Botox is nothing if not well known. The injectable neuromodulator is probably more well known than most of the celebrities who swear by it to keep aging at bay.
Botox may seem like it has always been around, but it was only approved by the FDA in 2002 for cosmetic use. Ever since that introduction, though, Botox has been the mostly popular aesthetic treatment, surgical or non-surgical, every year.
Dr. Griffeth offers Botox for his patients to address some of their wrinkles, particularly those around the eyes. Here’s some information on Botox, how it works, and where it works.
How does Botox work?
Botox is officially classified as a neuromodulator. It is derived from the botulinum toxin type A, a neurotoxin. Although that sounds scary, scientists discovered decades ago that the botulinum toxin type A, when injected into a muscle in very small amounts, acts to paralyze that muscle for a certain period of time. Once that relationship was discovered, Botox had many uses. It was employed to treat involuntary eyelid spasms, some TMJ muscles issues, even migraine headaches. But when the FDA approved it for cosmetic use in 2002, the roof blew off.
Why? There are two kinds of wrinkles — static and dynamic. Static wrinkles are there all the time. Frown lines are a good example. Dynamic wrinkles, on the other hand aren’t there all the time. These creases and wrinkles are caused by repeated muscle contractions when we perform day-to-day actions such as smiling or frowning. Botox actually blocks the signals from the nerves to the muscle, so the injected muscle can’t contract. When those muscles that create crow’s feet and forehead creases don’t contract, the wrinkles don’t form. And when they don’t form, the patient looks years, sometimes decades, younger. Therein lies the reason for Botox’s popularity. If only Ponce de Leon knew about it!
How long do its results last?
The body eventually absorbs the now-harmless Botox, usually in about four to six months. At that point, the muscles in question will begin to contract again and the wrinkles will return. To maintain your results, another Botox session is needed.
What occurs following treatment with Botox?
A Botox session with Dr. Griffeth takes just a few minutes. There is no downtime, although there may be some slight swelling and redness at the injection sites. Patients also need to avoid rubbing the injected areas for 12 hours, as that can cause the Botox to migrate to unwanted spots. Results usually take from three to seven days to fully show themselves.
If you’ve heard about Botox, but haven’t used it to get rid of those pesky crow’s feet, call Dr. Griffeth at 435-843-8333 and make an appointment.
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