Botox is one of the world’s most famous brand names. But what do you really know about it? Well, you may want to get to know it personally to get ready for the holidays. Dr. Jensen can inject some Botox before your upcoming holiday parties and you can leave your crow’s feet and frown lines off the guest list.
Here’s some more information on the world’s most famous injectable.
What is Botox?
Botox is basically the rock star of the aesthetic world. Since its approval by the FDA in 2002 for the treatment of wrinkles on the upper third of the face, Botox has been the most popular cosmetic procedure performed every year…worldwide!
Botox is basically made from the botulinum toxin type A. These are the same bacteria that cause botulism. In the 40s, however, scientists discovered that when the toxin was injected in miniscule amounts into a muscle it caused the muscle to temporarily become paralyzed. This proved to be effective for treating conditions such as involuntary eyelid spasms, where muscle contractions needed to be controlled. And Botox was first approved by the FDA for the treatment of involuntary eyelid spasms.
“But what about my crow’s feet?” you ask. Certain wrinkles form due to muscle contractions beneath the skin. These are called dynamic wrinkles and they form when we make repeated actions such as squinting, frowning, smiling, and the like. You could link most of these behaviors with the expressive part of the face, the upper third. When the muscles contract when you make a frown, for example, a wrinkle forms above the contraction. Over time, the skin gets used to creating a wrinkle and it wrinkles more and more. This also happens more as our skin becomes less elastic with age.
When Botox is injected into a muscle it blocks the nerves messages to the brain. So, basically the brain misses the call and its voicemail is full! Without the message to contract, the brain never initiates the contraction. Without the contraction, the wrinkle above doesn’t form or is far less noticeable. Voila — the magic of Botox!
Where can Botox be used?
Botox was initially approved by the FDA for treatment of wrinkles on the upper third of the face — crow’s feet, the 11s, and the like. But we find other people respond in other areas that are sometimes associated with dermal fillers, areas such as lines around the mouth, along with neck lines and neck wrinkling. Results in these areas are variable and these uses are considered “off label.”
Why not take a few years off for this year’s holiday festivities? Call Dr. Jensen at (801) 728-9258 and schedule your Botox session.