You might have noticed that many of Hollywood’s aging starlets are not aging at all. Time passes and still they retain the same taut and glowing skin of their 20s and 30s. It’s not just good genetics. Botox injections are all the rage in beauty-related industries, but Botox treatments are also surprisingly accessible to the general public. Which leads many women and men to wonder… What is Botox, and what can it do for you?
Botox is actually a naturally occuring chemical. Because Botox is derived from a toxin, many people worry that it may be harmful, but the use of Botox injections has been perfected over the last 20 years. Today, Botox injections are considered a non-invasive procedure. Furthermore, Botox injections are FDA approved, and while Botox is best known for treating wrinkles it is also used in other important medical procedures.
Why is Botox all the rage? Because it’s so effective. To understand how Botox fights wrinkles, you first need to understand how wrinkles are created. Long-term tension in certain areas of the face changes the texture of the skin. Smiling and frowning create lines around the mouth and eyes and furrowing your brows creates lines on the forehead. These expressions are repeated so often that the resulting facial lines become deep and permanent.
Botox is injected directly into the affected areas of your face (the forehead, around the eyes, and around the mouth). The drug then eases tension in the surrounding muscles and nerves, causing facial expression lines and wrinkles to relax. Within 24 hours of a Botox injection, wrinkles will decrease noticeably, and within 1-2 weeks the skin will have regained optimal smoothness. These results typically last for up to four months.
Practitioners that specialize in Botox treatments have refined their techniques significantly in the last few years. Gone is the overly tight skin and immovable features that once characterized Botox users. These days, Botox injections are an art and a science; the toxin is carefully measured and administered to ensure a softer, more natural look. Your friends and family won’t know that you’ve had Botox injections, they’ll only know that suddenly you’re looking a lot younger!
