What You Need to Know About Botox Injections

Do you wish to enhance your looks by reducing facial wrinkles? Perhaps you want to treat a lazy eye, overactive bladder, or excessive sweating? If your answers to any of these questions are affirmative, you may benefit from Botox injections. This post highlights the uses and procedures of Botox injections.

What Are Botox Injections?

Botox injections aim to block particular chemical signals from nerves, the majority of which cause muscle contractions. The injection makes use of a toxin known as onobotulinumtoxinA. Remarkably, the toxin comes from a microbe that causes a food poisoning condition called botulism. Botox injections help relax facial muscles that cause facial wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes. 

Botox injections can also help in treating and managing the following conditions: 

  • Bladder dysfunctions 
  • Cervical dystonia
  • Chronic migraines lasting more than 15 days 
  • Eye twitching 
  • Hyperhidrosis
  • Lazy eye
  • Muscle contractures caused by neurological disorders like cerebral palsy 

What Is the Procedure for Botox Injections?

The First Appointment

In the preparation phase, you will have a discussion with the doctor about your medical history. Usually, the doctor will be keen to establish if you are using blood thinners, muscle relaxants, sleeping aids, and allergy pills. These medications increase the risk of bleeding or bruising, and the patient has to stop taking them days before the injection. Besides, ensure you inform the doctor if you had any Botox injections in the past four months. Such injections include Dysport, Xeomin, or Myobloc that serves the same purpose as Botox. 

The Injection 

Botox injections occur in a doctor's office performed by a qualified physician. Typically, the injection does not cause any discomfort. However, the doctor may numb your skin beforehand using topical anesthesia or ice. In practice, the doctor uses a thin needle to inject the botulinum toxin into your body. The dosage and the number of injections depend on many factors, including the condition and the treatment surface area. 

After the Injection

You will be able to return to your daily routine and activities immediately after the injection. However, avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas for a day. This restriction prevents the spread of the toxin to different body parts. Expect the injections to start working 1-3 days after treatment. Notably, the effect may last for up to three months before a subsequent injection. 

What Are the Potential Side Effects?

The procedure is safe as long as you use an experienced physician. However, you may expect side effects such as pain or swelling on the treated area, droopy eyelid, crooked smile, eye dryness, tearing, or headache. If the toxin from the injection spreads to other body parts, it may cause complications. Call your doctor in case of the following symptoms after Botox injections:

  • Breathing complications 
  • Impaired vision
  • Loss of bladder control
  • Speech and swallowing difficulties 
  • Weak muscles 

Botox injections are an effective and relatively safe treatment procedure for muscle-related conditions. However, select your doctor carefully to avert the dangers arising from incorrect injections.  

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