What is Botox Cosmetic Treatment?

Botox cosmetic treatment is becoming increasingly popular as more people turn to minimally-invasive appearance-enhancing technology rather than going under the knife for plastic surgery.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons¹ (ASPS), the number of cosmetic surgical procedures dropped by six percent from 2000 to 2016, but non-invasive or minimally-invasive aesthetic treatments rose by nearly 200 percent from 2000 to 2017.

The Botox cosmetic² procedure is a Botulinum Toxin Type A treatment, the most popular minimally-invasive method for facial enhancement. Botox is administered by injection and temporarily eliminates or reduces wrinkles and fine lines.

In 2017, 7.2 million Botulinum Toxin Type A treatments were carried out in the States – an increase of two percent in 2016.

The growing popularity of Botox has gone hand in hand with this cosmetic treatment becoming more widely available. For instance, some dental practices are now offering Botox cosmetic treatments.

How Does Botox Treatment Work?

Botox is made from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which is found in many natural settings, including soil and lakes.

As well as a leading cosmetic treatment, Botox is also used for a range of medical conditions including migraine, eye squints, muscle disorders, and leaky bladders. In fact, Botox was first used medically – to treat problems with eye muscles.

As a facial cosmetic treatment, Botox injections block nerve signals that trigger the muscle contractions that cause wrinkles. Botox works to alleviate issues such as:

• Crow’s feet – wrinkles etched in the corner of the eye.

• Frown lines – creases across the forehead.

• Eyebrow furrows – folds between the eyebrows.

Is Botox Cosmetic Treatment Right for Me?

Time takes its toll on all of us, and the signs of growing old are most obvious in our faces. Facial movements – frowning, smiling, squinting and even eating – can eventually result in wrinkles.

Wrinkles and lines generally become noticeable when we’re in our 30s or even earlier, as skin gradually loses its elasticity and firmness. The resulting creases and folds become more visible as the aging process continues.

Botox treatment provides a temporary solution in cases like this and can be repeated every few months. Botox can also be effective in reducing neck bands – vertical creases caused by muscle drooping.

Botox injections are generally suitable for people who are 18 and over and in good physical health, with no history of a neuromuscular disease like multiple sclerosis.

Botox is not suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or you have:

• Drooping eyelids.

• Weakness in your facial muscles.

• Thick facial skin or deep facial scarring.

• A facial skin ailment.

The Botox Cosmetic Treatment Procedure

Botox cosmetic treatment is a simple procedure with no need for an operating room, anesthesia or incisions.

It takes just a few minutes, with minimal preparation and little or no downtime afterward. Botulinum powder is diluted in saline and injected directly into neuromuscular tissue, with only minor discomfort. Botox typically takes full effect in three to seven days and lasts three to four months.

Wrinkles and lines will come back as muscle action gradually returns, and further treatment will be required. However, these furrows and creases often appear less unsightly over time as your facial muscles are being trained to relax.

The degree of improvement in facial appearance can vary among Botox patients, and some people will respond better than others. Occasionally, there is little enhancement and another treatment may be recommended.

Botox cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance.

Is Botox Treatment Safe?

Doctors have been using Botox cosmetic treatments for years to successfully treat facial wrinkles and creases. The procedure offers predictable and subtle natural-looking results, with less visible facial lines.

It might initially be disconcerting to learn that the Clostridium botulinum bacterium in Botox is the same toxin that causes botulism – a life-threatening form of food poisoning. However, naturally-occurring instances of Clostridium botulinum are typically harmless. Problems only arise when spores mutate into prolific vegetative cells.

Botox is injected in safe, small, targeted doses, and Botox cosmetic treatment uses even lower levels of Clostridium botulinum than those in medical applications.

Botox has proven to be a highly effective and beneficial therapeutic protein with a very good safety record.

Why Are Some Dentists Offering Botox Cosmetic Treatment?

As facial anatomy experts, dentists are well placed to offer Botox and cosmetic dermal filler services. Dentists have been given advanced training in the oral and maxillofacial areas – from the chin to the forehead.

Dental offices have been authorized to carry out Botox and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures for more than a decade.

According to the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE), Botox cosmetic treatment is now an accepted standard practice in dentistry, with an estimated one in five dentists trained in the procedure.

The AAFE says that not only is there a definite place in the dental practice for Botox and dermal fillers but that dentists are the primary health care providers who should be doing these procedures.

Dentists strive to maintain the oral health of their patients, who get an attractive smile as a result. If that smile is being spoilt by the unsightly appearance of the surrounding framework – your face – it follows that patient-focused dentists will want to resolve the problem by offering cosmetic treatments like Botox and fillers.

Reclaiming Your Looks and Your Self-Esteem

Millions of Americans are turning to Botox cosmetic treatment as an alternative to invasive plastic surgery like facelifts.

Botox has become established as a safe, effective method of enhancing facial appearance by diminishing the wrinkles and lines that become more pronounced as we get older.

Botox cosmetic treatment can improve your looks in a subtle way that rejuvenates your facial features without going over the top – and gives you back your self-regard.

Resources

1. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/press-releases/new-statistics-reveal-the-shape-of-plastic-surgery

2. https://www.cdadentist.com/Botox-Cosmetic-Treatment-Coeur-d-Alene