Misconceptions About Botox
Common Misconceptions About the Safety of Botox Injections
Beliefs that Botox injections can lead to botulism are mistaken. The very minute dose of botulinum toxin-A is absorbed, processed and will be eliminated naturally by the body.
Unlike it’s concentrated from, the Botox solution will never be a source of poisoning. The toxin used is in minute amounts which cannot possibly cause a disease. The solution is believed to be 3 million times more dilute than the concentrated dose. Such little amount will cause no poisoning but will deliver only the best healthy effects on your body.
The first medical use of Botox was discovered during the 1800’s. It was used to correct strabismus or lazy eyes. After that, several other indications of Botox have been discovered. Cervical dystonia, hyperhidrosis and Blepharospasm were only some of the conditions treated by the powerful toxin.
It took Botox quite a long time before it was finally accepted by FDA. Because of the controversial component of the drug, several studies and experiments were done to prove its efficacy. Today, these medical uses are employed in health care facilities. To date, no related deaths or complications took place with Botox procedure.
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Use for Facial Lines Only
This is a total misconception that is still held by a few people. In fact young infants with muscular spasms and cerebral palsy receive higher concentrations of Botox. It was actually doctors who were treating muscular spasms that discovered it had an anti-wrinkle effect as a beneficial side effect. In reality Botox is now used to treat sweating, migraine, incontinence, spasms, strokes, multiple sclerosis, anal fissures, writer’s cramp, cross eyes, cerebral palsy, prostate disease as well as chronic back and neck pain.
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Treatment Frequency
Many individuals think that Botox is only done once. Actually, Botox can be performed several times depending on the effects of the formulation to your problems. Some have Botox procedure every 3 months while others have Botox only twice per year. The doctor will tell you about the schedule of treatment. You need to comply with it so the Botox effects can last a long time.
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Addicting
Some people believe that if you receive Botox injections you will become addicted. This is on the contrary. A study done in the UK showed that someone who received Botox 40% of them was more likely to receive it again. But it was concluded by other MDs and researchers that receiving Botox 2-3 times per year (which was the amount the repeat customers were doing in this UK study) is not addictive behavior. If you have an addiction to something, it is most likely you will crave to have that injection much more often. That’s like saying if you have a headache 5 times per year and you take Tylenol for the symptoms, you are then found to be addicted to Tylenol. Furthermore, we know that Botox lasts up to 6 months, so if you calculate those x 12 months, they were just some happy customers wanting to continue to prevent their wrinkles!
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Painful Injections
Botox also got a negative impact among people because they are administered through injections. The needle is so small that you will not almost feel the prick on your skin. But if you are sensitive to pain, a local anesthetic agent could always be requested. You have to request for anesthetics prior to the procedure so the doctor can apply it before the treatment starts.
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Age Bracket
Almost all people think that Botox is done when you are in your 30’s. But as a preventive treatment, Botox can be performed on teenagers who are 18 years of age and above. The age bracket of Botox is between 18 and 65.
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Facial Appearance
Botox results are natural if administered by a qualified cosmetic surgeon. A common misconception about Botox involves abnormal paralysis to certain facial features. While the muscles can take about a week to adjust to treatment, your face will not show any apparent differences, aside from lack of lines and wrinkles.
Misconceptions About Botox and Droopy Eyelids
Droopy eyelids are an extremely rare potential side affect. Again, seeking treatment from a qualified medical professional is a necessary step for avoiding potential complications. Should droopy eyelids result from Botox injections, the symptoms will subside within a few weeks.
Like all other treatments, Botox procedure has risks. You can develop bruising because of the needle sticks. You might also experience headaches or drowsiness after the procedure. Flu-like symptoms are also side effects of the treatment. These adverse effects can be prevented by following the physician’s instructions before and after the procedure.
Common Misconceptions About Botox and Underarm Sweating
On the contrary, Botox has nearly a 100% effect on excessive sweating that can last up to a year Botox injections now have been cleared for this use in most western countries are extremely effective in treated the condition. Earliest publication that can be finding relating to the subject is a study at the University of California San Francisco (Derm Surgery 2002). The study involved twelve patients who received injections of Botox directly in the underarms. Amounts of the medicine used were similar to those used for wrinkles and frown lines. All patients reported decrease of underarm sweating within 48 hours of the treatment. Further follow-up suggested the treatment is effective for five to twelve months.
Misconception About Not Being Able to Fly After a Botox Injection
This is also probably a misconception although many doctors still give patients this instruction. The perceived logic comes from the fact that different cabin pressures could contribute to causing migration of toxin through the orbital septum. Patients are thereby instructed not to fly following injection. However, cabin pressures are generally the same as the air pressure on the ground. It is the air pressure outside the cabin that is different. Active contraction of the muscles under treatment may increase the uptake of toxin and decrease its diffusion. If they are flying long haul, it is advisable to wait one day.