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Considering Botox? Here's What You Need to Know

Whether to attract more potential dates to our internet dating profiles or just because it makes us feel better about ourselves, we all want to look younger. But the years pass, marching their joys and sorrow across our lives... and across our faces, as well. And while there's no magic way to erase the years from your skin, there are ways --Botox injections in particular-- to make it look fresher and more youthful. The real question is... are these methods worth it? Is Botox just the answer you're looking for? Or is it something to be avoided?

What is Botox

Botox is probably the most popular non-invasive cosmetic treatment in the world. In 2006 over 3,000,000 treatments were given in the United States alone-- a number which grows hugely year by year. Why many of those who receive Botox treatments are repeat customers, many are new, and are trying out Botox for the first time.

But what does this treatment actually do? Botox is short for "Botulinum Toxin Type A," which is a complex that comes from, oddly enough, the same toxin that causes food poisoning (hence it's similarity to the word "botulism"). When injected into the skin, this toxin prevents the release of chemicals in the body that tell the muscles (in this case the muscles of the face) to contract. Without these muscle contractions, lines and creases become smoother and sometimes nearly invisible.

When Botox treatment is given, this toxin is injected into specific muscles in your face-- the ones most responsible for creating the frown lines and forehead wrinkles you hate so much. Botox injections are most commonly used to smooth out:

- Frown lines
- Creases in the forehead
- Crow's feet
- Lines between the eyebrows
- Wrinkles at the lip line

Botox Side Effects

But just as anything that has a significant effect on the appearance of your face or body, Botox isn't free from side effects. And depending on the person receiving the treatment, those side effects can be considerable.

In addition to the natural pain that comes along with receiving the injections (a pain which usually fades after several hours), there is also a possibility of infection from the treatment. Anywhere from 1-3% of Botox treatment patients see some sort of infection due to the injections. Less frequently, Botox patients also experience what is called "eye droop." With this side effect, one or both sides of the upper face droop dramatically after a treatment. This is normally a temporary effect of the treatment, but can be potentially serious in some cases.

Other side effects that are commonly experienced after an injection are headache, flu-like symptoms, nausea, and respiratory difficulty. Less common (but more severe) are facial pain, redness, and a weakness of the muscles. Generally, all of these side effects are temporary; but they occasionally last for months in more sensitive patients.

There are also some dangers involved with where Botox injections are administered. When these injections are given in salons, gyms, or other non-clinical locations, the possibility of complications increase sharply. With imperfect technique or dosages, there a much higher incidence of side effects.

Botox isn't a perfect treatment for everyone, and whether or not it's a good idea for you is hugely dependant on you. Some people take these sorts of treatments too far, and end up looking frozen and strange. Others are able to incorporate treatments like Botox into their routines without any adverse effects. If you're thinking about looking into Botox treatments, be sure to talk to your doctor. And remember, these sorts of treatments are all about moderate use-- not abuse.

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