure has become so popular in fact that people even organize parties and social events just for the occasion of injecting botox. This is actually part of the marketing campaign that has gained botox injections so many followers. Women (and men) who regularly inject botox for maintenance get together in small gatherings and simultaneously inject botox. Outsiders especially those who have not yet tried the drugs but are interested can join the party.

Abuse and overuse

One of the growing concerns in the industry is the potential abuse of the drug. Although botox is basically a prescription drugs, there are unqualified people who are distributing the medicine. And because the drug must be injected again and again to maintain its effect, there is also the danger of the drug being overused or for people to over-apply thinking that it will lengthen the effect of the drug.

Injecting too much botox or accidentally injecting it on the wrong area can cause droopy eyelid muscles, a condition called ptosis. This could last for several weeks. Other side effects that botox have are headaches, respiratory infections, flu-like symptoms and even nausea. Some people will also experience pain on the area where the botox was applied as well as redness and swelling. There will also some muscle weakness around the area where the botox was applied.

Contraindications

Although botox is available to all people, there are some who are allergic to the toxin. So it is best that one consults a physician first before applying the drug. Although there has never been any studies or research on the effect of botox on pregnant women and on nursing women, medical people err on the safe side and just prohibit the drug.





BOTOX: Not Just For Wrinkles

Monday, July 20th, 2009
Ajay R (articlesubmit.net) recently asked:


BOTOX® treatments aren’t used just for wrinkles, as they have been proven to work well in many other areas of the body.

One unique way in which BOTOX® injections have proven efficient is when the treatments are injected into the prostate gland of men who have been diagnosed with prostatic hyperplasia, commonly referred to as enlarged prostate. When Botulinum toxin A, or BOTOX®, is injected into the prostate gland, symptoms of the enlarged prostate were subdued and it was found their quality of life was improved.

BOTOX® has also been used in research to better understand how nerve cells communicate amongst themselves. Researching basic cell function and changes, and learning about causes of nerve disease are some of the alternate uses to the potent neurotoxin.

Other uses include human therapy, in treatment for conditions such as strabismus (cross-eyes) voice, head and limb tremor, spasticity, stuttering, involuntary movements and painful rigidity. The nerve cells injected with BOTOX® are not killed, but instead begin to emit sprouts which cause the injected nerve cells to be revived.

BOTOX® Cosmetics is a purified protein produced by Clostridium botulinum bacterium. Treatment is administered by injecting small doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic into the muscle that causes wrinkle lines. The entire process usually takes less than 10 minutes, and recovery is immediate. Results are able to be seen within days.

Although the results are temporary, BOTOX® treatments have gained popularity all over the U.S. and throughout the world because of the simplicity of the procedure and fast immediate results. But many people aren’t yet aware of other uses for BOTOX®. When the toxin is injected into the muscle, it works to block the nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles. This causes the skin to become smoother, with a more refreshed appearance. Studies have shown that BOTOX® is also effective in relieving migraines, excessive sweating, and muscle spasms in the neck and eyes as well.

BOTOX® has also been known to help those who are suffering with incontinence. The use of BOTOX® on an overactive bladder works by stopping the spasms of the bladder muscle. This gives the patient more control over the bladder, giving the patient more control. The procedure takes about 10 minutes, just about as long as it takes when injected into facial muscles. The patient is awake, but slightly sedated.