Dorothy FarrarBotox
Botox is the trade name for products containing the active ingredient botulinum toxin. This is a nerve toxin, which is mainly excreted by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin is known, among other things, as a trigger for food poisoning, botulism, which can be caused by eating spoiled meat products.
Definition and mode of action
Basically, Botox is one of the strongest known toxins. When Botox is introduced into a muscle , it prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from the nerve fibers. As a result, the muscle can no longer be tensed and becomes slack. In addition, Botox acts on the nerves responsible for the perception of pain in the affected area, so that pain is relieved.
Botox, on the other hand, should have no effect on the feeling. After treatment with Botox, the nerve endings regenerate within two to six months. The muscle can then be tensed again, so that the treatment with Botox may have to be repeated. The duration of effectiveness of Botox usually increases after several applications.
Application in medicine
Botox has been used for medical purposes for over twenty years due to its anticonvulsant and pain-relieving effects. Today it is used, among other things, as a drug to treat speech, voice and swallowing disorders, squint, muscle spasticity or a torticollis.
Botox can also be used for bladder problems, tension headaches , migraines or excessive sweating . For cosmetic purposes, Botox is mainly used to smooth and prevent expression lines. For example, laughter, forehead and frown lines as well as wrinkles at the bridge of the nose or at the outer corners of the eyes can be treated with Botox.
Even small asymmetries in the face can be compensated with Botox. It can also be used to smooth vertical and horizontal wrinkles in the neck area. During the treatment, the Botox is injected into the appropriate muscles with a very thin needle. Multiple injections of small amounts of the drug are usually given because the aim is only to weaken the muscles.
Complete paralysis of a muscle is not desirable, especially in the face. The muscles treated relax within three to six days, resulting in smoothing of wrinkles. In contrast to other treatment methods against wrinkles, the use of Botox is not a wrinkle injection with filling substances.
risks and side effects
The risks of treatment with Botox vary depending on the dose and area of application. Redness, swelling and bruising can occur in the treated area immediately after a botox injection. Slight injection pain is also possible.
In addition, temporary dry mouth and eyes, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing , muscle weakness in the neck area, headache or numbness may occur.
Uneven dosing can temporarily result in an asymmetrical facial expression. A restriction of facial expressions and difficult facial control are also possible, which can lead to problems with speaking or eating. If too much Botox is injected, the treated muscle can become paralyzed for a long period of time.
In rare cases, more distant muscles can also be affected by paralysis after a Botox treatment. Breathing problems can also occur as a serious side effect of administering Botox, which can even lead to suffocation. However, known deaths have occurred after medical treatment with Botox, not cosmetic use.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.