Botox is a drug that paralyzes or weakens your muscles. When taking small doses at regular intervals, it reduces skin wrinkles and treats other medical conditions. It is made from Botulinum toxin that the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum produces. Botox has both medical and cosmetic uses. When used as a cosmetic treatment, Botox injections reduce the wrinkles of your skin. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved Botox as a treatment for different health problems like migraine, bladder disorders, excessive sweating, and eyelid spasms.

How Does Botox work?

Botox is a neurotoxin, and these substances target your nervous system, thus disrupting the nerve signaling procedures that aid in stimulating the contraction of muscles. In this way, the best Botox Pittsburgh drug causes muscle paralysis temporarily. For muscles to contract, the nerves release a chemical messenger known as acetylcholine at the junction where nerve endings connect with muscle cells. Acetylcholine is linked to receptors on the muscle cells, thereby causing the cells to shorten or contract. Injections help in preventing the release of acetylcholine that stops the muscle cells from contraction. This way, the toxin causes the muscles to become less stiff.

Cosmetic use

The main reason to use Botox is lowering the appearance of facial wrinkles. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery states that Botox injections are the most popular cosmetic procedure. The effects are not permanent, lasting three months to 1 year, depending on the type of treatment. Usually, patients request injections in the following areas of the face – lines at the mouth corners, horizontal creases in the forehead, wrinkles around the eyes called as crow’s feet, skin on the chin, and wrinkles between the eyebrows known as elevens, glabellar lines, or frown lines. The FDA has only approved the use of injection on the forehead and around the eyes. There is no scientific evidence whether Botox can improve dark circles around your eyes, so you need to consult your dermatologist before injecting.

Medical use

Healthcare professionals use Botox for treating various medical conditions, most of which influence the neuromuscular system. The FDA has approved the following purposes: For upper limb spasticity above two years old, strabismus or crossed eyes older than 12 years, hyperhidrosis or severe underarm sweating, and prevent migraine in people whose migraine headaches last for minimum 4 hours, 15 or more days every month. Apart from these, the best Botox Pittsburgh reduces symptoms of an overactive bladder because of a neurological condition if anticholinergic medications do not help and blepharospasm or eyelid spasms due to dystonia. If not specified, the approval pertains to use in people 18 years and above.

Process

Professionals use Botulinum toxin by diluting the powder in saltwater and inject it directly into neuromuscular tissue. It takes one to three hours for the toxin to take effect. In rare cases, it takes five days for the full results to display. Depending on your treatment, it may last three to twelve months. It is crucial to avoid Botox during breastfeeding or pregnancy or if they have an allergic reaction to the drug or its ingredients.

Effectiveness, time, and cost

Botox’s price depends on numerous factors, such as whether it is for cosmetic or medical purposes, the location of the treatment, the number of Botox units, and who provides the treatment. For cosmetic usage, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery noted that on an average, the price of a Botox treatment for crow’s feet or frown lines is $350, the procedure lasts for half an hour, and the improvement level noticed in one to five days. The follow-up sessions were required every four to six months, and the patient can return to work right after the treatment. Medical insurance covers the Botox bill for medical purposes that doctors feel necessary. Due to the high cost, it is crucial to confirm that the treatment needs to be covered before the appointment. When considering Botox, the provider you choose must be a qualified professional with the right training. People searching for cosmetic Botox, the American Academy of Facial Esthetics has a locator function on their site to help patients find a nearby clinic.