Botulinum Toxin Type A was approved by the FDA in the late 1980s, meaning you’ve likely heard of it by now. Maybe you’ve pondered it over the years, but it’s only now that your wrinkles are getting noticeable that you’re really considering taking the next step and calling for a consultation. If so, you might want to learn a little more about the process of getting botox in Houston, Texas to ease any worries or concerns you may have.
What Exactly is Botulinum?
Botulinum Toxin Type A is the fancy name for Botox. Sometimes, people are put off by the word “toxin”, but you shouldn’t let it scare you. While other varieties of the bacteria can be dangerous to humans if consumed, the type used for cosmetic and medical procedures offers little to no risk. Not only have doctors been using it to lessen wrinkles and frown lines for decades now, but it’s also being used to treat other medical conditions.
How Does Botulinum Work?
Your doctor will place the injection into the muscle beneath your skin. This will block the nerve synapses from firing as they normally would, which prevents the muscle from contracting. Wrinkles are formed on areas of the body where muscles continually push and move the skin in a certain way, so relaxing those muscles will allow the wrinkles to begin to relax as well. You don’t have to worry about the effects of the injection spreading into other areas of the body, since the injected material only stays within three centimeters of the injection site.
Since your wrinkles were formed in areas where the skin was repeatedly pushed or folded in a certain way over a long period of time, it will take some time for these folds to fade away. In most cases, you should see a major difference within 10-14 days. Botox also has a preventative effect. If you start getting it at a younger age, your muscles will never have the chance to wrinkle your skin. For that reason, many people begin their first sessions in their 20s.
How Does Botulinum Work for Other Medical Conditions?
We’re only beginning to understand the many wonderful uses of this treatment. As time passes, it’s becoming clear that it offers relief for more than just our cosmetic woes. Thanks to its ability to relax muscles, it’s being used to treat muscle spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder and even headaches. Since muscle tension in the face and eyes can lead to head discomfort, it makes sense that relaxing certain muscles would provide relief. This effect was stumbled upon by accident when patients receiving cosmetic treatments began to notice headache relief as well.
The effects last about three months after your first treatment, so if you want to test the waters, you can try out a single treatment and see how you feel. There are no drastic changes to worry about as the effects come on slowly and fade in an equally gradual manner. When it comes to the procedure itself, the discomfort is minimal, and other than a little redness or swelling, you likely won’t have much of a recovery to deal with.
There really is nothing to fear when it comes to getting Botox, so if you’re ready to give it a try, please contact Leo Lapuerta Plastic Surgery today. We’re proud to serve the Houston Metroplex area, offering a variety of cosmetic procedures to help members of our community look and feel their best. Give us a call today to schedule your consultation.