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We use Botox injections to stop the contractions of our muscles by blocking some chemical signals our nerves send to our brain. We can also use such injections to reduce facial wrinkles, lazy eyes, neck spasms, migraines, or excessive swelling. Although there are many drugs, such as Dysport and Xeomin that people can use for the treatments. There is a lot of information available about Botox because it was the first injectable botulinum toxin. Botox drugs have the capability to weaken or paralyse our muscles. That is why it is important to know the standard units of the drug that one should use during the treatment. One should always consult a doctor before using it.
We can find Botox in many natural settings such as forests, soil, lake, and even in the intestinal tracts of fishes and mammals. Although Botox is toxic, one can use it as a drug in the right proportion for treatments. It is produced by Botulinum toxin, which is highly dangerous. According to some researchers, 1 gram of this toxin can kill 1 million people. That is why Botulinum toxin is used in a very small amount in Botox injections leaving behind some side effects of its own.
In eyes, Botox injections are mainly used to treat the reduction of the visible lines and wrinkles around it. It also helps in relieving contraction or twitching of muscles around the eye, correcting the asymmetric eyelids or eyebrows.
There are 3 main ingredients in a vial of Botox: botulinum toxin type A, human albumin, and sodium chloride. The ingredient which is most important out of the three is botulinum toxin type A. Botox injections are usually injected on the crow’s feet at the side of the eyes or on the frown lines of our eyebrows called glabellar lines.
Doctors inject the drug into the muscle which blocks the chemical signalling of our nerves. Wrinkles appear when we smile, cry or make any facial expression that uplifts our cheeks because of the contraction of our muscles. Blocking the signals stops the contractions and hence wrinkles become invisible.
However, Botox is not a permanent solution. The patient has to take a sitting once every 4-6 months to stop the contraction and keep the effect.
Botox injections are a non-surgical treatment. These injections are the best alternative for surgery. That is why we do not use Botox injections only for the eyes. Doctors use the drug in other parts of our body as well, such as the jawline, armpits, hands, feet, buttocks, and even scalp. In fact, Botox is able to treat severe conditions like migraine and an overactive bladder. Botox injections can treat various issues of each body part.
Uses of Botox injection for the eye are:
Eyelid twitching, in medical terms, is called myokymia. It happens when the eyelid muscle experiences a spasm, repetitively and unintentionally. Some people experience a very mild spasm in their eyelids, but for some, it is strong enough to close their eyes completely. The condition of getting strong spasms is called blepharospasm.
Usually, people experience twitch in their upper eyelid, but there are people who experience it in both, upper as well as the lower eyelid.
Spasms are harmless and painless but they do get irritating sometimes. The person experiencing twitches may not endure them regularly. They are completely unpredictable and can stop for days or even months.
Although most of the time, the twitching goes away without treatment but when we take a sitting with the doctor, we use botox to treat blepharospasm. The doctor injects the patient with a vial that eases out the strong spasms. However, the effect doesn’t last for long and the patient requires a few more injections after some months.
Dynamic wrinkles occur due to facial expressions. When we smile, cry, get sad or experience any other type of facial expression, our muscles contract. As a result, wrinkles form on our faces. Botox helps in making these wrinkles lighter or invisible (if treated on time).
Doctors use Botox injections to treat dynamic wrinkles. The injection is given on the crow’s feet that blocks the signals our nerves send to the brain. Eventually, our muscles stop contracting and wrinkles start to heel.
Crossed eyes are also known as strabismus. It means both of your eyes look in the opposite direction, i.e. both eyes focus on different objects at the same time. This happens when your eyes are not in line. This happens usually because of stroke or cerebral palsy (unbalanced muscle movement). Children are more prone to develop crossed eyes but it can also develop later in life.
Botox injections are used to weaken the muscle or balance out the unbalanced muscle treatment.
We use Botox Injections to stop the contractions of the muscles. After the patient is injected with Botox injections, the muscles start relaxing after a while. Within 3-4 months, the patient requires another injection around the eye. Be it for crossed eyes, wrinkles, or eye twitching, the lifespan of a Botox injection lasts for not more than 4 months.
Before going for a Botox treatment, there are few steps a person should follow. They are as follows:
If you follow these steps, it will become a lot easier for you to go through the Botox treatment.
Botox treatment is a very small procedure that only takes a few minutes. The injection is injected around your eye, usually on the crow’s feet. The doctor usually advises numbing the area to be injected with mild anaesthesia or ice.
Botox injections do have some side effects. You might experience allergic reactions, redness, swelling, and some other side effects. Consult a doctor about all the side effects you experience so that he can adjust your medication accordingly.
You can expect the results soon after getting the injection. But at the same time, the results don’t last long. Within a few months, you might experience the problem again and have to go back to the doctor for another shot.
You should prevent touching or rubbing the area being injected right after that. This will prevent the toxicity from spreading to the other parts of your face.
After taking the shot, the outcomes are visible in the next 3-5 days. Although, you get the final results after 14 days. To see a difference for yourself, you can take a picture before taking the shot, 7 days after it, and then 30 days after it. You will be able to evidently notice the change.
Since the muscles stop contracting, there is a pause for wrinkles on your face for the next few months. You would stop experiencing eye twitches and you would be able to notice that your eyes are in line.
Depending upon the type of condition that needs treatment, you will experience a positive impact in and around your eyes.
With all the positive outcomes, some patients experience some side effects of the Botox injection too. For some, the symptoms are mild and for others, they are severe.
Mild side effects of Botox injections include:
Severe side effects of Botox injections:
In case you experience any severe side effects, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Prices of Botox injections vary upon the part of the body that needs rectification, the practitioner, and the quantity of Botox that we use.
In India, the price of Botox injections for crow’s feet is around ₹6000 per session. The price of getting injected at the crow’s feet is the least expensive in comparison to other parts.
There are few facts one should know before taking a Botox injection. It is necessary to know beforehand then getting awareness after the treatment.
The facts are:
When you think of injections on your face, you expect it to be extremely painful. But, pain from Botox treatment lasts only for 30-45 minutes. In case you are someone who doesn’t take shots easily, the doctor numbs the area where he needs to inject. But, even after the ice pack, it does hurt a bit.
Most of us expect Botox treatment to be a thing that only celebrities can take. This is actually not true. Botox treatment is for everyone who wishes for a physical transformation.
When you take a Botox treatment, you expect to have wrinkle-free skin but the truth is, Botox treatment is a pause and not a full stop. You need to keep taking shots after every few months to keep the results intact.
After taking the Botox injection, you should not involve in any type of physical activity for at least 6-8 hours. You can’t do any heavy workout for around 24 hours and have to keep your head straight.
Willing to look attractive is not disgraceful. Some people have the belief that getting a Botox treatment is morally wrong. But it completely depends on what you want. If you want to have a Botox treatment, you should go ahead with it. You should not worry about how people will judge you.
People believe that after taking a Botox shot, you become expressionless. This is not true. Although the expressions change, they don’t disappear. If you are giving a big smile to someone or at something, after Botox treatment, it would appear as frowning to the other person. Even though you won’t be able to express yourself completely, you will keep the expression internally and that’s enough to make you feel good about yourself. It is important to be comfortable in what you do.
