You would have to be living under a rock in the Arizona desert to not know about Botox. In the last 20+ years, it has become a household name and a product that is used for more treatments than you may imagine. Most people know that Botox is a wrinkle reducer, helping people look younger and happier by erasing frown and worry lines. But what you may not know is how many other benefits can be gained by the use of Botox, which is why it is one of the most requested cosmetic and medical treatments in the world.
Botox Basics
Botox is categorized as a neuromodulator, which means it interferes with the nerve signals that are sent to the muscles. When you wrinkle your forehead in concentration or give someone a scowl, your brain sends nerve signals to your facial muscles to create that expression. When Botox is injected into these muscles, nerve signals sent to move the forehead muscles are blocked. The muscle stays still, and the wrinkles never appear.
Botox injections are a non-surgical and non-invasive treatment that can be performed in about 15 minutes. The effects do not occur immediately – it takes time for the neurotoxin in Botox to block the nerve signals. Most people begin noticing the effects of Botox in about a week, but it can be sooner or later depending on the person. There is no downtime needed after the injections, and most people have minimal side effects, usually just a little swelling from the injections. Botox is made of a protein that is eventually dissolved and broken down into amino acids, stopping the effects in about 3-4 months after the treatment.
Botox Medical Treatment
Well before Botox Cosmetic hit the market in 2002, Botox was already being used as a medical treatment. Since the mid-1900s, the active ingredient in Botox, botulinum toxin A, had been studied for its muscle relaxation effects. The goal was to see if botulinum toxin A could be used to stop certain muscle movements that cause issues like eye spasms or crossed eyes – the goal was achieved in the 1980s when Botox was first approved by the FDA for the treatment of both eye conditions.
Since its first FDA approval for medical treatment, Botox has been used for a wide range of conditions that involve muscle movement or contractions. Some of the medical uses for Botox include:
– Chronic migraines
– Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
– Cerebral palsy muscle spasms
– Cervical dystonia
– Urinary incontinence
– Lazy (crossed) eye
– Eye muscle spasms
These are amongst the FDA-approved uses for Botox. However, there are many other off-label medical treatments that are performed with Botox. These include jaw joint issues such as TMJ disorders or bruxism (teeth grinding) which can be benefited by relaxing the masseter muscles. There are many other Botox studies and treatments that are bound to be revealed in the coming years.
Benefits of Botox Cosmetic
Botox Cosmetic came about due to a fascinating side effect during treatments for eye spasms and lazy eye. The patients and doctors noticed that after the Botox injections near the eyes that the glabellar lines between the eyebrows disappeared. For many, this was a happy coincidence as it made them appear younger and smoothed away the frowning appearance. This led to extensive studies on Botox as an injectable cosmetic. Many people in the 1990s received off-label Botox treatments for their frown lines, but in 2002 Botox Cosmetic was officially FDA-approved as a cosmetic treatment for glabellar lines.
Botox has taken over the cosmetic industry by storm since the beginning of the new millennium. Frown and worry lines on the forehead were just the beginning. There are so many possible cosmetic benefits from Botox, many that probably are still being discovered. Some of the most beneficial cosmetic effects of Botox injections include the following treatments.
Liquid Brow Lift
Injections of Botox placed near the eyebrows can relax muscles that pull the brow downward. This can gently lift the eyebrows and give them a more youthful, arched appearance. This is called a non-surgical or liquid brow lift that can refresh the eyes and forehead.
Crow’s Feet Treatment
The crinkled lines on the outside of your eyes can be minimized with the help of Botox. Crow’s feet treatment is one of the many FDA-approved procedures that can be accomplished by Botox.
Bunny Lines on the Nose
Wrinkles on the nasal sidewalls are often called bunny lines as they look like the whiskers and the scrunched nose of a bunny. Botox can help transform a rabbit-appearing nose back into a smoother human one.
Nasal Tip Lift
Relaxing muscles attached to the tip of the nose can allow a droopy or hooked nasal tip to lift. This is one of the many ways Botox can provide non-surgical cosmetic results, often used as part of a liquid rhinoplasty procedure.
Feminization of the Jaw
Masseter reduction can be performed with Botox treatments. The relaxation of the large jaw muscles can allow them to shrink in size, creating a slimmer face and a more feminine jawline. This treatment can create a more heart-shaped face and reduce the square, masculine jaw appearance.
Lip Enhancements
The lips can be enhanced with Botox in many ways, from flipping the top lip out for more fullness to reducing a gummy smile. Even the lip lines around the mouth can be reduced with Botox injections.
Chin and Jawline Improvements
Botox can relax muscles in the chin that create clefts or dimples that are undesirable. Botox is also used to help improve the definition of the jawline, which can reduce the appearance of jowls that make the face look older.
Neck Rejuvenation
Botox can turn back time when it comes to pronounced neck cords or lines on the neck. The injections soften the vertical neck cord and horizontal neck lines for a more youthful appearance of the neck. When used with skin tightening treatments, Botox neck injections can complete a non-surgical neck lift that can erase years from your neck’s appearance.
Botox Treatments in Phoenix, AZ
Botox is an incredible product that can be used to achieve wonderful medical and cosmetic outcomes. It is safe and has very few side effects – most are due to needle injections and any complications with Botox are rare. At Arcadia Wellness Center, we offer many treatments featuring Botox injections, including a few medical options such as hyperhidrosis and migraine treatments. We also provide most cosmetic options using Botox Cosmetic, including the treatments listed above. Our cosmetic injectors are some of the most skilled in the Phoenix, AZ area, creating tremendous results with Botox and other cosmetic injectables like fillers, PRP, Sculptra, Kybella and more.
Botox is a powerful medication that can be beneficial for your health and appearance. If you want to reduce the pain of TMJ or chronic migraines or improve your appearance by smoothing wrinkles or enhancing your lips, come see us at Arcadia Wellness Center. We offer Botox injections for a wide range of conditions at our facility in the Phoenix, AZ area. To make your Botox consultation or treatment appointment, call our office at 480-351-3688 or book your visit online on our website.